2000 Nissan Sentra

ARNIEMAN21

MEMBER
2000 NISSAN SENTRA

Hi,

I am driving a 2000 Nissan Sentra with about 120000 miles on it. The car started having a hard time starting, sounds like its choking but it does start. On top of that there is white smoke that comes out heavily when the car first starts and as it warms up the smoke dissapates. Also I've tried turning off the car and turning it back on and it doesn't "choke" or shakes after the car has been warmed up. It only does it when the car is cold.

I got an oil change about 3 weeks back or so and I checked it and its fine.
I got gas from a gas station and I was suspecting that there was water with the gas but my wife's car is not having any problems and we both gassed upf rom the the same station at the same time. Any help would be appreciated.
I'm planning on taking it to pep boys on monday. Thanks!

2 Replies

KAMO

MEMBER
47 POSTS

I'd suggest a couple things:
Check the headgasket. You may want to start the car and actually walk to the exhaust and take a quick wiff. If the white smoke smells "sugary" or "sweet" as some people put it, you may have a bad head gasket.

Also, try starting the car with the radiator cap off and watch for a change in the coolant. If it starts bubbling that may also be another sign that coolant is getting into the engine.

Lastly, you might possibly just be running rich.

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Friday, May 18th, 2007 AT 10:59 PM

ARNIEMAN21

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Alright I think I have some good news.

Checked the smell of the exhaust and its not sugary or sweet. Smell's just like gas. Took the car to pep boys today and their tech could not recreate the problem. He could not see any white smoke. He ran through the computer and didn't find anything wrong. He looked over the car physically and didn't find any leaks or anything wrong for that matter. I think it was some water in the gas tank. Just guessing because it stopped now. On the way to pepboys the car started better and I didn't find any smoke.

Bad news is the check engine light is now. I'll call them tomorrow and tell them. They might have not something back in it's place tightly enough or a sensor is falsely kicking off. Thanks for the help!

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Monday, May 21st, 2007 AT 10:26 PM