Strange problem...assistance please.

[Saragantas]

Hi. I have an 89 Pathfinder 5spd. A couple months ago, it didn't want to start. I replaced the fuel pump. No change. After playin around a bit, I found if I wacked the relay box, the fuel pump started. Easy enuff fix. New relays and a quick wiring check on the box......no change. About then, in the mornings and afternoons to and from work, 15-or-so minutes after I hit the road, it randomly and suddenly dies, coasts for bout 1/4mi, then spontaneously self-starts......yeah..... 75% of all starts require me to wack the relay box...works like a charm.....wiring looks good....

I'm open to any an all suggestions, including smart remarks.

[94extreme]

obviously something is loose in the relay box, no?

[congochris]

smart remarks? okie dokie..

 

rig up a spring loaded hammer to a string, so when you need to, you can whack the relay box from the comfort of your seat.

 

real suggestion? chek your grounds, sounds like one might be loose, or have bad contact.

[unccpathfinder]

try replacing the relay? maybe it has some corrosion on the inside or something causing it to hang up and not engage

[GrimGreg]

try replacing the relay? maybe it has some corrosion on the inside or something causing it to hang up and not engage

He said he tried that. Maybe the relay socket needs some cleaning.

[Saragantas]

I COMPLETELY went over the relay box. All clean and tight, new main and FP relay. Funny thing is, it doesn't seem to be running out of gas, it jus flat & suddenly dies.....almost like an ignition short of some sort, but the fact that it restarts itself, and does so "reliably", seems to negate a short....just coasting along and all of a sudden running again.........I've had 3 Nissan Z's, and never had any problem of the sort, just kinda wonderin ifn any o u had such a problem.

 

Hammer....string....and like a spring, yeah? I like it.

[unccpathfinder]

sorry i missed all of that...maybe the relay gets hot and doesnt work properly?

 

and the time it takes to get to it and whack it it cools off? i dont see that being an issue but who knows...very weird

Edited August 28, 2006 by unccpathfinder

[jj big shoe]

I know I say this a lot, but check your fusible links. If a certain one is loose or corroded it will cut your ignition. It might be that you're actually moving a loose fusible link around a bit when you whack the relay box or hit a bump. Good luck and I hope you find the problem soon.

[Vsicks Pathy]

I had a similar re-occuring problem, found the scourse by accident when I was 4wding with sw. Actually, sw found it, the location anyway. Long story short, it was a dirty female spade connector to the injector (EFI) relay.

 

10 dollars says it is a bad conection and you missed it. Check the wires again and soak the buggers in wd40. A bad earth can also create havoc too.

 

Just another thought. Have you got a coil? If so, it may need a clean, have a hair line crack or just cutting out when it gets hot.

Edited September 14, 2006 by Vsicks Pathy

[2dr]

hey that exact same thing just happened to me yesterday. 20 miles into the return trip after mudding and all of a sudden the tach went to zero and I was coasting in silence. I waited around for awhile and it didnt start again, not fuel prob, I put some gas right in the tb so i guess ignition? All connections look good, where are these fusible links you are talking about?

[GrimGreg]

Fuseables are right by the battery terminal connectors.

[2dr]

So when i rolled to a stop it happened to be at a small auto repair place and the guy just called and said my timing belt broke. So I gather that this is a non interference engine and now i have a hell of a project on my hands. has this ever happened to anyone?

[mws]

Yup. 60K miles is recommended max to replace belt to avoid failure. Sorry you got bit!

 

A lot of folks just pick up Japanese pull out engines.