Automobile / Nissan / Sentra

Nissan Sentra Repair Questions and Answers

Question: 1990 Nissan Sentra: Ok, I don't know a thing about cars... I know where to put the gas, and I can change my own oil, that’s as far as my knowledge extends. That’s the reason I keep my wife around, she's a car chick, and can handle most problems that I get. This one she doesn’t know what to do about though. I was driving on the highway and looked into my rear view mirror and noticed a single plume of white smoke come out the back end of my car, it didn't make any funny sounds or behave weirdly, just a single blast of smoke then it stopped and didn't happen again.
I called my wife, but she had no idea what the problem was, I figured it probably wasn't a big deal since it wasn't continuous smoke and just kept on driving to work.  As I pulled into my parking lot it happened again though, and this time I think I heard a funny sound that I could only describe as maybe a rustling. I don't know if it's an exhaust problem, or something more serious. The car was EChecked in February and passed with no problems... my roommate says that there is a small hole in my exhaust though.

Answer:  White smoke is caused by coolant or water coming out the tail pipe.  There is a chance that the white smoke was caused by water splashing up from a puddle onto the exhaust pipe.  Keep an eye on the coolant level in the radiator in any event.

Question: 1995 Nissan Sentra. I have a very strong fuel odor inside and outside my car. So overpowering, that I have to drive with my windows open. I took the car to a garage and they examined all the gas lines for leaks and didn't find anything. I have checked the garage floor for wet spots, and have found none. Any clue would be helpful.

Answer: Have the garage recheck your car fuel hoses and vapor recovery system with the engine running. Have them pay close attention to the fuel injectors as some cars have a tendency to have injectors that leak.
 

Question: 1988 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 140,000. I can't get the engine to come free of the trany, why? I have disconnected everything I can see on the outside but it still won't come free. I am replacing the blown engine myself, or I am trying to.

Answer: First double-check to be sure all the bell housing bolts are removed. The transmission may be stuck on the dowel pins that align the engine and transmission. If so, use a pry bar to pry them apart.
 

Question: 1988 Nissan Sentra mileage: 120,000. Car sputters and jerks/lurches in a rhythmic fashion (like I'm revving the engine even though I am applying constant pressure to the accelerator). Typically does it when I get to above 40 mph, but has done it accelerating from a dead stop and other speeds as well. Also, doesn't do it all the time. Have changed fuel filter & replaced air flow sensor. Nothing. Mechanic has said it is neither "gunk"/moisture in the gas tank, nor fuel injector problems. We are at the point of fishing...HELP!

Answer: The three things we would check would be the ignition module, the pick-up coil and the O² sensor.
 

Question: 1994 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 135,000. Car surges/stutters if speed is between 50 mph to 60 mph when feathering the accelerator. Example: Coming down off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Md. when not accelerating but not decelerating between 50 mph to 60 mph the car starts surging/stuttering. Have replaced all ignition parts/fuel filter. Car runs smooth otherwise. Thanks

Answer: The EGR valve may be cycling opening and closing. Replacing the valve may cure the surging. It is also possible, if your car is equipped with air conditioning, that the air conditioning compressor may be cycling on and off, lugging the motor.
 

Question:  1993 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 80,000.   I had some work done on my exhaust system last month, and the mechanic told me that I also needed to have my CV joints replaced ASAP (to the tune of $400).  I haven't had any trouble with them - the car drives fine, and I haven't heard any clicking/clunking sounds.  Do I really need to have this done before my car starts to have 'symptoms'?

Answer:  You may need new CV joints.  If the rubber boot is torn and the grease has been thrown out, you may be able to repack the joints and install a new boot.  If the boot had been torn and the grease lost for a long period, damage may have been done to the joints.   In this case, the CV joints would have to be replaced.  Hard to say if $400.00 is fair since we do not know what area you are from.  Check with friends and neighbors to find a service center you can trust.  Also, inquire if the replacement would be rebuilt or new.  We recommend getting new ones.

Question:  1988 nissan sentra  mileage: 131,000.  algunas veces el vehiculo produce un olor a metal caliente, le cambie el aceite al motor, tambien el refrigerante, en mi pais El Salvador  la temperatura varia entre 19 y 35 grados celsiu (centigrados). El medidor de temperatura no marca calentamiento. Que puede ser?

A stab at translation:  Sometimes the car produces a scent of hot metal, changed the motor oil, also the coolant,  the temperature varies between 19 and 35 degrees celsius.  The temperature gauge does not work.  What can it be?

Answer in English:  Check the valve cover gasket, it may be leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold. 

A stab at Answer in Spanish:  Controle la junta de la cubierta de la válvula, él puede escaparse el aceite sobre el múltiple del extractor.

Question:  1998 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 21,000.   The "Check Engine Soon" light came on the other night, but the car seems to run fine.  One of my friends says it's probably just that I need more anti-freeze or coolant.   Is this right?  This is Michigan and its about 10 degrees F during the night.

