1998 Nissan Sentra Won't Start

SLOWDOWNJP

MEMBER
1998 NISSAN SENTRA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
22,000 MILES

My Girlfriend just bought a 98 Nissan Sentra and everything was fine until 1 week ago she tried to start the car and it did nothing, she turned the key and no lights came on on the dashboard, she reposition the shifter and tried to start the car and it went, yesterday she went out and stop at a gas station when she tried to start the car it just died on her, no lights came on the dashboard, she checked the fuses and suddenly all the lights started blinking and the horn went off, she doesn't have an alarm installed in the car, we tried to switched the distributor cap and the coil and the car started, we replaced them again with the original parts and the car started again no ECU light came on on the dashboard so I don't know what the problem might by, Please help me out!Thank you!

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

1998 Nissan Sentra Won't Start -if its cranking over and will not start do below

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it

If both fuel and spark is present-check the valve and ignition timing, this will lead you to problems
with compression and valves opening and closing at the wrong time/broken or jumped timing
belt/chain