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Anonymous Poster
Jun 26, 2008, 12:27 PM
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This is what happens when I stop my 2001 altima (86000 miles) on the red light. The car starts to shake, RPM gauge goes 500-800-700-600…up and down, up and down…when I switch on AC and the RPM goes above 800 the shaking stops ….? The check engine light is off. I checked the spark plags already, they are ok. Went to Autozone and have it tested for codes, it passed without any codes being active…any idea ? dirty fuel injector ?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 26, 2008, 12:59 PM
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Re: naughty altima
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Check for vacuum leaks and the integrity of the air filter and the housings along the way to be tight and no cracks found. You might have luck cleaning throttle body too,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Jun 26, 2008, 2:28 PM
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Re: naughty altima
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i am sorry but I am not following ? how can dirty air filter and cracked air filter hoses cause my engine to choke ?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 26, 2008, 7:59 PM
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Re: naughty altima
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Ok: In the absence of any codes right now I was hoping for something simple. With the idle flutuating as is does it seems to be getting some wrong info as to the load on it to stay at a steady idle. Much of that is measures air flow, and speed of air which will make other computer adjustments to allow a stead idle. When you put the A/C on it knows there's going to be a load and picks a higher idle speed which seems to overcome what could be minor flaws in just the way the housing that holds the air filter and the parts involved with snorkeling air in to the throttle body. If there's mis information there the car gets confused.
Any leaks can cause problems. Basic vacuum hose is used and info is constantly being read and adjustment made to run perfectly.
I'm only guessing at some possiblities out of many. You may get lucky and find something not right, unhooked or something. Air filter alone even if dirty wouldn't just be allright with the A/C request. Cleaning the throttle body is just to rule out that while you may be there looking. Throttle body is metal - not a filter.
Being sensitive as you described until a load on it suggests intake and vacuum items MAY be the cause. Chances are if you held the idle up with gas pedal, brake on, in gear (use judgment please) to the 800 rpm it would smooth out also.
Just some ideas before it needs more help and diagnosing to figure it out. Also just a gut feeling this isn't dirty fuel or injector related because it seems to straighten right out with a small load,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Jun 27, 2008, 6:36 AM
Post #5 of 15
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Re: naughty altima
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thanks so much !
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Jun 30, 2008, 11:36 AM
Post #6 of 15
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Re: naughty altima
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Thanks to your suggestion I have found 1 hose (in red) hanging lose. A guy at the gas station told me the hose should be connected to that round object - circled in red (forgive me my ignorance). Well.. The shaking is not so severe as it used to have been …however the problem still persists ….you think I should tighten the hose with some clamp ?
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk267/chilangopolaco/hose.jpg
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 30, 2008, 8:02 PM
Post #7 of 15
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Re: naughty altima
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Was that the larger hose to the black thing or a hose to the diaphragm where your red line is? I just couldn't see what was what too well. If a clamp was used I'd use one again. You can also try spraying something like carb cleaner at suspect leak areas and if idle changes that isn't right and there's still a leak. Careful doing that near hot engine parts if you try that,
T
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Anonymous Poster
Jul 8, 2008, 12:32 PM
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Re: naughty altima
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I opened throttle body (disconnected ait intake)… and it was clean like new after 85k miles…amazing ...
So anyways after weeks of deliberation I finally decided to make that formidable step and spend $45 and have my car diagnosed. The computer spit out 2 codes :
1. multiple cylinder misfires - I plan to replace spark plags, cables. The mechanic told me the cap and the thing inside is ok
2. oxygen sensor - and here is my dilemma :
1st option : There are oxygen sensors available for as much as $20 on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OXYGEN-SENSOR-nissan-ALTIMA-93-06-05-04-03-02-01-00-99_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42610QQihZ015QQitemZ250266487859QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
However they come with no connector so I would need to cut and splice the cables myself. If the connector is the problem, then I will need need to buy the connector …do you think that the connector might be the problem ? Is it easy to cut and splice those cables and hook up existing connector ? Do you want to go : new sensor/old connector ?
