05 Altima 2.5 runs great but sometimes will not start.
Asked by Guru9D6YMD Nov 16, 2020 at 12:08 AM about the 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
05 Altima 2.5 runs great but. Turns over but sometimes will not start, if it tries
to start but doesn't the engine sounds like it's missing badly and dies. I tried
starting 15 times once and it tried hit a few times but died each time. Then it
started and ran like a champ. I get a misfire cyl 2 switched coils it missed
again a week later same cylinder. Then another rough starting experience
and it said intermediate miss. When it has one of these fits I smell gas.
Yesterday it was cool and raining shut the engine off at fish ladder 10mins
later tried to start it turned over no igniting, tired again hit on a few cylinders
died and done this four or five times. Finally started with big puff of white
smoke drove home 70 miles ran like a champ. Started no problem this
morning. And so it's been for 5 months been to the prepare shop three
times...they can't find an issue.
6 Answers
3 thoughts come to mind immediately....Try cleaning the idle air control valve, replacing the crankshaft position sensor or even the cam sensor....since it runs like a champ when it actually starts it doesn't sound like the timing is off...as for the miss....is the spark plug possibly oil fouled? If so it could be bad rings on that piston or valve seals
Guru9D6YMD answered 4 years ago
I see a response in my email about " idle air control valve, crank or cam shaft position sensor." I have had both crank and cam go out in the past and since this is a weekly happening I can rule them out. Idle control valve is a good direction to go. The plugs were changed last month as part of the evaluation of the problem. Other than the rough starts (failed starts) engine jerking wildly soon after starting tell I get the RPMs up the only other thing I can think of is misses at low RPM backing out of parking spot type thing. Standing by for more answers....thank you.
The white smoke is indicative of oil getting into the cylinder, either via worn valve seals, or bad oil rings....what's the compression of the cylinder? A wet compression test (squirt of oil into the cylinder)....(also known as leak down test) will help tell you if you have worn valve seals...hence the question of if the spark plug is oil fouled
Guru9D6YMD answered 4 years ago
I would think the white smoke would happen more often this last Saturday was the first time. This has been going on for perhaps six months the low RPM miss. But a compression test is called for. And as per normal it ran good yesterday and today...I'm wondering about sensors computer stuff talking to the mechanical stuff... Please keep the answer coming.
I know I've mentioned this before, but idle air control valve is a possible factor for low rpm/rough start, and can also create a lean or even rich air fuel mixture....aside from that, I'm curious about the condition of the intake boot? Any vacuum lines come off? o2 sensor, engine temp sensor as well as coolant temperature sensor are also reasons that could produce low rpm and no start situations.
Guru9D6YMD answered 4 years ago
I'm still tracking with you guys and thank you. Called the Machinic whom it never acts up on OF COURSE and we discussed the idle air control as a next possibility. If the RPM when started isn't elevated to like 1200-1500 then dropping to 750 or so but hangs at a low RPM this could be the issue. When operating at low RPM like backing out of a parking spot, shift change on city street I can get a hiccup 3 out of 10 times. Just to be clear it runs like a champ any other time.
