Periodically shuts off while driving

Tiny
EGREEN13
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
I have a 2002 nissan sentra GXE with the small motor. It has 120K miles and it is a manual tranasmission. While driving the car will simply shut itself off. The symptoms of when it will happen are as follows:
1. When you ease off the gas the car feels as if brakes are applied.
2. The car bucks and the check engine light flickers, rpm gauge drops to zero and then comes back up. Almost as if the engine shuts off then bumps starts itself.
3. Engine shuts off and you have to turn the key back then restart which it does every time.
I recently had several sensors replaced due to a recall but the problem persists. Personally I think the computer is going bad because when the computer is checked the problems are not found. Thanks for your help!
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 AT 7:41 AM

29 Replies

Tiny
AZUTNER
  • MEMBER
I have the same exact thing happen with my nissan the other day. This guide helped me fix it. It was a bad crankshaft sensor.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls

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Saturday, August 4th, 2012 AT 4:17 AM
Tiny
ANDREAWARREN
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
2002 Nissan Sentra

today my car started up fine, I backed out of a parking space than when I went to put it in drive the car just died. Than it started up just fine and drove good. Than it happened about 3 more times today. What could cause this to happen?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MEMBER
Is the CEL on?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ANDREAWARREN
  • MEMBER
What? I dont know anything about cars.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MEMBER
Is your Check Engine Light on? If it is, please go the Checker O'Reilly parts store and have them scan your computer. Get back to us with the code(s).
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJB22570
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Stoped at a red light and car just died, placed car in park and tryed restarting car but the ignition switch
will not turn. Could the switch have gone bad?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • EXPERT
Remove key out and rotate 180 * place back in the ignition and give it a try
try to shack the steering wheel left and right while try to rotate the key in the ignition

if crank and no start check for a fuel pressure and spark
check crank sensor
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SENTRA5
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,000 MILES
Car starts and runs fine for several miles then dies at cruising speed with out stuttering or making any strange noises, Once you let it set 5 to 10 minutes you can then restart the car. Car does not do this every time you drive it. Thank You.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • EXPERT
Hi, It sounds like your having a problem with the crank position sensor, but in order to be sure, the fuel and spark will need to be tested when this happens, I know it will be a little tough, to pull out tesing equipment while on the side of the highway, but we need to test these two things in order to find out what is wrong. I am thinking the crank sensor. Or a possible intermittent fault with the fuel pump. Fuel pump regulator, and fuel pump relay will cause the same symptoms.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • EXPERT
http://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_an_ignition_system.htm
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • EXPERT
http://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_check_fuel_pressure.htm
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LWEBSTER
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
Engine Performance problem
2002 Nissan Sentra 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My car stalls when I'm at a stop light or stop sign, it starts back up and doesn't stall again until I get to another stop light.

Thank you!
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • EXPERT
Hi lwebster,

The idling system is not working correctly resulting in the stalling at stops. Get the IAC and throttle body cleaned and retest.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LWEBSTER
  • MEMBER
Thank you very much for the info, we will try that.

Linda Webster
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • EXPERT
You're welcomed.

Have a nice day.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LWEBSTER
  • MEMBER
Sorry but what is the IAC?

Thank you,
Linda Webster
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • EXPERT
IAC = Idle Air Control Valve. For Nissan it might be known as AACV, Auxiliary Air control Valve.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LWEBSTER
  • MEMBER
Thank you so very much!

Linda Webster
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRSCH329
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 147,000 MILES
2002 nissan sentra stick shift, 147k miles. Dies/stalls while driving. Takes 20 + minutes to restart. Replaced cam & crank sensors, battery, fuel pump, oil change, air filter, sprayed throttle body intake with cleaner, had dealer replace and program new computer/ecm. Still stalls. Why?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • EXPERT
Are there any trouble codes?

http://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Since it is difficult to restart, check through the link above to get an idea what to look for.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)

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