Answer:  The “check engine” light will “light” when there is a malfunction in the engine management system.  The fault code is then stored in the computer.  You can buy your own scanner and clear the codes when the failed parts are replaced.The computer must be scanned to retrieve these stored faults to pinpoint the malfunctioning component.  Because the check engine light indicates something is wrong, a trip to you neighborhood automobile service center sooner rather than later is recommended.

Question:  1995 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 105,000.  I hadn't had any recent problem with my car starting. I had a new started put on it last summer.   A few days ago, I went out to start it and it didn't cooperate.  The battery is charged and it sounds like it is trying to turn over.  The night before the temperature outside dropped below 0, and I only had 1/4 of a tank of gas.  I think my gas line is frozen.  So how do I unfreeze it?  I tried "Heet" in the gas tank, but it didn't help.  Any ideas?

Answer:   If your gasoline line is frozen, using a small hand-held hair dryer to warm the gas line should fix your problem.

Question:  1988 Nissan Sentra E16 mileage: 100,000.  My turn indicators stop working sometimes.  I have turned the car off and on a few times to get them started again.  Is there any way to fix that?

Answer:   Check the fuses and check the turn signal flasher.  One or the other may be faulty. In addition, check the turn signal switch itself.

Question: 1993 Nissan Sentra mileage: 134,000. Since March of this year, I am keeping records of my car's mpg averages. I began to notice a significant drop in fuel economy. In the city, the averages were between 22 and 24 mpg, and in the highway, the average was 26 without reaching 27. All this with new aftermarket spark plugs, wheel alignment in all four wheels, correct cold air pressure (32 psi front, 29 psi rear), new set of spark plug cables, a nearly new distributor cap and rotor, and an rpm adjust made at a local dealer. I was using an oil that wasn't energy conserving, 15w 50 synthetic, the one I was using since the car was new, and I decided to use 10w 30 synthetic, so fuel economy improves, and it remained the same. Here in Puerto Rico, heat is a problem and that is why many mechanics including dealers, use oils that aren't energy conserving. But, well, even with the 10w 30 oil, the problem was there. I read on the Internet, that the oxygen sensor is related to fuel efficiency and that the best sensors are usually replaced at 100,000 miles. So I decided to replace the oxygen sensor with an equal aftermarket oxygen sensor, the same one my car had since new. And, the result was good. The highway mileage improved, but not exactly to the 34-35 mpg average, I obtained in the past. I obtained 31.4 mpg controlling the speed, the acceleration, and the braking in a long trip. The problem is that I still obtain between 22.5 and less than 24 mpg in the city, using the car under the same roads I used it when it was new. This car is capable of delivering 26-27 mpg under these conditions because I calculated its fuel efficiency when it was new. Some people around me say that this is not a big problem, due to the fact that the engine has nearly 134,000 miles and there is wear, even after using synthetic oil since the car was new. Also, this car is automatic not standard. In spite of this, the fact is that I am running at least 20 miles less with each and every fuel tank, having all of the above checked, and this happens consistently. This means more fuel expense, and I think that probably something can be done to put the fuel efficiency of this 1993 Nissan Sentra (automatic) closer to where it is suppose to be, which is 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg in the highway. I did something that two different local Nissan dealers did not, which was replacing the oxygen sensor for an exactly new oxygen sensor and it worked, so that was part of the problem. But, the car is still below its average. One more thing is that this car had its accelerator cable adjusted by a local mechanic, not a dealer. Can this affect its rpm? Sometimes, after driving and for example, stopping at a parking lot, the car seems to remain at a higher rpm than usual, instead of reaching a lower rpm level. This happens, but not all the time, maybe 50 percent of the time. Other thing is that in the mornings when the car is cold, I heard a sound similar to the one you can hear on a blender immediately after start up, and it disappears quickly, happening only when the car is cold. In the past, the car made a similar sound and the starter was replaced, but somehow, this sound is different. The catalyst hasn't been replaced, is running with the same one it has since new. The other thing, are well. The car runs and accelerates well, but the accelerator feels hard when I compared with the past. This is since the accelerator was adjusted, what mechanics here call the accelerator leg, and other call it the accelerator cable. I don't know if that adjustment is making a difference, but I am going to try with other spark plugs I have, to see if there is a difference with the ones my car is using right now. Since I am using these spark plugs, I haven't heard the usual engine knock that this car makes in heavy traffic, using premium fuel all the time. And, because the owner's manual relates the small amount of engine knock with fuel efficiency, maybe that is another fact. Also, I don't know about the rest of the sensors this car uses, (if they are working well), but I do know that there are many other sensors or parts related. (I have the big manual also). I don't know about the new gasolines that are being sold, but here in Puerto Rico everybody uses premium 93 fuel all the time. Well, that is all the information I have. Maybe others have bigger problems, but one of the virtues of this car is its fuel efficiency, and if it looses it, the car looses a great part of its value. This is not a Porsche, or a BMW M3, or one of the other monsters around, but is a reliable car, that requires little maintenance, and, it usually delivers better fuel than the average by far, which I read that for 1999 the mpg average was 23.8. Pablo in Puerto Rico

Answer: First, we would replace your aftermarket spark plugs with the same brand that was original equipment from the factory. There is a good chance that your catalytic converter is partially plugged if it has not been changed in 134,000 miles. If the timing belt has been replaced, verify that the cam timing is correct. We have worked on cars brought into us with complaints similar to yours and found that the timing belt had been installed one notch off. Rather than correcting the problem some mechanics take a short cut and adjust the distributor to compensate for the incorrect belt timing. This works, but mileage is compromised. Finally, do a compression and leak-down test to find out the condition of your engine.

