Car engine issues question

[duckboy]

I have this 1994 nissan altima with about 144k on it.
Just had new plugs and wires and a new distributor put on it about 3 mo ago.

All was fine until i was driving home from the pheasant farm (going 60 on the hwy) and she flat out dies, as though I had turned off the motor.

I coasted to a stop and gout out and popped the hood. made sure the distrib and its leads were still connected, all the wires were in place, I got back in and cranked it over... plenty of starter and no fire.

waited about 10 minutes and fired her back up ran like heck about another 500 yards and she does it again.

I waited again for 5 minutes and was able to fire her up again and made it home.

she's got 1/2 a tank of fuel in her and i just replaced the fuel filter about 3 mo ago.

what do you thing is going on... maybe a failing fuel pump
?

[DogZilla15]

First thing to do is check for a spark during these no start conditions. I assume this is a breakerless ignition system but there are still wires inside the distributor. If not spark, check for bare spots on the wires or contact between the small coil (forget what they're called) and the distributor housing. Make sure all connections are tight and CLEAN between the battery, ignition switch and distributor.

I'll assume this vehicle is equipped with an electric fuel pump. Find out if the fuel pump operates at 12 volts. If it does, hook a jumper between the battery, or other 12 volt source, to the fuel pump. This will bypass any defective parts is the original system. Check the fuel pump ground and all connections like in the ignition system.

[trap50]

Is the service eng. lite on?
Sounds like what we wnet thru crank senser.

[Bloom]

I'm guessing it's a fuel flow problem. Even though you recently changed it, the filter may be fouled with contaminants/water. If you are able to start and run for a short distance as you described, it indicates that fuel, in small amounts, is moving through the line, but not enough to meet the demands of the engine under load. It could also be the fuel pump ready to take a dive.

I believe the pump is located in the tank. You could remove the fuel line from forward of the filter,place end of line in container, turn on the ignition and see if you get a good, steady flow.

Keep in mind, before you start changing out a bunch of parts, that problems like this are usually the result of one part failure, not a multitude of things.

[Lou]

Gas, fire and compression. Thats what it takes to go.
Take one out and no go. Gas, is the pump running?
Do you have spark?
If you have fuel and no spark, it the ECM. Little
black box, usually in the distributor.
If you have spark, it the pump or clogged filter.
Check the filter (s), first.
Hope that helps.

[afrank250]

i have a 94 nissan sentra it did the same thing and it was the coolant temp sensor get a chiltons manual and they help alot

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

If it was a fuel issue it would sputter to a stop not shut down like you said. Bad sensor, electronic control mod or something along that line.

[1pump]

Sounds electronic since it fires up after cooling off a bit. Could be a stator or the ignitor. Or a sensor like afrank said. A friend of mine's Nissan did something similar when the ignition switch went bad. If she parked the car in the shade, it was OK. Out in the sun, no start.
Hopefully your car has a Schraeder valve on the fuel rail so you can check the fuel pressure easily. The fuel pump relay could be cutting in and out.

[motocykill]

My guess would be to look @ the Coil.. somtimes they shut off when they get hot.. LOL if it has one.. Nissan have crank angle sensors and all kinds of neaT STUFF! I agree with the don't think it is fuel Opinion.

[motocykill]

don't most nissan's have a self diagnostic computer under the Passenger seat?

[Angus]

Have you checked the flux capacitor, if its not that it could be a bad fetzor valve or maybe the ball bearings, sorry, I'm a fisherman not a mechanic!

[Lou]

My experience is if it runs cold and doesn't cold, its the module.