97 Ser.3 Super Touring Engine / Comp. Box problems

**BigHead** · July 28th, 2009 03:18 PM

Good day to you all and thank you for taking time to review my post. I really hope you guys can help me out with my car problem.

I drive a 97 Nissan Sentra Series 3 Super Touring w/c I bought from my uncle last January of this year.

Everything was suave at first but as expected na rin, some problems are already popping up and eto yung mga napainsin ko:

1. Minsan, when everything's on (engine, ac, lights, etc...) bigla nalang maririnig mo yung engine na parang mamamatayan ka pero hindi tu-tuloy. Bago mangyari to, you will notice na medyo nagf-fluctuate na yung headlights ko.

- Sabi ng father-in-law ko, pa check ko na raw Computer Box, kaso alam ko mahal kung sa Nissan na Casa ako magpapatingin. Meron pa ba kayong alam na pwede kong puntahan para mapatignan ko yung computer box (kung yun nga kaya yung sira)? Meron nabang naka experience sa inyo ng ganitong problema? Meron ba kayong talyer na mare-recommend na kaya tong gantiong problem pero mas mura sa kasa?

2. Sometimes pag nags-shift ako ng gears, meron akong nadidinig na malaks na "thug" pag binitawan ko na yung clutch. Kahit pa mabagal lang ang release ko.

- Kutob ko pang-ilalim issue nato. What do you guys think?

3. Pina-check ko yung AC ko recently (though malamig naman sya) and the AC mechanic said, hilaw na daw yung lamig and kailngan nang linisan yung AC, palit dryer and dagdag freon daw.

- Usually "local dryers" na ang pinapalit nila right? meron ba akong mabibiling original na NISSAN na DRYER para sa AC ko?

Sorry for the long post, any feedback or input from you guys will truly help.

Thanks again for your time.

Cheers!

**ghosthunter** · July 28th, 2009 05:18 PM

You can have it brought to SPEEDLAB (quezon ave)

http://www.speedlab.com.ph/contact.htm

1. speedlab has the diagnostic computer which can connect to your car. It may or may not see the problem but the technicians there are knowledgable.

2. sounds like a tranny mount worn out. Speedlab can also fix that.

**blacksun25** · July 28th, 2009 05:40 PM

1. baka kinakapos lang sa kuryente yung car mo. might be alternator-related at hindi sa computer box. it would always be advisable na ipa-scan mo yung ecu mo for any error codes. dalhin mo sa casa. mura lang naman diagnostic fee.

2. transmission support lang yun. mura lang palitan yun. kahit japan replacement lang ok na. will set you back around 1K for parts and labor.

pa check mo na rin yung engine mounts mo. baka worn out na rin yung iba.

3. kung malamig naman ang aircon mo. wag mo na muna pagalaw. may mga shops talaga na ganyan ang modus. sasabihin may sira ang AC mo pero wala naman talaga.

in my experience ok lang naman ang local dryers. mahal kasi ang orig. try to have your AC services at trusted shops lang Mang Mario's. Wala pang 1K ang cleaning kasama na freon charging. hth.

**BigHead** · July 28th, 2009 05:51 PM

Thanks a bunch Ghosthunter.

Will surely call them and check them out.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by BigHead

Good day to you all and thank you for taking time to review my post. I really hope you guys can help me out with my car problem.

I drive a 97 Nissan Sentra Series 3 Super Touring w/c I bought from my uncle last January of this year.

Everything was suave at first but as expected na rin, some problems are already popping up and eto yung mga napainsin ko:

1. Minsan, when everything's on (engine, ac, lights, etc...) bigla nalang maririnig mo yung engine na parang mamamatayan ka pero hindi tu-tuloy. Bago mangyari to, you will notice na medyo nagf-fluctuate na yung headlights ko.

- Sabi ng father-in-law ko, pa check ko na raw Computer Box, kaso alam ko mahal kung sa Nissan na Casa ako magpapatingin. Meron pa ba kayong alam na pwede kong puntahan para mapatignan ko yung computer box (kung yun nga kaya yung sira)? Meron nabang naka experience sa inyo ng ganitong problema? Meron ba kayong talyer na mare-recommend na kaya tong gantiong problem pero mas mura sa kasa?

