2005 Nissan Altima Idle surges after car would not start

2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

88,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC

BRY6242

MEMBER
1 POST
FOLLOW

My 2005 Altima 2.5s would wouuld not start the other week. The engine turned over and it died immediatley. When trying to start, the starter would hiss, but the engine would not turn over. After several minutes of this it finally started blowing a large cloud of smoke out. This has never happened before. No engine light and the shop did not find any problems. Two days later after driving 250 miles, the idle was high and the SES light came on. Had it checked and it was due to high engine idle speed. We then drive 600 miles home without any issues and several days later the light turned off. The idle speed is sometimes high and sometimes normal. Now I am noticing that when I am dirving and let off the gas, the car will jerk for a second and then be normal again. Any thoughts?? thanks

Dec 12, 2009 at 9:33 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
110,190 POSTS

What color was the "large cloud of smoke?" Also, do you know what code was found when the scanned the engine? Have you checked for vacuum leaks?

Let me know.
Joe

Dec 13, 2009 at 12:36 AM

BRY6242

MEMBER
1 POST

Thanks for the response. The cloud of smoke was dark gray. The code found was P0507 I beleive. The definition of it is " idle speed control system RPM higher than expected". I have not had a chance to check for vacumn leaks yet. Thanks for your input.

Bryan

Dec 13, 2009 at 4:32 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
110,190 POSTS

Brian:

Check for leaks and let me know what you find. I have two other concerns, the idle air control valve and the smoke. White smoke usually indicates coolant getting into the combustion chamber from a bad head gasket. However, if it was light gray, it could have been the same thing.

Let me know and thanks for using 2carpros.com.

Joe

Dec 16, 2009 at 9:59 PM

Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.