Easy104 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I need help with my 2000 pathfinder se, it has a really rough idle and check engine light is on reading random cylinder misfire. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Has the SES light stayed on or did it flash on/off? Edited September 27, 2013 by devonianwalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 At first it was flashing when I stopped at a stop light and was creeping forward and then it went away. Then yesterday I pulled out of my driveway and it was a constant SES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 The flashing SES indicated the misfire. What do you think guys? Fuel filter, clean the MAF sensor, and check the plugs and wires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 When was the last time it had a tune up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 I have replaced fuel filter, air filter, distributor, spark plugs and wires. I recently did o2 sensors. I also ran a bottle of seafoam through the gas tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 The fuel filter was last week. And spark plugs and wires were last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 When did you run the seafoam through it? I was going to recommend some injector cleaner (just for good luck), I didn't see cap and rotor mentioned so they might be fried, and after that, check the timing. The random part has me scratching my head, makes me think you might have an intermittent wiring/connector issue. Have you tried an advanced search here for 'random misfire' or the like? Also, you can download a copy of the FSM in the pinned thread in the Garage section. That should have some trouble shooting info in it as well. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 This may be semantics but fuel injector cleaner is different from fuel system cleaner. Techron 'ProGard' fuel injector cleaner does not have PEA which is the most effective fuel system cleaner on the market while the more expensive Techron fuel system cleaner does. Seafoam is basically all solvents and while it may clean things, it can also leave its own deposits behind. PEA cleans without leaving anything behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 I ran sea foam through it about 2 weeks ago. And when the distributor was replaced the roter and cap were also replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Ok, got it. I'm just trying to find any relation or cause/effect. How many tanks of fuel between the sea foam treatment and the SES warning? Anything else you can think of that might relate and keep this from being totally random? This may be semantics but fuel injector cleaner is different from fuel system cleaner. Techron 'ProGard' fuel injector cleaner does not have PEA which is the most effective fuel system cleaner on the market while the more expensive Techron fuel system cleaner does. Seafoam is basically all solvents and while it may clean things, it can also leave its own deposits behind. PEA cleans without leaving anything behind. Good point, and I was specifically referencing fuel injector cleaner. So, that generates 3 questions for me: so does that mean that Seafoam has PEA, is the Techron fuel injector cleaner worth using then and if not what is a food injector cleaner, not system cleaner? B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) Seafoam does not have PEA.Products with PEA are:Chevron Techron Fuel System CleanerGumout ReganeRedline SI-1CRC Guaranteed to PassChevron Techron ProGard might have a small amount of PEA, I'm not exactly sure. But it's not worth buying. Redline SI-1 contains the most PEA per product but is not easily found in local stores. Gumout Regane High Mileage is probably the best bang for the buck found at your local WalMart for $5something IIRC. Techron is often BOGO at some auto parts store every month too. I would tend to use them for the tank before an oil change in case any of the stuff gets in the oil through fuel dilution. Even though it'd be a minuscule amount, I'd rather not chance anything. Multiple trips long enough to get everything nice and hot with time to sit between drives is better for the cleaner to work more effectively than burning through the entire tank on a highway run. Edited September 28, 2013 by Towncivilian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 I have ran 2 full tanks of gas since I sea foamed it. Also I hear a strange noise while accelerating hard, it's kind of a high pitched grinding/squeal. Is that normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 Another thing that I have found out is that it seems to run better in park or in neutral, but it runs like poo when in drive or reverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkorahil Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I have ran 2 full tanks of gas since I sea foamed it. Also I hear a strange noise while accelerating hard, it's kind of a high pitched grinding/squeal. Is that normal? check your belts, tensioners and pullys to see if they are the cause of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5523Pathfinder Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Run by your locals parts house and get it scanned for free. It's got codes stored. Let us know what they are, and we can go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted October 4, 2013 Author Share Posted October 4, 2013 Thanks everyone for the help, im in school soo I'm quite busy. But I will try to check all these things as soon as I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Reverse Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I cannot remember, is yours the VG33 or the VQ35 engine? I have seen this problem in the VG's when the timing belt gets worn and the right cam(for some reason it seems to always be the right cam)goes out of sync 1 or 2 teeth. I have seen this problem in the VQ's as well, but that is often caused by low oil or a restricted oil filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted October 26, 2013 Author Share Posted October 26, 2013 I believe its the VG33 but im not sure since this is my first car. I pulled the codes and all i got was P0300 which is Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) Your 2000 has the VG33E. VQ35DE is distributorless. Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Ensured the air filter seals properly? Edited October 26, 2013 by Towncivilian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 I have a really strong feeling that it is what Mr_Reverse had suggested, but i am not sure. In the owners manual it said to change the timing belt every 105 thousand i believe and it currently has 178 thousand miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 So I got it in the shop today and so far they diagnosed it as a computer problem. Does this sound right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 For this? P0300 which is Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire. Possibly, if it is sending out messed up EC data but this isn't a normal failure. I'd check things like timing, ignition and even fuel delivery/injectors first since most of that should be free. You can get a wrecking yard ECU to swap in as well. You have to get a proper match (year and trim) and there is a slight risk that it has issues as well, but much less expensive than buying a new ECU. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy104 Posted November 27, 2013 Author Share Posted November 27, 2013 Well it turned out to be something really simple that i believe the dealership did. It turned out to be that the wires at the distributor were pulled out of their connectors and getting bad contact. Now my SES came back on and i got it scanned and it was P0420 which is catalytic converter efficiency. Should i even bother to do anything with this or would it cause harm to the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 It just means you probably won't pass emissions. If you care about having the light on, fix it, but it won't hurt anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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