Died on the highway

[Strato_54]

First time in a while I've had an issue with this thing I can't figure out, but yesterday it left me in the middle of a highway intersection.... Got it off the road, pulled the maf it started. Drove it 1 KM to my part store limping it in the shoulder where I cleaned and checked the maf, then it didn't start. After trying a lot of things, it seems the only way it will start is if I LONG CYCLE the key 3-5 times and stumbles hard when I throttle into it. Only codes are my regular permanent codes. lol. 

 

All before this, did a small pull on the highway with 140F oil and 190F Coolant and it felt amazing, then it died next light.....  I'm thinking its the fuel pump, if i unplug the vacuum hose for my regulator it will not fire, barely coughs. But everything plugged and long prime the key 4 times for 3 seconds each, guaranteed fire and it sounds fine when I can get it to idle. Good oil pressure, no oil or coolant issues, new o2, great looking plugs, new vacuum hoses, new gaskets everything intake related, cleaned IACV and tested. 

 

Kinda at a loss if it isn't the pump gonna throw one in today but anyone have other ideas in the mean time?

[alexg89]

id slap the tank a few times with a mallet and see if you can jar the pump. had to do this before and it at least got me home

[Strato_54]

13 hours ago, alexg89 said:

id slap the tank a few times with a mallet and see if you can jar the pump. had to do this before and it at least got me home

So it was not the fuel pump, swapped it and it did seem to fix another smaller issue I had but then it died on my again so can't say for sure it did anything for the better. I'm now leaning toward spark. I plugged in the Autel and everything seems to be reading properly as far as sensors go. I tried to pull out a spark plug then ripped one of the wires, so I think that's a tomorrow me issue. My brother just had his distro give him the common failures on his VG30 so maybe mine isn't far behind it. I shouldn't have given him my spare distro....

 

If it was a wire, one cylinder would die same with a single injector, plug, A VALVE EVEN etc. so now i'm going to check ALL spark and see if that's where the issue is

[alexg89]

3 hours ago, Strato_54 said:

. I'm now leaning toward spark.

well the Vg33 whether its in the pathy, frontier, or Xterra, seem to be a common issue. Ive put a handfull in my 01 xterra.

 

worth sourcing one and trying out. I keep a spare in the back lol

[Slartibartfast]

The long prime thing sure does sound like a fuel system issue. Long shot, but when did you last change the fuel filter?

 

I had an X come in with a bad dizzy this summer. It had the usual symptoms--ran fine when cold, acted up when warm, getting worse over time. I found a whole lot of rust powder and an ejected bearing cage under the cover, so, yeah, that was an easy diagnosis. The symptoms don't sound like a match for yours, but it's easy enough to check for.

[Strato_54]

On 10/23/2025 at 3:19 AM, Slartibartfast said:

The long prime thing sure does sound like a fuel system issue. Long shot, but when did you last change the fuel filter?

 

I had an X come in with a bad dizzy this summer. It had the usual symptoms--ran fine when cold, acted up when warm, getting worse over time. I found a whole lot of rust powder and an ejected bearing cage under the cover, so, yeah, that was an easy diagnosis. The symptoms don't sound like a match for yours, but it's easy enough to check for.

Before 3 days ago, the filter was replaced 2019~ but after a pump swap and filter swap nothing. I know I have good pressure and flow at the rail so unless something is in there then it’s fine. 
 

now it won’t even start after priming. It’s dead.

 

i tested spark with a shop friend and there’s nothing in any of them. I do have a newish cap rotor and plugs.

 

i did pull apart the dizzy and it has no rust inside, there’s 12V and 5 Volts on the large plug out of the dizzy do it should be getting power. I’m trying to get the ignition coil out as I speak but one screw is so stuck it’s getting frustrating. Everything looks fine so I’m thinking something in the coil or the module died. Either way I have a new one coming Tuesday from the part store if I do want to swap it

[Strato_54]

So I just checked that little resistor / capacitor thing on the side of the dizzy and there’s. No resistance. Bingo!?

[Strato_54]

After more diagnosis and reading, I found that I should check for continuity through that little circular piece and it / ignition coil is the issue. Basically new coil and I’m good to go!