Loss of power

Tiny
SUMMERO
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 NISSAN XTERRA
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
It started as a miss in the third cylinder. So I replaced the spark plug then I drove it for a while. It threw a code for a random misfire, so I replaced all the spark plugs with the hottest burning spark plugs that they had. All new wires and a new distributor and it is still losing power. Spark plugs showed no sign of any kind of miss. I’m clueless on what to. I’ve tried everything there is but replacing the engine. It is supercharged.
Sunday, January 6th, 2019 AT 1:19 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

One thing that happens when driving around with a misfire is that it tends to wreak havoc on the exhaust systems catalytic converters.The raw unburned fuel and heat tend to melt the insides of the converters and you will tend to notice a loss of power.Here are tutorials showing what is involved:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bad-catalytic-converter-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Sunday, January 6th, 2019 AT 8:10 PM
Tiny
SUMMERO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The catalytic converters have been taken off. So I don’t know what else could be causing the misfires.
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Sunday, January 6th, 2019 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Is the car still misfiring or are you just noticing the loss of power?
Thanks again for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Sunday, January 6th, 2019 AT 10:20 PM
Tiny
SUMMERO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It’s still throwing the code for random misfire with the new plugs, wires, and distributor. So I’m assuming it’s still missing. And the loss of power started with just a little. It would hesitate to accelerate then go but now it has little to no power.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:01 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

When the distributor was replaced was the correct engine timing verified? The specification is 18-22 degrees before top dead center.I would suggest to check the timing and see if it hasn't changed/moved.
Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 1:15 AM

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