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93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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breemijoe
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Jul 6, 2008, 8:11 AM
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93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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I recently purchased this truck, 2400 4 cyl, 5 speed, 146,000 miles, and thought I would clean it up. I power washed the engine and inside the cab, etc. After it started, it started missing and the check engine light came on. I dried out the distributor and all electrical connections. I unhooked the computer connections which where wet and dried them out. Still the same. Also as it was trying to stay running I noticed white smoke from the exhaust, not much but is this a blown head gasket? Just a weird thing that it happened after the power washing? Please help with any info. You guys have always given great advice. Thanks, Joe
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 6, 2008, 1:31 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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Washing an engine is asking for trouble as now you know
Ok: Was it hot when you did this? The high voltage stuff, coils, wires, plugs, anything to do with the spark at voltage is suspect. The white smoke if out the tailpipe still is NOT a good sign but a head gasket shouldn't be the first failure with a power wash problem. Even so, is coolant level low now?
If running at all you might see arcing if dark enough pointing to a failed/broken electrical high voltage part as mentioned,
T
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breemijoe
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Jul 6, 2008, 1:55 PM
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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No, the engine was not hot when I started this detail. Yes, the coolant is low and it seems the oil level has increased and became thinner. When this happened I dried out both engine bay and computer with fans overnight. Still this bad missing, check light on, and if I added more coolant I bet I would get more white smoke from tailpipe. What do you think? Thanks, Joe
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 6, 2008, 3:11 PM
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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Arggh! This is sounding like a head gasket now. You just got this didn't you so not a lot of history? Ok: I'd pressure test cooling system, drain oil into clean container for inspection, pull plugs for clues - right up to a compression test to find out as much as possible while it's still together as I do think this needs the job.
What I can't figure is why it waited till you cleaned the engine to run poorly or perhaps that's just the coincidence of the day. Could someone have jammed tons of sealer in it to cover this problem to sell it? It's a maybe I guess if you just got it.
I don't know of any sealers that really ever solve real head gasket problems but have played that game mostly to buy a few days for some folks and it can work for a short while and of course clogs other things up which will flush out for the fix.
Check engine light would be on with it misfiring. No harm in finding out what it has to say but with the symptoms so far you know there's troubles mechanically with the engine,
T
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breemijoe
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Jul 6, 2008, 3:57 PM
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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I just pulled the plugs, cranked the engine and a stream of something shot at least 30 yards or so. I drained the oil and it was full of gas, I mean alot of gas. I don't know why I was low on coolant but the oil sure wasn't milky. Now what's up? Thanks, Joe
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 6, 2008, 5:09 PM
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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An injector must be stuck wide open dumping fuel. With any luck it's just that. Not sure of the time frame of all this happening but if oil was that full of gas it took some time I would think. Not sure if that much gas in the cylinder has hurt the engine as liquids don't compress (hydraulic lock) and when attempting to can damage the engine sometimes seriously.
Compression check of at least the cylinder that shot out stuff is mandatory.
I'm not quite sure what in the washing would trigger this to happen. Perhaps all is well right now if compression on cylinders affected shows ok and new oil change - plugs too.....Can't say if problem still exists or not just yet??
T
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breemijoe
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Jul 9, 2008, 7:19 PM
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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I just got done changing #3 fuel injector, new plugs, 2 oil changes, starts and idles good but no power when given gas. Check engine light still on. All this fuel that the malfunctioning injector was pouring out went into the oil pan but probally went down the exhaust and into the converter and muffler. Could this be why there's no power? Plugged up? What do you think? Thanks, Joe
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 10, 2008, 1:09 AM
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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Idling well is great news. Gas in oil and any on to converter/o2 sensors isn't so nice. You may want to check for exhaust restriction with power loss noted. It may clear out on it own - hard to say. Muffer wouldn't care for long anyway about fuel in it.
CEL may need time if it will clear at all without some more work,
T
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breemijoe
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Jul 12, 2008, 9:38 AM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: 93 Nissan P/U 4Cyl missing bad
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I left the truck with a friend at a local muffler shop and he checked it out. Converter good, rest of exhaust fine. Well, were down to the part i was not wanting to be the cause of all this, the ecm. Opened it and there was corrosion so I got another and the truck runs perfect. Anyway when powerwashing be very carefull and take precautions and don't get in a hurry. Because I didn't I cost myself a pretty penny for my mistake. Thanks for all your advice Tom.
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