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Nissan Stanza Repair Questions and Answers

Question: 1987 Nissan Stanza Wagon  mileage: 104,000. Hello, I've read through the previous letters on stalling, but here's mine. Starts and runs fine in morning, but stalls after parking more than 10 minutes, It runs for 15 seconds, dies, starts for 3 seconds, dies. Will not start until I can hear a “Hum” instead of a “Whine” by turning key to “On.” Fuel pump has been replaced twice. Had suggestion it may be related to alternator, which was marginal, but no change after a new one.

Answer: We suspect a faulty fuel pressure regulator. This can be verified using a fuel pressure gauge.

Question: 1986 Nissan Stanza, California version. The engine wants to die when stopping. I thought that the lock-up switch for the torque converter was not unlocking. I have installed a used valve body complete with lock-up solenoid and I still have the same problem. I have checked out the wiring going to the solenoid and it does make a circuit when the throttle is at idle. Note: the engine does not try to die in reverse, only in forward.

Answer: When the transmission is put into reverse, the engine has a tendency to shift one direction and the opposite direction in drive. With this in mind, check over wiring and vacuum hoses and the rubber boot that connects the air cleaner to the intake manifold.

Question: 1988 Nissan Stanza wagon  mileage: 193,000. I adjusted my valves last week. In order to remove the valve cover I had to remove a bracket at the back end of the engine. I crank the engine over to adjust valves (with both coil wires disconnected). When I went to put the bracket back on, I noticed there were two ground wires connected to one of the mounting bolts. I later found out one was a ground for my fuel pump; I still do not know what the other is for. Once I got everything back together, the car would crank but, run for only a few seconds and shut off, as soon as I retry, it does the same thing. I did find that I had a clogged fuel filter but after replacing it, the car still does the same thing. I have checked the fuel pressure regulator, it seems to be firing fine and I checked the injector wires with a Noid light. Not a whole lot in print on the Stanza. I have Chilton and Haynes repair manuals. Not very good wiring diagrams on the EFI system. Next to the dealership what are my chances? I like the old car I hate to junk it. But, I don't want to spend a lot of money to get it fix.

Answer: Double check to make sure all the ground wires are hooked back up. Also, do a compression check as the valves may be adjusted too tight.

Question: 1985 Nissan Stanza  mileage: 137,000. I purchased a used Nissan Stanza about a year ago. The car is no longer running and I was told by a mechanic that it needs a new timing belt. What happened was the car had been bucking a little and then just stopped running as I was on my way home. No noise, nothing. It was as if the car just turned itself off. Here is my question. Does this car have two timing belts? Second question. My son looked at the car too and he doesn't think the timing belt is the problem. He thinks that it could be the flywheel, whatever that is. I am a single parent, student, and work. I don't have a lot of money but need my car desperately. I was told that when the timing belt goes the engine goes because valves are usually bent. If this is the case and this is what happened to my car, is there a way to tell if the valves have been bent without spending hoards of money just to find out if the care is useless?

Answer: There is only one timing belt and the symptoms you described would lead us to believe that indeed your timing belt failed. There is a reasonably good chance that if the timing belt failed the valves were not damaged. It would be extremely rare for the flywheel to cause the problem you described.

Question:  1987 Nissan Stanza  mileage: 90,000.  I have oil leaking into my cooling system. I had a compression test and everything checked out ok, so I guess it's not a leaky head gasket.  Any other ideas?

Answer:  The compression check that you did may not have eliminated the head gasket as a possible source of your oil leak.  Your symptoms would indicate that the head gasket is causing your problem.   We would take the head off and inspect the gasket here

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