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Nissan Altima: 93' Altima - erratic RPM - and stalling problem - driving to Maine... help!

  1. #1
    willydog
    Guest

    93' Altima - erratic RPM - and stalling problem - driving to Maine... help!

    ok boys. Here is one for you. I've taken great care to try and explain
    this, as I know a good description is a must to get help from the
    thoughtful folks on this forum. This is a 93 Altima, 5 speed with 140K
    miles on it.

    I hit the dreaded o-ring failure/oil in the distributor and broke down.
    The tech put in a new distributor, wires, cap, rotor. Car ran fine for
    a few days and then I started getting a slipping/jerking sensation. The
    symptom is erratic RPM's and is most pronounced when I clutch in or am
    idling. Car will stall occasionally when this happens, but turns right
    over fine and I'm on my way again. Back to the shop, and the tech
    replaced the O2 sensor, but that didn't fix the problem. This is a
    problem even on the open highway, but not nearly as bad as lower RPM in
    city traffic. At highway speed, I feel a slipping/jerking and then all
    is ok. At lower RPM and clutching in, it is much more pronounced and
    stalls sometimes.

    Through all this, the car has not thrown a code. No service engine
    light at all. I'm driving this car up to the boonies in Maine next
    week and I *don't* want to break down up there... believe me! If you've
    never been there, it's *baren* and desolate. Maybe I'll hit a moose and
    total 'er out and be done with it. lol.

    Thanks so much for your insights, they are appreciated and have a great
    '06!

    Bill


  2. #2
    willydog
    Guest

    Re: 93' Altima - erratic RPM - and stalling problem - driving to Maine... help!

    Here is some more data.

    * I have not yet been able to reproduce the problem when the engine is
    cold . I've only had it out two times so far though.

    * On the open highway, flat surface, if If I keep my foot on the gas
    peddle and don't move it, I don't get the rpm drop. However, if I come
    up to a grade and start to slow down, I get the rpm drop.

    Help me out here guys. From my research right here on usenet, I'm
    thinking the following could be the culprits:

    * The well known problem with the mass air flow and ground wire
    * The coolant temperature sensor
    * throttle position sensor
    * vehicle speed switch
    * the distributor that was replaced is bad (not likely according to
    tech, but who knows). It is an aftermarket part for sure, but he
    assures me that he strongly suspects the distributor is ok (based on
    the symptoms).


  3. #3
    willydog
    Guest

    Re: 93' Altima - erratic RPM - and stalling problem - driving to Maine... help!

    Just to follow up on this for the poor dopes who are like me reading
    these posts 3 years from now. The problem turned out to be the crappy
    aftermarket distributor that the garage put in. The camshaft position
    sensor was bad, and threw a code on CONSULT, even though the boneheads
    at the original repair shop couldn't get a code. I paid the garage to
    put in a nissan OEM part, he put in a cheap aftermarket part instead.
    This caused enormous pain and torture with 3 repeated trips until I
    finally gave up on him making good on the reapair. Once it was replaced
    (by Nissan), it was resolved. The original charge is now in dispute and
    I am persuing legal action for the incompetence and not providing a
    refund.


  4. #4
    bucksatan
    Guest

    Re: 93' Altima - erratic RPM - and stalling problem - driving to

    The garage I took mine to for the same problem originally replaced mine
    with an aftermarket part (with my full consent and approval). It also
    turned out to be bad. It worked for the first while and the shop left it
    idiling for a while to make sure that all was well. The problem reoccured
    within 30 minutes, causing them to look for other problems. Eventially
    everything checked out and they got a nissan distrubutor and it ran, and
    still does, run great.


  5. #5
    willydog
    Guest

    Re: 93' Altima - erratic RPM - and stalling problem - driving to

    Hi Buck. My guy charged me $414 and told me it was genuine Nissan part.
    I am pissed and spent days writing my legal stuff up for dispute. As it
    turns out, the OEM refurbished parts are done by Hitachi, it says right
    on a sticker on the distributor I paid $463 to Nissan. So you could, in
    theory just buy the Hitachi aftermarket brand name and save say another
    $150 from the dealer who will sell you the same thing, but that of
    course assumes that's the end of the story. As with anything
    electrical, it's better to let someone that specializes in it do the
    repair. For me I would pay the extra $150 and let the dealer do it.



 

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