My car would no longer start, I went through trying to find out if it was fuel or spark?

Tiny
JJ GARZA
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,000 MILES
One day after I got home from work my car would no longer start, I went through trying to find out if it was fuel or spark. I could hear the fuel pump prime, and I was also going to check fuel pressure but there is no Schrader valve to test. So, after that I took my test light and tested all necessary fuses, and they were good as well. I went to pull the coil packs out and there was oil in 3/4 plug wells. I cleaned everything up, replaced the valve cover, bought new spark plugs and coil packs. Assuming that was the problem it still did not start. I went on to replace the cam and crank sensor but still no spark. I tried to test the coil for spark and there still wasn’t any, after that I checked for grounds in the harness, and they were all good as well. I need some help with this one.
Saturday, July 15th, 2023 AT 5:00 PM

19 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
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No problem, first I would see if the engine will run on starting fluid. If not let's test the ignition coils for 12 volts with the system on (grn/wht wire). If not, I would swap out the ECM relay which is located behind the dash on the right side. Here is a guide to help run down the problem as well. Also, I wanted to ask how does the engine sound when cranking over, normal?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-not-running-advanced

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Sunday, July 16th, 2023 AT 11:14 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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I forgot to mention I tried starter fluid. I tested the green and white wire, and it does have 12 volts and yes, the engine sounds fine. Excuse the picture I misread your message.
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Sunday, July 16th, 2023 AT 7:37 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Did it run with starting fluid? if not lets check for spark.

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Monday, July 17th, 2023 AT 10:47 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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Yes, after I replaced the crank sensor, I had tach signal again. I checked for spark at the coil, and it was firing. After that I used some starting fluid and it started to crank over but it took a while and it finally idled on its own. It now will start up, but it takes 3-4 seconds of cranking before it starts. It has always taken that long but I know that’s not normal for a fuel injected 4 cylinder. You can hear the pump prime, but I think the pump is possibly weak it is also pretty loud.
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Monday, July 24th, 2023 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, it looks like you found the problem, a weak fuel pump, here is how to change it out. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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When removing the old fuel pump, I noticed that there looked like burns on the seat where the harness was, I checked the harness and couldn’t find any visible damage, so I continued on putting the new pump in. When I finished, I could hear the pump prime, but it still took 4-5 seconds to finally start. After it started, I let it run for about 5-10 minutes and it turned off on its own, I tried to turn the key and no start again, so I checked my fuse with a test light and it was still good. After that I turned, the key, and it primed again this time it started back up. I drove it around for about 15 minutes perfectly fine and parked it for the night. The next day I went out to start it and attempted to drive but when I was leaving it started to stall like I was running out of gas and shut off. I turned the key, and it turned right back on no problem and took it back home. But I’m still experiencing long cold starts, the pump has shut off twice at random and sometimes the pump will prime sometimes it won’t.
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Sunday, July 30th, 2023 AT 11:53 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Good find, I would make sure to repair and protect the wiring and then replace the fuel pump relay which is behind the left kick panel. Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes.
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Monday, July 31st, 2023 AT 10:56 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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I replaced the relay, and it still is acting like it doesn’t have fuel pressure. The fuel pump primes more now but it is taking a little longer to start, sometimes it still won’t start at all.
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Sunday, August 6th, 2023 AT 9:13 PM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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I replaced the relay and It still is acting like it doesn’t have fuel pressure. The fuel pump primes more now but it is taking a little longer to start, sometimes it still won’t start at all
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Sunday, August 6th, 2023 AT 9:13 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like the fuel pump is going out, but to be sure we can do a fuel pressure test. This guide will show you how, and you can rent a fuel pressure gauge from the auto parts store.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Fuel Pressure
Fuel pressure at idle .................... Approximately 350 kPa (3.57kg/sq.cm, 51 psi)

Here is now to change the fuel pump in case you need it. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Monday, August 7th, 2023 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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  • 20 POSTS
Okay, I will do a pressure test but if it comes back good what should I be looking for? Also, if the pump is not making pressure and I replace it with another one and it still is doing the same, what should I look for then?
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Monday, August 7th, 2023 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The pump is self-regulated so when replaced it should be fine. Also, when you crank the engine over you should have 12 volts to the pump, I would swap out the fuel pump relay. The power wire is blk/yel, please let me know what happens.
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Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 AT 10:18 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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Fuel pressure was at 51 PSI, there were also 12 volts to the pump. I already bought a brand-new relay and put it in but instead this time it would prime almost every time. I noticed every time it would prime it would start up guaranteed even with a long start. But when it doesn’t prime it’s not going to turn on no matter how long you crank it for.
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Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 AT 5:30 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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So, when you turn the key on without cranking the engine over do you hear the pump come on for about 5 seconds?
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Thursday, August 10th, 2023 AT 9:52 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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Only about 2-3 seconds and I was getting about 32 PSI when primed.
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Sunday, August 13th, 2023 AT 7:26 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like you have a defective fuel pump.

Fuel pressure at idle. Approximately 350 kPa (3.57kg/sq. Cm, 51 psi)

The fuel pressure is low.
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Monday, August 14th, 2023 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
JJ GARZA
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Yes, it was 31 PSI when I turned the key to prime but 51 PSI at idle.
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Monday, August 14th, 2023 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Let's run a CAN scan to see if there are any codes. You can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) which will work on most cars from Amazon.

Here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 AT 8:29 AM

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