code3cowboy Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Hello all recently started to experience a few issues with my pathfinder. acceleration seems to be very sluggish now and going up hills is a chore in first gear. from a dead stop if i start to accelerate the rpm drops the increases to allow me to move. i thought it could be something in the exhaust system being clogged so i removed both cats and the muffler and took it for a ride and still experienced the issue. it also seems to be running a bit warmer than before. recently did an oil and filter change, plugs, cap, rotor, battery, coolant flush, air filter and cleaned the MAF sensor. i do know the alternator is going bad and will be replaced soon. not sure if this means blown head gasket or something else. any help is appreciated. the pathfinder is a 1995 3.0L 4WD automatic Thanks T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowTied Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Hmm, not getting enough fuel? Plugged/bad injector? Not sure. Any codes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code3cowboy Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 fuel filters check out fine. no codes or check engine light. this problem has just lost me along the way. one day it was fine the next day it wasn't running as good and that made me think maybe electrical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowTied Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Oh it was sudden, they I tend to agreewith electrical. Coil comes to mind first, though I would have thought it would fail outright, bad ground strap rotted/fell off somewhere? Were you doing any work under the hood just prior? Perhaps the distributor got bumped and timing is retarded. DId this start before or after the tune-up? If after, double check your firing order and timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code3cowboy Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 currently all of the grounding cables seem fine and check out with a continuity meter. we were not doing any work under the hood prior. were going to check timing, fuel injectors and coil today. it happened after the tune up but it started about a month or so after the tune up. replaced the fuel filters just for good measure and it seemed not to improve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Check the power wire to the distributor (not the coil wire) for frays and the slightest separation from the connectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code3cowboy Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 further testing of the engine causes me to believe i have a blown head gasket. i started to see quite a bit of moisture exiting my exhaust pipe and bubbles in my radiator. i think i may just start on the process of replacing the head gasket. any hints or helpful information is appreciated on that subject. thanks t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowTied Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Ouch, sory about the luck there. That might be worth a new topic of nothing comes up in the search.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Borrow/buy a compression tester and check the cylinders before you start tearing into it. How old is the timing belt and tensioner? Could the TB have jumped a tooth? B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastpath Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Heres the topic from when i did my head gaskets about a month ago: Head Gasket Advice It was'nt too bad, but make sure you take it slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code3cowboy Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 timing belt was changed about 6,000 miles/4 months ago. thought about timing but it seems to be correct. i will double check that. need to find someone with a compression tester. would most auto parts stores have these to rent or borrow? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastpath Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 some aoto places will check the compression for you, but yes, most will have them to rent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 it might be running hot cause the fan isent running right, loose belt maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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