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Help Me... My Stagea Isn't Starting!

introubleagain
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introubleagain Rookie

introubleagain

Posted
Posted

After much searching, we decided to purchase a Nissan Stagea as our family car, after our son was born a few weeks ago.

There weren't any Stagea's with the specs we wanted, available in Perth, so we just got one transported over from VIC.

It is a Jan 1999 Nissan Stagea with the straight Neo 6 engine it - 76000 k's on the clock - supposodly a grade 4b at the auctions. It presents very well.

It has had an RACV check done on it and all passed ok, and had a little bit of work done also (break pads, park lights - noothing mech or electrical) to pass the roadworthy certificate in Vic.

It arrived yesterday via TNT, however on arrival at the depo in Perth, they advised they couldn't get the car started.

We just assumed it was a flat battery after being on the truck/train for 2 weeks. TNT said they tried starting it with jumper leads, but with no success. At home, we tried another battery in it and charged its own battery overnight, still with no success. It has petrol in it.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a simple flat battery problem. The dealer from whom it was purchased assures me that it was running when it was put on the truck in Vic, and the odo has 20km's more on it than when the RACV did their check - so it has driven in the last few weeks at least and I have to assume that it was running when it was given to transport by the dealer.

It was towed this morning to a mechanic (not a Nissan specialist however he is a motoring enthusiast and I have always found him to be excellent and through at his work) and he was unable to determine what was wrong with it, however it does not seem to be a 'mechanical' problem. So now the drama begins... what is wrong with it?

The motor is turning over freely and quickly when cranked with the starter motor, however it will not start - as if it has no spark. Cam belt/timing belt are all good. When the motor is turning over there is no recognition of engine revs on the dash tacho. What this may indicate I am unsure. I am probably going to get it towed to an auto electricians tomorrow, but I do not know of one that is familiar with these cars in Perth. There is no imobiliser fitted that I/or the dealer is aware of.

Any Stagea enthusiasts out there :) want to have a crack at what might be the issue and who we can take it to in Perth to get it looked at?

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mike40sydney Experienced

mike40sydney

Posted
Posted
After much searching, we decided to purchase a Nissan Stagea as our family car, after our son was born a few weeks ago.

There weren't any Stagea's with the specs we wanted, available in Perth, so we just got one transported over from VIC.

It is a Jan 1999 Nissan Stagea with the straight Neo 6 engine it - 76000 k's on the clock - supposodly a grade 4b at the auctions. It presents very well.

It has had an RACV check done on it and all passed ok, and had a little bit of work done also (break pads, park lights - noothing mech or electrical) to pass the roadworthy certificate in Vic.

It arrived yesterday via TNT, however on arrival at the depo in Perth, they advised they couldn't get the car started.

We just assumed it was a flat battery after being on the truck/train for 2 weeks. TNT said they tried starting it with jumper leads, but with no success. At home, we tried another battery in it and charged its own battery overnight, still with no success. It has petrol in it.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a simple flat battery problem. The dealer from whom it was purchased assures me that it was running when it was put on the truck in Vic, and the odo has 20km's more on it than when the RACV did their check - so it has driven in the last few weeks at least and I have to assume that it was running when it was given to transport by the dealer.

It was towed this morning to a mechanic (not a Nissan specialist however he is a motoring enthusiast and I have always found him to be excellent and through at his work) and he was unable to determine what was wrong with it, however it does not seem to be a 'mechanical' problem. So now the drama begins... what is wrong with it?

The motor is turning over freely and quickly when cranked with the starter motor, however it will not start - as if it has no spark. Cam belt/timing belt are all good. When the motor is turning over there is no recognition of engine revs on the dash tacho. What this may indicate I am unsure. I am probably going to get it towed to an auto electricians tomorrow, but I do not know of one that is familiar with these cars in Perth. There is no imobiliser fitted that I/or the dealer is aware of.

Any Stagea enthusiasts out there :) want to have a crack at what might be the issue and who we can take it to in Perth to get it looked at?

ALARM IMOBILISER?? FUEL ??

ian Experienced

ian

Posted
Posted
ALARM IMOBILISER?? FUEL ??

I agree, start with the obvious. Fuel is the first one, as they often get sent around close to empty - what does it say on the gauge?

It probably won't be an immobilizer as if it was the starter probably wouldn't be going around..

