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Mechanics can't fix car (Car has no power, converter overheats even when replaced)
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oldclunker
New User
Apr 13, 2011, 7:59 PM
Post #1 of 2
(2622 views)
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Mechanics can't fix car (Car has no power, converter overheats even when replaced)
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Hi,
I have a 1998 Nissan Sentra XE 1.6L that I have been trying to get repaired for weeks now. The car began losing power for some time until it was driving at a crawl. It was also making weird noises when idling. It would hum low then growl loud then hum low again and so on. When it would hum low, it appeared as if it would just shut off. I took it to a guy I know who works out of his home and he changed the following parts to no avai: mass air flow sensor, fuel pressure regulator. He called me saying the car has got him stumped. He returned the parts he put in. He said I should take the car to the local Nissan Dealership and it will need a new computer which will cost $1000. I told him he was crazy for a car that's barely worth that much? It has about 100, 000 miles on it. My brother then had the car towed from that guy's house to a used car dealership. He has a friend who is a mechanic there. Well, this guy worked on the car replacing the mass air flow sensor, spark plugs, and the catalylic converter. Unfortunately, I called him and he said the same thing. He can't figure out what is wrong with the car. He said something is making the new converter overheat the same as it was on the old one. He said he called a friend at Nissan who told him the car is probably getting too much fuel but he didn't sound sure. I am getting frustrated because 2 mechanics can't figure out what is wrong with the car. I asked both guys if the engine itself is shot and they said "no." The last guy said it is probably something really simple that he is not seeing. He said it idles ok then breaks down when you drive it. He said he doesn't have the proper equipment to diagnose the problem at his place and will ask his boss if he can take it to a service shop. The shop is very reputable so I'm hoping he can do this without me having to pay to have it towed there. At this point I've put almost $700 in car repairs (got axle and rear brakes too) on this car and I don't want to put more money into it unless they can guarantee they can fix it. Do you think I should just cut my losses and try to sell the car for parts and buy another used car or should I keep trying to fix this one. It may be cheaper to keep trying to get this one fixed than to buy another used car. But I am tired of trial and error. They try this part, that part, this part - nothing works!!! No error codes from ECM though I have been driving around with an EVAP code for a while that they cleared. I was told it was a slight vacuum leak. Could it be related to that? Where do I go from here? I have been spending a lot of time researching what can make a catalytic converter overheat but I think the mechanics should now all that. I don't think the converter is the problem because the guy replaced the converter and it didn't fix it.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 14, 2011, 12:16 AM
Post #2 of 2
(2609 views)
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Re: Mechanics can't fix car (Car has no power, converter overheats even when replaced)
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I sympathise with the troubles. Proper technical diagnosis needed even with access to friends you are replacing parts that don't seem to be diagnosed as the problem. Suggest better help,
T
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