VID00009

2000 Nissan Frontier 3.3L sputtering. Looking for causes for the miss. Scanned codes, showed fault for crankshaft position sensor, replaced it. Replaced distributor cap, rotor, and spark plug wires. Same problem. Cleaned Mass Air Flow sensor, no change in operation. Some have suggested distributor or MAF sensor. Very pricey parts to just be guessing. Truck starts fine. Problem had been when truck was warm, but now, within a minute, it sputters and sometime stalls since the miss drops the rpms down.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Auto
• mechanical
• car repair

[fisht6]

Pralexpr, the crankshaft sensor is at the rear of the engine. Impossible to see from above. You need to get under your truck and look up at the rear of the engine, drivers side. The sensor is hidden somewhat by a metal heat shield. The sensor is only held in by one screw that goes through that heat shield. There is a two wire connector going to the sensor. The sensor is cheap, around $25 at the dealer, but you can ohm out the sensor to see if it's good. I'll have to get back to you on the specs.

[fisht6]

Haven't checked this video for a long while. Glad it may have helped a few with their vehicles. Brocanic1, if I remember right, there is an idle adjustment screw on the throttle cable/linkage, should be easy to get it dialed in. Rpm should be about 700 while in gear. I'd adjust it slightly higher while in park, then double check while holding your foot on the brake and the truck in drive.

[estrelladelnorte1308]

I have the same problem with my xterra i was told to replace the same parts that you did and nothing .. wich codes are you getting ? i get a random/multiple cylinder misfire i got the codes pulled on autozone i was told could be a bad distribuitor also..but i have no way to test it and they are 200 on ebay can you let me know wath you find in yours??

[fisht6]

I found the problem. The distributor's bearing had failed. Metal shards were found stuck to the coil magnet that's under the plastic cover beneath the rotor. I installed a new distributor and all is well. I bought a disty on ebay for about $140 delivered.

Before you buy, pull cap and rotor off, then the plastic cover, look inside for metal shavings. Found this is a common problem with 3.3L distys.

[estrelladelnorte1308]

i took distribuitor apart ( without takin it from engine) all the way to the coil pack and found no evidence of shavings, cleaned with compressed air a nd asembled back and no change......but i notice it sounds like grinding or a dry bearing inside there ....you thing bearing its wore out and its bouncing at high speeds??thanks for your help!!

[fisht6]

I would replace the distributor. The way I marked the location to reinstall the new distributor, was I scratched a mark on the black plastic cover that's under the rotor. I had the #1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke, and then put the mark in relation to the raised "pointer" under the rotor itself. Then when I put he new distributor in, I swapped that plastic cover from the old to the new dist. and liner up the pointer to the mark, by turning the distributor.

[N0FIXEDADDRESS]

@fisht6 thank you for the good info. I have the disintegrated bearing you mentioned and hopefully changing the distributor will get it running again.

[N0FIXEDADDRESS]

Same problem but mine died and wouldn't start again. I checked distributor and sure enough bearing is destroyed. Hopefully changing distributor will fix it.

[brocanic1]

I just changed my broken distribtor today. Same thing, the bearing was shredded. I started having power problems going up hills. Then I got stalled. Changed my distributor, and now I'm having an idle problem. The idle is smooth at about 750 rpm but the increase (when I place it in drive) is a little too much. Anybody knows how to adjust the rpm rise when the auto trans is placed in gear? Nissan Frontier 2000, 3.3l.

thanks

[Dienahmik]

@estrelladelnorte1308 plz check us out

[tig3rkrus]

@fisht6 Fish did your car start up and the idle jumping up and down? it happen to my car right now everytime stop at the red light the idle jumping up and down and my car die out. Could it be the cause of distributor? or the magnet coil? and what rotor you reffer too i dont know can you point it out for me.

[pralexpr]

Hello guys.does anyone knows where is the crankshaft sensor is located.thanks!

[jenius8477]

I have had the same problem with my disty. changed it out and she ran fine. Had to replace my clutch and when they did, they broke my Crankshaft Position Sensor. Now i am getting that click by the disty. I think it is just the design of the disty's on this vehicle

[jangoreo]

Ive got the Same Type of Problem, Except I Start Mine, it will Idle for a Second and Die, But if you Squirt gas in through the Intake (Behind Air Filter Of course) The Truck Runs fine and Will Rev Until its not getting enough Fuel.

I Think i have a fuel system problem but dont know where to start, i just replaced Fuel Pump, It Ran fine For about 10 mInutes (After Sitting for 4 Years) and then We Shut it of and the Mentioned Above Started.