Sputtering

2007 NISSAN ALTIMA
178,000 MILES • 2.5L • 4 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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CSMITH321208
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My car started sputtering on my way home. Has some gas, checked/changes spark plugs, changed one of the ignition coil connectors, done about as much as I know. What else could it possibly be? Maybe bad gas? I filled up and drove 300 miles and nothing. Two days later this happened. I'm lost.
Jun 13, 2019 at 11:36 PM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi CSmith,

Sputter is normally always fuel related. It could be faulty injectors, plugged fuel filter, or a failing pump.

You are correct that bad gas can cause running issues but normally not as you described. If you just filled up and it drove fine then not, it is probably not the fuel itself.

We need to start with running a fuel pressure check. This will point us the direction we need to go. Here is the procedure on how to do it.

Please let me know what the pressure is and then we will know to go further into engine diagram or the pump/restriction route.

Thanks
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Jun 14, 2019 at 6:43 AM
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CSMITH321208
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
So I took it in and turns out it was just a bad ignition coil. Problem is fixed.
Jun 14, 2019 at 4:03 PM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay, great. Ignition issue was where we would have gone if fuel pressure was okay.

Thanks for posting the solution and using 2 CarPros.
Jun 14, 2019 at 11:30 PM
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