Will not crank on slight incline

DUBREED36

MEMBER
2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER
3.5L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
178,000 MILES

My car will not start on a slight incline but when level doubt it cranks perfectly fine. It turns over but it will not start, but once it starts runs perfect. That's only when I'm on flat surface. I'm not sure what to do. I have been told fuel level sensor. I have been told a fuel pump. I have been told a fuel sensor. I don't know.

Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 AT 8:03 AM

6 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,796 POSTS

Good afternoon,

This sounds like a baffle could be broken in the fuel tank and fuel is not at the pick up for the fuel pump. Someone would have to remove the fuel pump and look inside the tank and inspect for a baffle being broken. The baffles are there to prevent this exact issue.

Roy

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Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 AT 8:09 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Just so I am clear, when you are on an incline the engine cranks but doesn't start. Then when on flat ground it starts normally? Does this do it no matter how much fuel is in the tank? Meaning does it do it with a full tank of fuel?

The only thing that knows it is on an incline is a fluid so if it does it with a full tank then I would suspect the pump itself.

Just clarify this and we can go from there.

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Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 AT 8:11 AM

DUBREED36

MEMBER
3 POSTS

It turns over but will not start it act like it's out of gas but the last time I noticed I had maybe one fourth of a tank. But as soon as I rolled it on level ground it cranks right up with no problem. Also the second thing that it is doing when I go to put gas in it it keeps stopping like it's full.

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Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 AT 8:15 AM

ASEMASTER6371