2nd option is to buy an oxygen sensor for $110 with the connector and then it is an easy plag and play.
So interesting …oxygen sensor with no connector = $20 …oxygen sensor with connector $110…is it so labour intensive to put the connector on the top of those cables ???
What do you recommend ? Thanks so much for your great help
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 8, 2008, 3:05 PM
Post #9 of 15
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2001 Nissan Altima
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Just a note on O2 sensors. I don't know if all will splice in and work properly. Some are heated and reports from tech friends here still in biz (I'm not) is that cheap stuff comes back too much. Your call of course. Also know that IMO that short of wires and corrosion problems I think most O2 sensors are killed and not just failed by them selved and the upstream problem if not solved will wreck replacements.
I'd certainly do the tune-up items and have those ruled out. "multiple misfires" is a vague diagnosis so far as to what's causing it.......
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Jul 24, 2008, 6:40 PM
Post #10 of 15
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Re: 2001 Nissan Altima
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i searched a little more and it seems that leaking intake manifold gasket is usually a problem in altimas ca. 80-100k miles ...i replaced o2 sensor, did tune up (new spar plags, wires, cap and rotor) did not help. is there a way to check where I might have an air leak .. like some kind of spray to spray in air intake and see where it comes out ..maybe it is some hose .. when the engine is idling i hear sometinh like air leak .ssssssss ..getting ready to spend > $300...;-(
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 25, 2008, 12:02 AM
Post #11 of 15
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Re: 2001 Nissan Altima
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Hearing a hissssss does sound like a vacuum leak and gaskets can leak as well as hose or whatever is holding vacuum. When they are not apparent easily I favor (*caution - fire hazard) spraying carb cleaner while at idle at suspect areas while listening and observing idle. When a leak is found idle may improve or get worse for a moment and or change sound of a hiss.
*Use care to do that with cooler engine and not directly on hot exhaust parts and be prepared.....
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Aug 20, 2008, 6:45 PM
Post #12 of 15
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Re: 2001 Nissan Altima
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do you think that the only way to repair leaking intake manifold gasket is to replace it ? this is a labour intensive thing and costs upward from $400...
how about RTV the hell of it would that help ? ...they checked the pressure on my engine and it goes down on idle ..
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 20, 2008, 7:20 PM
Post #13 of 15
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Re: 2001 Nissan Altima
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If you could pin point a limited area of accessable intake gasket flaw (this time you could use motor oil in a squirt can and watch it suck in) then perhaps you could fake it with a small bead of high temp RTV. The last thing you need is RTV sucking into the engine and then fixing it right will look cheap!
T
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Anonymous Poster
cwolf141@yahoo.com
Feb 10, 2009, 4:07 PM
Post #14 of 15
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Re: 2001 Nissan Altima
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Hi,
Was wondering if this issue was ever solved. I also have a 2001 Altima with 156,000 miles. I have experienced the same problem. I replaced Cap, Rotor, Air filter, Fuel Filter, Plugs, wires. No change after warm up. The car runs great except for idle. I just found a hissing noise coming from a diaphram thingy with a vaccuum hose attached to it. After running my fingers up under it to see if I could hear the leak change, I realized that one of the diaphrams was open on the bottom and I was able to actuate the diaphram by pushing up under it which made the car want to stall.
I've never had any problems with this car and would drive it on a 1,500 mile trip tomorrow because the reliability of the car is that good. I don't know the name of the part and am going to just take it off and take it to auto zone and tell them I need to replace that piece. Will get back with results.
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
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Feb 10, 2009, 4:16 PM
Post #15 of 15
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Re: 2001 Nissan Altima
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Sounds like you are referring to an EGR valve. Once removed, check to see if a piece of carbon is holding the pintle open. That would create a major vacuum leak.
Loren
SW Washington
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