S13 problems - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Rittmeister · 08-12-2003, 12:53 PM

OK guys, I'm relatively new to this forum. Been lurking for a long time, but this is my first real post - I just got a 1990 S13 coupe, and I'm having trouble getting it to run. When I bought it it wouldn't run.

Here's what's been done:
New tune-up items (plugs/wires/cap/rotor)

New fuel filter.
Gas removed from tank (car sat for more than a year) and replaced with good gas. Fuel system flushed as best I could.
All fuses are good. No idea on relays. Fuel pump IS working, and I'm getting spark according to an in-line spark tester.

The car ran for a while but showed battery and e-brake light (after tune-up stuff); I took this to mean it had a bad alternator, so I replaced that too. The car died on a trip around the block (before the alty replacememt); it didn't slow down and die, just sort of quit. Since then it cranks but won't start, even when jumped. Every so often I get a muffled chug like it's trying, but it won't catch.

I'm trying not to put that much money into the engine, because an SR20 is on the menu; but that won't happen until next spring or summer, and in the meantime I need to be able to move the car.

Any help gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

Rittmeister · 08-12-2003, 04:30 PM

Bump.

deviousKA · 08-12-2003, 05:09 PM

injector issue is my guess. when it did run, did it run well? rev nicely through the rpms? idle? your ignition timing may be off spec (15btdc). if it ran well before it died and had power i would check the timing first, inspect your injectors for external leaking. if that all looks good run the codes on your computer, a bad injector may not throw a code. ka24e is notorious for injector problems, and with the bad gas + sitting for a year, its most likely your problem

Rittmeister · 08-12-2003, 06:44 PM

Thanks for your reply. ECU is throwing code 55, normal operation. When it ran it idled fine and drove fine.

Injectors look OK on visual inspection. Is there a way to take them off and clean them; soak them or something? If I unbolt the fuel rail, will they just come along for the ride like they do in an SR20?

On the timing - obviously I can't set it the normal way since the car won't run. I know on my Sentra that if the distributor is in the center it's going to be really close to stock base timing; is this the case with the KA24E as well? Right now the disty has the top markedly towards the front of the car. It's the way it was when I picked it up; I intended to set timing when the car was running

Rittmeister · 08-13-2003, 05:45 PM

Update: all injectors are getting power signal, as per testing with noid lights.

Argh.

mistaanime · 08-13-2003, 07:00 PM

juss wouldn't start?....maybe ignition..or coil?...you getting a SR20 anyways...so..it's gonna run after that.

hmm...also clean iiav..I had this problem where mah idling was bad..until i cleaned it wit some carb cleaner..and now theres no problem..

Rittmeister · 08-13-2003, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mistaanime
juss wouldn't start?....maybe ignition..or coil?...you getting a SR20 anyways...so..it's gonna run after that.

hmm...also clean iiav..I had this problem where mah idling was bad..until i cleaned it wit some carb cleaner..and now theres no problem..

Don't think it's the coil; the spark tester I have would not tell me I was getting spark if the coil was bad.

Where is the iiav? What does it look like? Is it the thing at the opposite end of the intake plenum from the TB? If so, I'll pull it off and clean it and see if it helps.

Rittmeister · 08-15-2003, 07:41 AM

Cleaned IACV (or at least that's what it's called on my Sentra) - the idle control stuff. No dice.

I'm open to any ideas here; the car has an appointment with my mech on Tuesday, but I'd like to avoid the expense if possible.

DJ Machine · 08-15-2003, 01:29 PM

sounds like wiring, i had a very similar problem, i never techinically fixed it, but my relay box (by the air filter) was just kind of sitting on the body, and underneath it looked a little scorched.. check yours, my car was in an accident so there may have been a cover to the bottom that was removed...anyway, i took it and zip tied it to the stack of wires running to it, so it wouldnt sit against the metal, and it stopped...also check the wiring to the alternator, spray a little wire dryer on the connects, stuff like that, check the ground.. get a multimeter and see if your alternator is getting the right power.

