Singapore Nissan Owners Group

Nissan Car Lounge - Almera, Juke, Latio, Qashqai, Sylphy, Teana Owners => Latio => Topic started by: sandorasan on October 17, 2010, 05:27:17 PM

Title: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 17, 2010, 05:27:17 PM
Hi,
I have been facing engine stalling for past 1 month. Everytime I send the car to TC (Bukit Timah), they cannot detect the problem - they will go through routine computer check then say no problem, change some parts and then release the car back to me. The car will stall again next day or within next few days.

First time - they reloaded the ignition program (stalled 2 weeks later)
Second time - they replaced the accelerator pad sensor (stalled 2 days later)
Third time - they replaced the throttle chamber and test drove car 6-7x (stalled the next day!)

Everytime the engine signal (yellow colour) light up on the dashboard, the car will turn sluggish and then soon stop. Luckily I usually have enough time to move the car to the side lane. Sometimes even when I manage to restart the car, the car does not seem to respond very well when I step on accelerator (like no engagement) even though the senor has been replaced.

It has been incredibly stressful driving the car in this unpredictable and dangerous condition.
Has anyone has faced this problem before, or able to give any advice on what I should do?
Thanks heaps!!
SY (I drive a Latio Sports 2006)
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: cjkannan on October 17, 2010, 07:57:38 PM
bro
did you try other workshop? better to take alternative opinion on this.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 17, 2010, 07:59:32 PM
Am considering.
Any suggestions? Especially for mechanics who are good with Latio?
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 17, 2010, 09:13:18 PM
High chance is the MAF sensor.....
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 17, 2010, 09:22:57 PM
MAF sensor ...? Oh dear, what's that?
Does it cost a bomb to get it replaced?
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 18, 2010, 07:58:58 AM
some call it the oxygen sensor...MAF if i am not wrong is Mass Air Flow sensor.....tend to get choked or dirty.....

then car will vibrate before dying off.....

is that the symptoms?

if i am not wrong cost abt $200+

but seek a second opinion at other workshops that specialise on Nissan cars.....
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 18, 2010, 09:20:04 AM
Thanks Jonpaul0104!

No, the car does not vibrate before dying off.
Usually, it just becomes sluggish, ie the speed does not seem to correspond to the usual pressing of accelerator, or the engine feels as though it has disengaged (ie not responding well to the accelerator or a long lag time before speed picks up), after which the engine signal will light up and I will have about 5-10 secs to maneuver the car to the left lane before engine dies.
Thereafter, I would do a complete shutdown, wait for another few seconds before restarting the engine. Mostly, the car can restart without problem and I can continue driving, just that as the driver, you know it is not in its usual responsive condition. Sometimes, the engine signal will remain lighted up, and the car cannot move.

A friend has suggested it could be the ECU. That sounds rather major and frightfully damaging to the wallet...?



Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: dsrio on October 18, 2010, 10:23:42 AM
from your posting, it seems like your car no longer under warranty, i can understand that if pay for some parts replacement, but the problem still happen again, then waste of $ and the cycle repeats.

i also hate problems tat are intermittent, very hard to show the mechanic.

i wish you luck in finding a mechanic tat can solve your problem.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 18, 2010, 11:00:09 AM
Ya, the car is no longer under warranty.
I don't mind if the replacement parts can resolve the problem, but what they have done so far does not work.

Have spoken to a trusted mechanic recommended by a friend.
His advice is to take the car back to TCM as it concerns electronic components   :crying:
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 18, 2010, 11:11:47 AM
i guess is not ECU problem else the engine consult done in TCM would have picked up the problem.....

i guess is some mechanical problem.....to me I think MAF sensor is highest chance.....

anyway, go check it out at other workshop.....

Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sunnyong on October 18, 2010, 02:36:59 PM
been there for 3 times?? and TCM not know wat is the root prob  :out:
OMG.. better take hammer and bang table..

Tell them $$$ not the issue.. it's SAFETY issue now..


Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: Enzoni on October 18, 2010, 03:57:23 PM
Thanks Jonpaul0104!

