When it gets cold the car will run fine and then it will bog down?

Tiny
P2005_16
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 NISSAN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 168,000 MILES
Hey guys I have a 1996 nissan 200sx se-r. It has a 2.0 engine in it with 168,000 miles on it. What happens is the car will not idle smoothly, it will idle up and down. I live up north and when it gets cold the car will run fine and then it will bog down. It will bog down when you get on the gas, and also driving it on the highway. Also my car is a manual and when I shift into a higher gear causing the rpms to go from high to low, it will bog down also. When the temperature outside get a little warmer, the car will run better, but it will still bog down. At times it will get so bad where it seems like I have a cylinder out, but this happens only when it is like 0 degrees. There is no check engine light on either. I have been told to check the distributor, fuel pump, but I personally think it is the mass air flow sensor going bad. Please help this car is starting to drive me insane!
Monday, February 25th, 2008 AT 11:42 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
I think so too (mass air )
I would disconnect the sensor
and check
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Monday, February 25th, 2008 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
P2005_16
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  • 5 POSTS
After I disconnect the airflow sensor, should I let my car run and see how it runs? Because if I do that it will run not the same. What do you mean by disconnect and test it?
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Monday, February 25th, 2008 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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How does it run when disconnect
drive it and check
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Monday, February 25th, 2008 AT 4:55 PM
Tiny
P2005_16
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
So after the mass air flow sensor is disconnected and driven, how should it run compared to it being connected?

Thanks for the help
paul
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Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 AT 10:38 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
The computer will assume mid range
allowing the engine to run better but not 100 %
more power less stalling
if the mass sensor is at fault
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Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 AT 1:25 PM
Tiny
P2005_16
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I disconnected the wireharness that gets hooked onto the mass air flow sensor. I tried starting it and it would start and kill right away so I didn't get a chance to drive it
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Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 AT 5:23 PM
Tiny
P2005_16
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
So my mass air flow sensor must be working properly, so could it be my fuel pump going bad since it idles up and down, and the car bogs down, when switching gears from low to higher gear. Also when you step on the gas

thanks
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Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 AT 5:50 PM
Tiny
GMAN96
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I have same issue in my 96 200sx 1.6 auto shop says distributor going bad ?
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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,627 POSTS
This sounds like it could be the problem, did they run the codes to see what came up? This guide can help us get the codes, also you can get a code scanner from Amazon for about $20.00.

Here is a guide/video to show you how:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Here is a scanner link:

https://amzn.to/3Qi1SS6

Let me know what you find out.
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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022 AT 5:18 PM

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