Thread: Help! running issue left me stranded.

'95 200sx se-r

Weird running issue needs to be addressed ASAP. Car started this AM fine, drove 2 blocks to the end of my street and it stalled out. I could not get it to start. Engine would turn but not start. I was cranking so much that the battery almost died. Luckily a co-worker saw me and gave me a lift to work. This started yesterday, got stranded running errands. Car finally started and got home. I have not had the car very long, but I did a tune-up before putting it on the road.
New: Dizzy cap, rotor, NGK plugs, fuel filter.

I have been driving it for a month or so, so all the old gas is out of it. Please help me out! This is my daily driver and need it fixed.

thank you in advance!

Could really be a host of things....

o fuel pump
o bad injectors
o clogged fuel filter

Based on what you have described it definitely sounds like fuel issue....I would start by troubleshooting these 3 and do the process of elimination from there. Keep posting and I will try and help as much as I can. I'm sure others will chime in too....

So the car starts when cold but not when warm?

If so my old nx did that. The coolant temp sensor was the culprit

Coolant temp sensor? ok, I will replace that just in case. Thank you. However, the temp gauge seems to work fine. Also, the engine didn't really have time to warm up yet very much. Just two blocks after a cold start. (I'm in upstate NY and it is very cold/winter conditions right now)

clean_classic, as i said i replaced the fuel filter. I thought it may be a fuel issue. If it were clogged injectors, would it start up fine as it did and then die down the road?

Also, after work a co-worker dropped me off at the car (after 8 hours of sitting) and it started right up and was able to get it home. What the heck?

The guage and the ecu use different sensors to receive coolant temp readings. The guage uses a coolant temp sending unit (smaller sensor with 1 prong) and the ecu uses a coolant temp sensor (2 prong).

I would focus on the 2 prong sensor.

coolant temp sensor will make a super hard starting with the engine hot/warm. once running it should not stall out. Id say distributor is getting hot and cutting out.

Strange. Do you know what would cause this? cap and rotor are new.

do you hear the fuel pump priming?

Hold up guys. Let's make sure he runs through the basics first. Check for fuel. Either by running 12v to the pump or jump the relay. Checking spark can be tricky, you can get a you may get spark, but it may not be strong enough. Check all your contacts, coil, condenser, wires. Finally, check your compression. Checking all of these will lead you to the problem.

So wait, it was running FINE before you did those tune up thingies?

Suspect something was done incorrectly then, for sure.