SR20 Won't Start...Sounds Like Shiet!

[Elbow]

So my girlfriend came home from work as usual and a little while later we went out to go get food and the car wouldn't start (91 Sentra SE-R). It sounds like SHIT trying to start so I didn't try because I thought maybe something serious broke and I know they're interference motors.

First I thought maybe a snapped timing belt trying to start but quickly remembered they don't have belts.

I'm not too good with chains, any ideas? I'm about to take the VC off and see what I can find. It doesn't really sound like a starting issue. I rolled back in our driveway a little to see if it'd start that way and it quickly did the same thing so I quit for the night.

Nissan and their silly cars.

[Barefoot]

stick a screw drive in the spark plug whole. turn the motor over slow while u watch the screw driver go up and down at the same time the cam should be turning. i personally dont think its that. the sound a car makes while cranking when it has a broken t belt or chain is completely different.

[Black4DrEK]

What sound is it making?

like metal parts hitting/scraping?

GL man.. Timing chains ARE a bitch indeed!

[Elbow]

Well I got it started, still not sure what happened.

This morning before removing the VC I decided to click the starter a few times, then started it. It kind of sputtered for a minute then idled fine and revved fine with no noise. Any ideas? Starter issue?

[Black4DrEK]

Well thats good you got it cranked up fine.. Hm.. as for that issue maybe do a Minor tune up.. Get some plugs and wires/dizzy...

Maybe get the started tested or something...

GL man

[Echonova]

VTEC kicked in.

[Elbow]

Nissan is to retarded for VTEC.

[browningboy7]

VTEC kicked in.

tr00f has been spoken.

[Sir_Christopher]

sounds like you need a tune up, and check the wires running to the starter to see if there all grounded and pluged all the way in, good luck with getting it fixed man!

[Elbow]

***UPDATE***

Like I said it has started but won't drive, I can't rev it past 4k RPM, it drives but stumbles and misfires. Sometimes it idles fine, sometimes it's loopy and rough.

I unplugged all the spark plugs and all except for one make the motor really die down, the first plug furthest to the passenger side when the wire is unplugged there is a faint sound difference but the others really make it different. I put new plugs in and it did the same thing, I have the cap off now and one thing I've noticed is the rubber seal around the cap is old and there is some oil around it, would that cause this or is that another issue?

I guess I'll try new wires and see what happens.

I've taken most sensors apart and cleaned them including the MAF.

[-EnVus-]

If a tune up don't fix the problem check the cat if it has one.Sounds kinda like its being restricted by something if wont rev past 4k.
Also maybe dirty injectors or clogged fuel filter or pump.

[Elbow]

I know it's not the cat.

Also anyone know what this piece is, anything suppose to be plugged to it? I noticed it and nothing is attached.

[-EnVus-]

I know it's not the cat.

Also anyone know what this piece is, anything suppose to be plugged to it? I noticed it and nothing is attached.

maybe a ground wire or just a wire connector holder nothing to worry about

[Elbow]

Well there are wires connected on the other side of it, so it's something, I posted it on some Nissan forums hoping for an answer.

[-EnVus-]

Well there are wires connected on the other side of it, so it's something, I posted it on some Nissan forums hoping for an answer.

i googled it and on pics of some motors i saw they was nothing on it. It just sits alone so idk

[slostang]

maybe a ground wire or just a wire connector holder nothing to worry about

yep.

[Elbow]

Yep what?

And yeah I don't know if it was hooked up or just sits alone so who knows, I just know it has wires connected to the other end of it so...oh well, I'll keep messing with other things.

[-EnVus-]

Circled it

[allmotorEJ8]

Not sure if they are the same, but I do have a little wire with what looks to be a round metal thing wired into it. Mine is a rwd S14 SR20DE so it may be a little different. Here is a pic of what I'm talking about. Mine has the wire connected, but it's the same little prong under the rubber cover.

[Elbow]

Hmmmmm...I wonder if only other models used it and maybe not Sentras?

Also I can't find a damn correct firing order diagram, I need cylinders and dizzy diagram. Is it 1-2-3-4 on the motor? Where is 1?

[allmotorEJ8]

From left to right, it's 1-3-4-2.

[Barefoot]

Hmmmmm...I wonder if only other models used it and maybe not Sentras?

Also I can't find a damn correct firing order diagram, I need cylinders and dizzy diagram. Is it 1-2-3-4 on the motor? Where is 1?

1 is always the cylinder closest to the timing belt

[Elbow]

Cool, thanks people!

[allmotorEJ8]

No problem.

[Elbow]

Ok so we continued messing with it when yesterday the clicking, popping, etc all got quiet. The only noise NOW is the starter motor spinning. The engine is NOT turning over, cams are NOT spinning, the timing chain LOOKS fine, no visible damage.

Flywheel/starter issue? What could it be? I'm so confused.