Rittmeister · 08-15-2003, 03:12 PM

My relay box (actually both) are OK. Even so I tried what you said and it didn't help

08-12-2003, 12:53 PM	#1
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	S13 problems OK guys, I'm relatively new to this forum. Been lurking for a long time, but this is my first real post - I just got a 1990 S13 coupe, and I'm having trouble getting it to run. When I bought it it wouldn't run. Here's what's been done: New tune-up items (plugs/wires/cap/rotor) New fuel filter. Gas removed from tank (car sat for more than a year) and replaced with good gas. Fuel system flushed as best I could. All fuses are good. No idea on relays. Fuel pump IS working, and I'm getting spark according to an in-line spark tester. The car ran for a while but showed battery and e-brake light (after tune-up stuff); I took this to mean it had a bad alternator, so I replaced that too. The car died on a trip around the block (before the alty replacememt); it didn't slow down and die, just sort of quit. Since then it cranks but won't start, even when jumped. Every so often I get a muffled chug like it's trying, but it won't catch. I'm trying not to put that much money into the engine, because an SR20 is on the menu; but that won't happen until next spring or summer, and in the meantime I need to be able to move the car. Any help gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

08-13-2003, 07:00 PM	#6
mistaanime Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nine -1- Six Posts: 1,934 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	juss wouldn't start?....maybe ignition..or coil?...you getting a SR20 anyways...so..it's gonna run after that. hmm...also clean iiav..I had this problem where mah idling was bad..until i cleaned it wit some carb cleaner..and now theres no problem.. __________________ -Cherry Red 91 Silfourty- Last edited by mistaanime; 08-13-2003 at 07:05 PM..

08-15-2003, 01:29 PM	#9
DJ Machine Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 549 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sounds like wiring, i had a very similar problem, i never techinically fixed it, but my relay box (by the air filter) was just kind of sitting on the body, and underneath it looked a little scorched.. check yours, my car was in an accident so there may have been a cover to the bottom that was removed...anyway, i took it and zip tied it to the stack of wires running to it, so it wouldnt sit against the metal, and it stopped...also check the wiring to the alternator, spray a little wire dryer on the connects, stuff like that, check the ground.. get a multimeter and see if your alternator is getting the right power. __________________

08-12-2003, 04:30 PM	#2
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Bump.

08-12-2003, 05:09 PM	#3
deviousKA Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 437 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	injector issue is my guess. when it did run, did it run well? rev nicely through the rpms? idle? your ignition timing may be off spec (15btdc). if it ran well before it died and had power i would check the timing first, inspect your injectors for external leaking. if that all looks good run the codes on your computer, a bad injector may not throw a code. ka24e is notorious for injector problems, and with the bad gas + sitting for a year, its most likely your problem

08-12-2003, 06:44 PM	#4
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Thanks for your reply. ECU is throwing code 55, normal operation. When it ran it idled fine and drove fine. Injectors look OK on visual inspection. Is there a way to take them off and clean them; soak them or something? If I unbolt the fuel rail, will they just come along for the ride like they do in an SR20? On the timing - obviously I can't set it the normal way since the car won't run. I know on my Sentra that if the distributor is in the center it's going to be really close to stock base timing; is this the case with the KA24E as well? Right now the disty has the top markedly towards the front of the car. It's the way it was when I picked it up; I intended to set timing when the car was running

08-13-2003, 05:45 PM	#5
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Update: all injectors are getting power signal, as per testing with noid lights. Argh.

08-15-2003, 07:41 AM	#8
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Cleaned IACV (or at least that's what it's called on my Sentra) - the idle control stuff. No dice. I'm open to any ideas here; the car has an appointment with my mech on Tuesday, but I'd like to avoid the expense if possible.

08-15-2003, 03:12 PM	#10
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	My relay box (actually both) are OK. Even so I tried what you said and it didn't help