1999 Nissan Sentra intermitant ignition problem

BARBERSAM

MEMBER
1999 NISSAN SENTRA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
80,000 MILES

My 1999 nissan sentra would not start one morning. I trouble shot everything I could find in my repair manual to do, including fuel and ignition. The car finally started and I never found out why. One month later the car began running with an intermitant miss in what seams to be the ignition. Then the service engine light came on with a 2-1 code, problem in primary ignition. Take to authorised repair facility. My question is, am I correct in the assumption that ether the distributor or the ECM is at fault for this intermittant problem? And is my only option to replace the components to see if they are bad?

Sunday, April 20th, 2008 AT 9:45 AM

3 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

IS there any oil in the distributor?

There have been both ECM and Crank Sensor issues that had recalls on them. Check with the dealer and see if the recall was done or not. You'll need your VIN when you call. Having said that, I wouldn't expect it to be intermittant. You might want to try a tap test to see if it acts up.

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Sunday, April 20th, 2008 AT 10:26 AM

BARBERSAM

MEMBER
3 POSTS

There is no oil in the distributor. The crank sensor would give me a specific code error that I am not getting. Would a prob in the distrb give me an ignition primary error message? Or should I consentrate on ECM? Ive tapped everything I can tap and pulled and twisted wires.

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Sunday, April 20th, 2008 AT 11:13 AM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

I would start my focus on the resistor.

I'll send these to your email address since you donated if you want them. Just need an address.

Any questions otherwise, just post them here.

This is the procedure for your code: