Ferd guy with a Nissan Problem, HELP!
 

Also in Nissan Tech, but its dead in there and I want to try and get a quick answer so I can maybe have it running again tonight, so:

So, my girlfriend's 2001 Nissan Altima 2.4L wasn't starting. I pulled the fuel line off the rail, plenty of fuel. Felt the intake inlet and checked the airbox, good airflow. That just leaves spark, right? I stuck a spark plug in each one of the spark plug wires and there was no spark...so that pretty much convinced me.

I pulled the distributor cap and rotor off (I was in awe that you guys still use distributors, but whatever, good technology never dies ) and they looked kinda chewed up, so I put a new cap and rotor on. The rotor has maybe 1 or 2 micrometers of play in it; I tightened down the screw that makes sure its sitting snug on the shaft pretty well, but its still got that tiny tiny tiny tiny bit of play. The cap is snug as can be. I'm sure all the connections are snug and all the plugs went back on properly. Here is my problem:

At first, when you started the car, it would crank but would NOT start. Not even a sputter after you took your hand off the key. Just dead. NOW when you try to start it cranks..but all wierd-like. Short, short, long. Short, short, long. Imagine a typical cranking sound, but Short, Short, Long over and over. And as soon as you stop trying to start it its dead again.

Please. Help? I admit defeat at the hands of your technologically superior vehicles.

fuses lol...as ronald mcdonald will tell you

also might want to try checking the bat? pretty simple answer, but you never know. Sounds like it's getting power, just not enough?

checked the fusebox under the hood. 100%, no problems.


I will admit the battery IS in shitty shape right now. The battery charger is screaming obscenities at me because its having to pump to many amps to the battery...but it was charging for a good 30 minutes and we tried it again. Starts off strong with that turning over then eveuntually slows down as the battery drains. What is tripping me out is that short-short-long pattern to it while I'm starting. That wasn't there before I changed out the cap and rotor, but it also wasn't getting any spark before..and I don't know what I could've fucked up.

best bet I can say is try jumping it with a strong car. that way you can rule out the battery.

push start that bitch idk.

are the injectors sending fuel?

Dunno, they WERE, this car just all of a sudden wouldn't start one day. I saw that fuel was coming from the main line and haven't gotten around to yanking them out. Think I should?

yes check it out its quick and easy

Ahh, Nissan made their injectors easy to get to? That is good news. I'll check 'em out and post up what I find.

yeah if its the ka (which it should be) they will be chillin right up top.