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Foul smell will not start


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So I have my share of troubles with my pathy over the past 6 months or so as my recent topics show.

 

So on to the problem now ..on the interstate stuck in traffic and when it finally cleared I go to accelerate to get back to highway speed she shutters and had no go so I pulled to the side and she was shaking terrible then died I could get it to start with my foot on the gas but would shake hard then cut out again and again... I had a friend stand by the rear and he said the smell coming from the muffler smelt awful and similar to sulfur. I have heard of people's vehicles not starting due to clogged catalytic converters but that its gradual meaning showing signs before it cuts out. She will not fire at all this morning.

 

What ive done ..

Spark is there

Sprayed starter fluid in throttle body no change

 

Parts replaced in the last 6 months

Spark plugs ngk oem

Wires bosch premiums

Distributor non reman

Fuel filter

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No not right now I know my o2 sensors need to be replaced ...2 of them to be exact but that shouldnt keep vehicle from turning over right?

 

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That sounds eerily similar to what my car is doing...it has gotten worse, except my car will start...for now.

 

I've changed pretty much the same parts you have changed, except for the distributor and fuel pump. The car stumbles and shakes and while this is happening, it runs richer than Trump. To the point I can see the black smoke coming out of the tailpipe, as if it were a diesel. I also get a strange smell, not of rotten eggs but just very heavy spent fuel smell.

 

I have changed the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, TPS, AICV and ordered a new distributor, new fuel pump, new MAF and all four O2 sensors from Rock Auto yesterday. Hopefully they'll be here soon.

 

You make a good point though jayjay6888, what if it is caused by clogged cats? :/​ I'll have to ask at my stealership to see if they would know... :shrug:

 

Hmmmmnn...

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both of these symptoms....sound like O2 sensor problems.

 

 

Except I would think those would light up the SES light. Wouldn't a clogged catalytic converter throw said code along with the sulfur deposit odor?

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So I unplugged maf sensor and it fired up ran rough of course....I hooked it back up and it will almost turn over but dies ...bad sensor?

 

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Try spraying it down with MAF cleaner? It's good to pick up a can ($9 or so) and spray it down with each air filter change. The can will last you many, many years so don't hesitate with the initial cost like I did. I have used it on three cars so far and have noticed a difference on two of them. However, I have yet to smell rotten eggs from either of them. :shrug:

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Except I would think those would light up the SES light. Wouldn't a clogged catalytic converter throw said code along with the sulfur deposit odor?

 

I misread, a known bad O2 was mentioned and I assumed CEL on.

You should be getting a bank 1 or bank 2 )(or both) low effeciency code.

But again, with the strong smell I keep going back to one or more of the four O2 sensors on the R50....

OR

really bad/cheap sulphur rich fuel ...........which doesnt fit it running fine then choking out in stop and go traffic.....

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OR

really bad/cheap sulphur rich fuel ...........which doesnt fit it running fine then choking out in stop and go traffic.....

 

 

Good point. How long did this occur after your last fill up?

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Update:

 

I asked the techs at the dealership and they said:

 

It is very unlikely the cat is clogged unless:

 

Bad fuel is used regularly

There is an issue with the head-gasket (fouling up the cat with oil)

 

Rotten egg or sulfuric smell can be due to bad fuel (as mentioned above)

 

The likelyhood that the vehicle would stall and not start due to a clogged cat is nearly impossible. Rough running could signify a bad o2 sensor but more likely a MAF sensor.

 

Recommendations:

 

Start with the simplest stuff:

 

Check the MAF

Check vacuum lines

Check all the leads and sparkplugs

Check the distributor, cap and rotor

Replace O2 sensors causing code(s)

Check temp before and after the cat(s) - Should be uniform (nearly the same temperature at the inlet and outlet, if temperature at outlet is lower than inlet then the cat is not working optimally.

(If you have a two-way reader) check the voltage on the O2 sensors (inlet sensor should be reading quick changes in voltage, outlet sensor should remain at near the .4, .5, .6, .7 volts and fluctuate slowly only) If outlet sensor reads low voltage and quick fluctutations it is bad.

 

Ofcourse they recommended using Nissan spec parts as opposed to other brands...but well, we do what we can, right?

 

Other things that can kill a cat-converter:

 

Impacts

Rapid immersion in cold water

 

Interestingly, I was told that a customer (with a 2000 maxima) experiencing a similar issue, stumbling, stalling, not starting recently went to the service department. It was diagnosed as a MAF. The customer had it changed by another mechanic and it ran rough so Nissan had to perform some kind of ECU re-learning as (apparently six different types of MAF can be used in the 2000 Maxima, depending on engine & transmission choices) Thankfully, the service tech I spoke with doesn't seem to think the Pathy's have the same issue. (only one type of MAF for all 3.3L V6)

 

N-E way, hope this helps.

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Clean maf and throttle body it will start with my foot on the gas but barely. The lights dont even go out on the dash it just sputters until I let my foot off the gas..

 

Last fill up was yesterday ironically and it happend after driving about 30 or so miles

 

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Ive also seen on parts sites that the xterra frontier mercury villager qx4 and a 2001 3.8l v6 mustang all use the same maf?

 

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Ive also seen on parts sites that the xterra frontier mercury villager qx4 and a 2001 3.8l v6 mustang all use the same maf?

 

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Really? 3.8L V6 Mustangs? I mean, I can see the Qx4, Frontier and Xterra (all with a 3.3L) and maybe even the Villager ( I think also a 3.3L, if I'm not mistaking but a Mustang?

 

Wow! I need to get out more...

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So I took the access panel off for fuel pump ...which line is the outflow and which is the return? Im trying to check For Fuel Pressure And the hoses under the hood are a pain to pull loose these popped right off

 

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So I took the access panel off for fuel pump ...which line is the outflow and which is the return? Im trying to check For Fuel Pressure And the hoses under the hood are a pain to pull loose these popped right off

 

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I looked into the FSM and I cannot find anywhere, which hose is for what. I also tried cutting and pasting a photo to illustrate but no such luck. Sorry.

 

I'll try again but still, without directional flow indicators I don't think it'll be much help.

 

EDIT: I just realized, ther emight be some indicators on th epump itself, if it is not too much trouble for you to pull out (or if you already have a spare, check on that one)

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Ok I have some new codes just checked like 5 mins ago reqezeja.jpg

 

The could be from me trouble shooting since I tried running it while the car was disconnected but p0100, p0325, p0180 all showed up twice the other code p0160 only listed once

 

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Im going to get up with my buddy today and use his maf sensor from his xterra if that doesnt work then ill go from there hopefully that gets me somewhere

 

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So it turns out it was the new distributor the nut holding the rotor on came loose and fell down into the distributor shorting something out I assume...so I got it to run still wasnt running great though so I adjusted the distributor to try and catch timing ..well that has put me back at halt new distributor timing completely off ...anyone know the socket size for the crank?

 

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