No, the car does not vibrate before dying off.
Usually, it just becomes sluggish, ie the speed does not seem to correspond to the usual pressing of accelerator, or the engine feels as though it has disengaged (ie not responding well to the accelerator or a long lag time before speed picks up), after which the engine signal will light up and I will have about 5-10 secs to maneuver the car to the left lane before engine dies.
Thereafter, I would do a complete shutdown, wait for another few seconds before restarting the engine. Mostly, the car can restart without problem and I can continue driving, just that as the driver, you know it is not in its usual responsive condition. Sometimes, the engine signal will remain lighted up, and the car cannot move.

A friend has suggested it could be the ECU. That sounds rather major and frightfully damaging to the wallet...?

In the 4.5yrs with my latio, i had experienced twice or thrice the scenario u were saying.  Suddenly the car lost power for 3-5 sec (abit like gear din engage properly), but in my case the engine din stall n there was no engine light on n it recovered straight after.

Told TC but they juz brushed it off n i cant show it to them...

Hope u can find out the problem n post it here.

Maybe u can try autoaid as the mechs there are ex-TC mech.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 18, 2010, 06:03:22 PM
Indeed it is a safety issue now.
TCM released the car to me on Fri after they had test drove 6-7x using up half a tank of petrol and found that all is well. So on Sat, I took the car out for a long test drive myself. It seemed fine in the beginning (at speeds of 60-90km/hr) so I decided to move into high speed. As I was driving along SLE down a slope at 110-120km/hr, the engine disengaged and engine signal light came on.
It was very scary and I was just very lucky that during that space in time, the road behind me was clear and I could move to the road shoulder immediately.

Yes, I will post the results once they have isolated the problem.
TCM came and collected the car. So far, they said it is not the MAF; the MAF readings are ok.
And the car was performing fine during the drive from my place to the workshop.




Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 18, 2010, 09:54:56 PM
Frankly intermittent problem is the most difficult to resolve......
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: pizzaboy on October 18, 2010, 10:59:46 PM
Frankly intermittent problem is the most difficult to resolve......

ya man juz like dashboard vibrations & rattlings sound damn hard to detect keep comin on & off...

when u r drivin alone keep hearin funny sound but when u brin it to agent and take the tester out for a spin, all sound gone.

bro sando try washin the throttle body and reset ur ecu 1st and see if problem persist anot
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 19, 2010, 07:54:40 AM
yah yah.....had troubleshoot the dashboard noise for 2.5yrs.......to the extent of TCM providing me courtesy car.....while car in w/s.....
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 19, 2010, 10:51:44 AM
Thanks for suggestions. Will talk to TCM.
I don't want the car back until they have confidently resolved the problem.
And to be fair, they have done a good job with my car these past 4.5yrs, maintaining it without any problem.
I hope they will come through. I don't wish to cause any accident lor.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 19, 2010, 11:24:06 AM
hope the charges by TCM will not frighten you........
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: Gone with the wind on October 19, 2010, 11:43:12 AM
I have a friend driving the Latio.  TCM changed his car ECU after 31/2 years FOC, his car also had some intermitent problems.  I think you should ask TCM to put in a new ECU and test it out. 
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 19, 2010, 01:35:13 PM
Really?? Okok!!
... hang on ... is it FOC because it happened only half a year after warranty expired?
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 19, 2010, 10:29:08 PM
Latest update: TCM has returned the car to me this afternoon. They are fully confident and assured me the car is fine now. The issue was caused by the previous battery (it went flat in June) which caused corrosion to the throttle chamber, transmission and the connectors in the ECU. They said they have cleaned up all the corrosion and also tightened some wires.

So far, have taken the car for 2 short drives at slow speed (60km/hr). Seems normal, will continue to monitor.
Thanks heaps to all who have showed concern and provided suggestions!

Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: gordon on October 19, 2010, 10:32:45 PM
Hi,
It happen to me today.
Mine is 4AT 2006yr.
It happen when I stop at a triffic light junction. The car didn't stall but the rpm drop till 400, normally abt 800. The car no reaction when I press the accelarator and the engine indicator light turn on.
I turn off the engine and call a friend for help. I restart the car after awhile and the car back to normal.
I thought it fine and I start to drive. And it happen again when I stop at the next triffic light.
My friend who came by to help take out the piping connect to the throttle body and use something to poke the valve. He said the valve might be jam. I try to restart the car agian and this time the car back to normal but the engine indicator stay on.
I think I'll send to TCM Ubi tomorrow.
BTW, by using the computer thing that plug to the car, it will show the fault right?
Hopefully, they can find it.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 19, 2010, 11:13:40 PM
If not too far out, maybe you wana try TCM Bukit Timah instead?
The whole workshop there on red alert the past week over my stalling Latio  :D
Maybe they will be more careful when you bring your car in.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: jonpaul0104 on October 20, 2010, 08:05:49 AM
Latest update: TCM has returned the car to me this afternoon. They are fully confident and assured me the car is fine now. The issue was caused by the previous battery (it went flat in June) which caused corrosion to the throttle chamber, transmission and the connectors in the ECU. They said they have cleaned up all the corrosion and also tightened some wires.

So far, have taken the car for 2 short drives at slow speed (60km/hr). Seems normal, will continue to monitor.
Thanks heaps to all who have showed concern and provided suggestions!

good tat the problem is resolved now.....wat is TCM charge?
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: Silver on October 20, 2010, 09:04:48 AM
Latest update: TCM has returned the car to me this afternoon. They are fully confident and assured me the car is fine now. The issue was caused by the previous battery (it went flat in June) which caused corrosion to the throttle chamber, transmission and the connectors in the ECU. They said they have cleaned up all the corrosion and also tightened some wires.

So far, have taken the car for 2 short drives at slow speed (60km/hr). Seems normal, will continue to monitor.
Thanks heaps to all who have showed concern and provided suggestions!


trying to figure out how a flat battery can cause corrossion to transmission
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sunnyong on October 20, 2010, 11:17:19 AM

trying to figure out how a flat battery can cause corrossion to transmission

yup.. battery only supply voltage to I.C.E and "crank" the engine when start.

how does it connect when the transmission?? :confused1:
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 20, 2010, 11:27:44 AM
good tat the problem is resolved now.....wat is TCM charge?

They did it for free this time   :smile:
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 20, 2010, 11:34:00 AM
Hi Silver and Sunnyong

Oops, sorry, for the transmission portion, I think it was dirt.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sunnyong on October 20, 2010, 01:45:23 PM
did they change anything??
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 20, 2010, 03:23:48 PM
No, this time they didn't change anything. Just cleaned up all the corrosion and dirt.
The throttle chamber which was affected was changed during the 3rd visit.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: gordon on October 20, 2010, 10:43:26 PM
I got mine throttle body replaced by TCM Ubi today.
They said that alot of errors were link to the throttle body after checking will the computer.
After change, they do the check again and no more error.
Total cost 200. The part cost 120.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: sandorasan on October 20, 2010, 11:18:31 PM
Paid the same price in Bukit Timah.
Hope your car will be fine now.
So far, mine is ok these 2 days, though I have only taken it for short rides.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: hwlee on January 13, 2011, 12:44:09 PM
My ride also facing same problem since yesterday.
The rpm seen normal when start-up the engine, but after driving for a distance and you stopped your car due to traffic jam or traffic light, you might saw the rpm dropped below 600rpm or more worst is it dropped to 0 rpm then the car engine will stopped. After I restart the engine, the acceleration seen not response well for the few second. :crycry:
The car no problem at all when driving high speed. But engine stopped while in the traffic jam or in front of the traffic light or U-turn. It is not issue of how old of the car but what i concern is the safety as the car behind might crash our ride if the engine stalled in stop/slow moving condition.
Now I asking my friend to take out the E-Throttle body nd clean it (as my friend said the E-Throttle motor might working fine and no need replacement). Will see did this solved the problem.
Title: Re: Help! Engine Stalls While Driving
Post by: Toalson on January 23, 2011, 10:47:04 PM
Could it be the fuel pump?