The next thing to check is the fuses - though again, if the starter motor is going around they should be OK.

Can you hear the fuel pump going?

Ian

Duncan Grand Master

Duncan

Posted
Posted

hmm not sure of any obvious reason.

Maybe take it to Ken at Hyperdrive, he knows his skylines....gtrken on these forums.

Did they check the spark? put a plug in a coil that isn't on the motor and turn it over, see if you get a spark? Do you have fuel pressure (put a guage on it)? Does it have compression?

munchstagea Mentor

munchstagea

Posted
Posted

I vote fuel pump too. Mechanic should have picked that up though.

One possibility I guess is a fried ECU, would it still crank then? Someone here will know. If it is, it probably happened when it was unloaded and wouldn't start, bad jump starting technique (incorrect polarity when hooking up the jumper leads)

I hope you find a simple solution!

Duncan Grand Master

Duncan

Posted
Posted

Yeah it will still crank with a dead ECU or wiring problems to the plugs/cas. the cranking just requires 12v at the starter motor.

Thats why you need to check for spark....

old, simple rule.....motor needs fuel, spark and compression to start.

66yostagea Grand Master

66yostagea

Posted
Posted

Pullout the "Coin" tray on the RHS of the column. There may be a blown fuse in there. Somewhere ther is a diagram on this forum of the fuses and what they are for. If it wont start it is either no spark or no fuel.

My Stag came in with a long wire going nowhere from the fuel pump fuse. I have an R30 with a secret cut out switch.

Nissan engines do not fail to start.

IMPORTD Grand Master

IMPORTD

Posted
Posted

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=141454

This thread should help you out a bit.

There are a few work shops south of the river, Xspeed is one that I would recommend. They diagnosed my broken manifold stud as soon as they heard the awful ticking sound... I was pretty panicked about a ticking motor!!

tRUkbOY Enthusiast

tRUkbOY

Posted
Posted

Sometimes if the battery has been jumped backwards it will fry the main fuse - saving (hopefully) you ECU & other electronics. Check in the main fuse box in the engine bay. Also check under the positive battery cover on the terminal itself, occasionally they are built in there instead.

Check the keyway hasn't broken off on the end of the exhaust cam driving your crank angle sensor. Have seen that happen a couple of times after a service (myself included :D )

Apart from that, as Duncan said; fuel, spark & compression

overpowered Enthusiast

overpowered

Posted
Posted (edited)

i'd be checking fuel pump and coilpack ignitor (if the s2 have one) which is on the coilpack cover near the back from memory.

fuel pump is pretty easy to hear if u listen when u turn the ignition on or give me a pm and ill show u what wire u need to put power to, to trigger the pump. check if spark is working by removing the plugs and coilpacks and holding the coilpacks and plugs all installed but out of engine close to the rocker covers and crank it over and watch if they spark when cranking.

also check the injectors are firing by removing the CAS on the front of the exhuast cam and spin the shaft around with ignition on and u will hear the injectors clicking as u spin it around.

as said also check fuses for fuel pump, ecu, etc. in the engine bay and under the dash

Edited by overpowered
introubleagain Rookie

introubleagain

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hello All - thanks for all of your responses. Took thevehicle to a mechanic that deals with a lot of imports and he replaced the plugs as he said that although they were sparking they were "flooded" which, when questioned he said were carboned up and probably wer not providing enough spark - Anyways, new plugs and she goes. Hope all is well from here on in. Thanks for all of your input

Stinky Rooster Grand Master

Stinky Rooster

Posted
Posted

If they were carboned up that bad, you may want to get a decent tune asap, and also look into replacing your exhaust O2 sensor. That is not a common fault AFAIK with the RB and it may need a little further investigation to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Good luck with it anyway, and welcome to the family!

STAGE1 Collaborator

STAGE1

Posted
Posted

A littel while ago i pulled up at a tool booth payed my money and proceded to take off i only got about 20m when the engine cut out. what i found was it had blown the rubber hose off the turbo. While i could crank the engine over it would not start until i pushed the rubber hose back on. This may not be the problum but it is an esey fix if it is.

wagon Collaborator

wagon

Posted
Posted

Mine isnt starting now :)

I put new speakers in the rear doors today. Started it up and drove it into the garage.

Went to drive it an hour later, turns over but no start.

Can hear fuel pump and all fuses light up with test light.

Will go check the spark now.

Any other ideas??

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