issues with titan starting and running

[papojengo]

2004 TITAN SE 4X4 101k miles mods include: header back exhaust, k&n cold air intake, tbs... and suspension lift / wheels tires.

I drove from my house to a gas station, got a full tank.. drove no more than 2 miles and the truck stalled out on the main road. It felt like fuel cut out.

I steered to the side of the road... tried to crank in both park and neutral, however engine would not turn over. at the first try of cranking the motor over, i heard combustion but nothing to follow.

I had the truck towed back to my house and started to do basic diagnostics: after checking the obd2 for codes (code for an o2 sensor- N/A to issue here)
1) checked the battery- good
2) checked all fuses and switched the relays in the idpm- good
3) pulled each coil and had a buddy crank while i checked for spark- good
4) disconnected the fuel rail and had a buddy turn key, check for fuel- good
( every time i tried to turn the key we heard the pump turn on... i know it doesnt mean its pulling fuel but im just saying its energized / excited. )

after this.. i left it alone, and the next morning i tried cranking and it fired right up, however was running rough like misfires feel. i let it run and tried holding the gas a few times thinking i may have flooded it a little from testing the day before.. and wanted to try and clear it out. this was not the case.. and after idle of 5 minutes it stalled out and no new codes.. I then drove it to nissan assuming this is a computer related issue that my generic scanner cant work with or since the truck doesnt have a fuel pressure port, i cant monitor the pressure to see if i have a pump failure intermittently.

I agreed to a $100 diagnostic fee @ 8am. they took it on around 9am, it started right up and they drove it trying to duplicate the condition ( rough idle, stalling, intermittent starting conditions ) after a few hours of driving the truck.. it finally stalled out. they saw no sign of fuel cut out on the scanner, no codes came up and they had a porter grab a few gallons of gas (because they clearly didnt understand when i said i put a full tank the day before. ) thinking i was out of fuel which is how i described the feeling as well. after letting the truck sit for 10-15 minutes they got it back running however did not make it back to the dealership.. and told me the computer was no good. they claimed the spark was lost intermittently. i asked if the crank sensor could be at fault and they claimed it would throw a code, and this is a computer issue. i also asked about an ipdm going bad, whcih they responded to me that they swapped one out with another truck to check it due to its common failure. so the truck was towed the remainder of the way back tot he dealer and hasnt be able to turn over since ( 3 days )

I was very skeptical because a bad computer effecting spark output will throw codes for whichever coils arent firing or even not communicate at all when they are faulty. so, i had an extra computer out of a good running titan i used to own ( same exact truck - year, 4x4, gear ratio etc ) and brought it down to have them swap out for an hour labor.

surprise surprise... i call them that night when i was supposed to pick it up. they said the same no start condition is occuring with the other computer. I said "no sh!t - thats why i didnt jump to buy your new 650 computer " and since then, they have had a case open with a tech line trying to diagnose the issue. the truck has now in total been at the dealer for a 9 days. I have no accurate diagnosis, no promise from them, nor do i have any good will from them..

I am not sure what the proper protocol is, next step would be, or how to approach this matter. I drove the truck to them, and i feel i shouldnt get it back not running. i also agreed to a 100 diagnosis fee which i feel i shouldnt pay until i have a correct diagnosis. does anyone have any advice? for my next action or possibly an overlooked issue?

thanks in advance.

[SUBTITAN]

I will throw this out there, may not be the problem, but I always start at the last thing that I did. Is it possible you got bad gas? Have them siphon the tank and put fresh, or put some type of fuel drying chemicals in. Then see if it starts.

[KC4xSV]

Originally Posted by SUBTITAN

.......I always start at the last thing that I did. Is it possible you got bad gas? Have them siphon the tank and put fresh, or put some type of fuel drying chemicals in. Then see if it starts.

I'm thinking the same way. Water, trash, something in that gas.

[bestatchess]

Dunno, but IMHO a bunch of cranking w/o starting may fry your cats.

[papojengo]

Originally Posted by bestatchess

Dunno, but IMHO a bunch of cranking w/o starting may fry your cats.

i dont have cats, i have headers with o2 emulators.

i was thinking it could be bad gas.. at first i thought oh crap, maybe they accidentally put diesel . however, i filled up my car at the same station, same pump, same fuel octane... no earlier than 10 minutes before i filled up the titan and the car is running fine ( knock on wood ).

possible the crank sensor can be faulty without throwing a code?

[papojengo]

It's has been determined by Nissan tech line diagnostics that the timing chain is stretched out causing this issue.

[cmhynds]

Have you cleaned your MAF sensor? Easy fix. Seriously about 4 min. I had the same issues as your describing. The way the truck acted. I found and read on here the MAF sensor can get dirty easy and the afr can be way off. Just a suggestion for you to try not your dealership. Just so you have the satisfaction of knowing it was not it or it really was. I'm not a huge fan of dealerships. Lol just a suggestion.

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[cmhynds]

My mothers new tahoe just went in to get fixed, Sheetz gas in PA, tested 25% ethanol. What happened to just gas? Just putting my thoughts. Lol

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[SUBTITAN]

Crank sensor should throw a code, at least a soft code

[KC4xSV]

Originally Posted by bestatchess

Dunno, but IMHO a bunch of cranking w/o starting may fry your cats.

Mmmm, fried cats. I like fried cats - I had them when I was over in the Mediterranean area.

[Tights24]

SO what's the final outcome? I would have suggested cleaning the MAF as well....

[SUBTITAN]

Discussion has moved to this thread Stretched timing chain?! problem still in trouble-shooting mode.