Question:  1988 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 140,000.  My fuel gauge and my temperature gauge no longer work.  In addition, my driver’s side door lock often freezes.   I know this is vague but if you have any ideas please help.

Answer:   The problem with your gauges may be a faulty voltage limiter.   The problem with your door locks may be a faulty door lock actuator.

Question:  1986 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 98,000.  When I woke up this morning and started my car, I noticed it was idling very high.  There is also smoke coming out of the tail pipe.  I turned the car off and checked my oil.  It was low but uses oil fast for some unknown reason.  I put a quart of oil in and tried to start it but it made a loud noise in the engine.  I turned the ignition back to off then waited a minute, and it started, but it was still idling high.   I put it in gear to move it to the driveway and the engine went down to normal as I moved, but increased again, when I stopped.   I heard it could possibly be something with not having enough anti-freeze, but it did not freeze last night.  Any help is appreciated.

Answer:    Check the choke linkage, it may be hanging up.

Question:  1994 Nissan Sentra: 42,000+.  My car is not starting.  The first time I tried was on yesterday morning, around 9 am--it was very cold (about 20 degrees Fahrenheit), so I chalked it up to a cold morning.  Today is warmer, (about 45+ with sun) and it still will not start.  When I try the ignition, it will only make sounds like the engine is trying to catch, and the faster I pump gas into it, the faster the sounds come, but there is no regular "running engine sound".  When I let go of the keys, there is only silence.

Answer:    Your stalling problem may be cause by the fuel pump.   Replacing it and the fuel filter should fix your problem.

Question:  1996 Nissan Sentra GXE  mileage: 64,000.  What are the procedures for reinstalling dual airbags and the airbag diagnostic sensor ? We want to prevent them from engaging while we install them.

Answer:    This is not something you should do yourself.   You should take your car to a qualified mechanic.

Question:  1995 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 130,000.   We have been having a problem with the electrical system in the car.  The first symptom was the instrument panel would go dead, the turn signals wouldn't work, no gauges etc.   Then the battery light would come on for a little while then the seatbelt light would flash on then everything would start working again.  No bulbs are burned out.  My husband has taken the whole thing apart and can find nothing.  (He’s pretty mechanically inclined) We are completely stumped.  The only clue we have is that when you put the car in reverse there are no back up lights and the battery light gets brighter.  We have taken a voltmeter to all of the wires in the steering column.   Any clues? 

Answer:   Check the charging system and load test the battery.  Check the main power wires for bad connections.  Also, check the ground wires.

Question:  1990 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 130,000. My Nissan Sentra has an oil leak. In addition, the area around the right-front wheel is greasy. I had it checked and was told that both front axle shafts needed to be replaced, and the price quoted was around $500. Could you please tell me if such diagnosis and price sound reasonable? Also, I am wondering if I could buy some used axle shafts from junk dealer and request the repair shop to put them on to save cost. Do you think it would be reasonable to request so? Thanks for your help!

Answer: From what you describe, the C-V boot on the front axle has failed. The C.V. joint may be okay and all that needs to be done is to replace the C-V boots. Parts and labor costs should be approximately $150.00. We do not recommend used parts because of the uncertainty of quality.

Question:  1988 Nissan Sentra , mileage: 200,000. I can’t pass emissions. Limits are HC 220, CO 1.20. I read HC 318, CO 5.63. Airflow meter & ISC read ok. Timing is ok. Valve job two yrs ago (broken belt). O² sensor 1 yr ago. Car runs ok. HELP!

Answer:  The reasons for the high emission are numerous. The list starts with a malfunctioning catalytic converter, a faulty engine management computer system to a "tired" engine with excessive blow by and using oil.

Question:  1993 Nissan Sentra  93,000 miles. After my car warms up it dies when I push in the clutch and it is in gear. I put a new fuel filter on and it did not help. What should I try?

Answer:  Have the computer "scanned" for fault codes. You can buy your own scanner and clear the codes when the failed parts are replaced. There is a switch on the clutch pedal that feeds information to the computer.

Question:  I have a 1990 Nissan Sentra  mileage: 138,000 and the lifters are tapping. I want to tighten them myself and I cannot remember how. I know they have to be a certain tightness and all that. Could you please help me out?

Answer:  Your engine is equipped with hydraulic lifters. No adjustments are required. You may have some worn valve train components that are causing the tapping sound.

Automobile / Nissan / Sentra

Look up more Nissan Sentra Questions in our Car Repair forum section.

Try looking up your problem in our Auto Repair topics section

Got a Car Repair Question? We will answer it for free.

Replace Air Filter

Check Engine Light