While driving started running rough, loss acceleration and power

CRYSTAL CAMPAGNOLA

MEMBER
2007 NISSAN XTERRA
4.0L
V6
2WD
211,132 MILES

I have owned this car since may of this year, bought second hand. I was driving around 55 to 60 miles on the highway when my engine started sounding and feeling rough. Then it seemed like it was surging. Lost speed. Ability to accelerate and some power I think. Exited of the highway quick. Let it sit for 45 minutes. Was able to start it and move about 2 or 3 miles before I had to pull over again. Two days later I have it towed back to my town. After struggles with lots of people who supposedly know what their talking about. I'm at my wits end.

1 Reply

4DRTOM

MECHANIC
467 POSTS

Hi Crystal,

It sounds like your car might be going into safe mode from something the computer is picking up that is going wrong. I need a few more detail though. It seems to me that you should be getting some warning light coming on when this is happening. What are you gauges doing? Is your temperature gauge reading higher than normal. If your letting it cool off then its runs normal it could be getting too hot.. The day you got towed was tow days after the first time, did it ran normal for 2 days I'm thinking that your thermostat might be sticking then the computer is picking that up and going into safe mode before it actually overheats to blow out coolant. Has your car started normally the next day after you were towed home? Check your coolant level and let me know about your gauges and the other details I asked about. Review this article also about the sensor that tells the computer the engines temperature.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-coolant-temperature-sensor

Tom