2. Sometimes pag nags-shift ako ng gears, meron akong nadidinig na malaks na "thug" pag binitawan ko na yung clutch. Kahit pa mabagal lang ang release ko.

- Kutob ko pang-ilalim issue nato. What do you guys think?

3. Pina-check ko yung AC ko recently (though malamig naman sya) and the AC mechanic said, hilaw na daw yung lamig and kailngan nang linisan yung AC, palit dryer and dagdag freon daw.

- Usually "local dryers" na ang pinapalit nila right? meron ba akong mabibiling original na NISSAN na DRYER para sa AC ko?

Sorry for the long post, any feedback or input from you guys will truly help.

Thanks again for your time.

Cheers!

**OTEP** · July 28th, 2009 06:01 PM

The Series 3 computer box is well protected from the elements (it's beside the accelerator pedal) and failures are rare. A failure will usually manifest with a check-engine-light on your instrument cluster.

You can have the box checked for good measure but I'd check more mechanical things like the idle controls (a maze of hoses and servos on the engine) that manage vehicle idling.

Also start with the fundamentals like new fluids and filters. A clogged fuel or air filter can cause stalling also.

The 'thud' could be an engine support or a transmission issue. Best to have it checked.

If the a/c blows cold to you, don't mind your mechanic.

**BigHead** · July 28th, 2009 06:08 PM

Thank you very much as well Blacksun for your input.

Yun nga rin ang kutob ko, engine support or transmission support yung nagc-cause ng tunog na yon.

Do you have an idea as to how much yung pa diagnostics ng ECU sa nissan casa?

Your right, though minsan napapansin ko rin na pag humahataw ka eh parang medyo humihina yung AC, pero kutob ko naman dahil na rin sa init ng headers siguro.

Have you guys heard of the "thermal wrap" para sa headers? my borther-in-law suggested it pero ngayon ko lang kase nadinig yon.

How about you guys?

**Galactus** · July 28th, 2009 06:19 PM

I used to own a Sentra Series 3, until I sold it in 2007. Served me well, solid yung makina, lamig ng aircon, pero I had issues with the radiator and bypass hoses, kaya madalas mag-overheat noon.

Re: (1), malamang marumi na yung IACV and/or throttle body. Sakit talaga ng Sentra yan. Dami ko ring nagastos noon trying to find the culprit kasi bumababa yung idling ng makina to the point na namamatay siya. Mainly pag nagme-menor ako or paliko (kasi I have to decelerate). Humihina din buga ng headlights until eventually mag-stall yung engine.

Yung mechanic na nakaayos ng ride ko (taga Shell Pook Ligaya), sabi niya marami na raw siyang Sentrang naayos na ganun ang problema. Actually, di pa nga tapos ang kuwento ko, sabi niya agad na alam na niya ang problema, at yakang-yaka niya ayusin.

Well, true enough, naayos niya nga. Since sinabay ko na sa oil change, I didn't pay him anything. Dinagdagan ko na lang yung tip niya, hehehe. Less than 5 minutes' work.

Basically, IIRC, tinanggal niya yata yung parang idling screw(?), tapos binugahan niya lang ng compressed air (daming naipon na soot at maitim na alikabok!) sabay buga ng carb cleaner, voila! Idling issues solved.

**BigHead** · July 28th, 2009 06:25 PM

Thank you as well OTEP,

Maybe I'm just over-reacting nga lang talaga with the Comp. Box thing. And your right, hindi ko pa naman nakikita umilaw yung "check engine" light. Sa tingin ko rin baka sa idling lang ang problema kase nangyayari lang naman yun usually pag nakafull-stop ako.

And yes, mukhang engine o transmission support issue nga yung inngay na nadidinig ko just as BlackSun mentioned.

Yung AC is last on my checklist talaga coz I have my doubts din about that.

Thanks again for your input mga chiefs

Originally Posted by OTEP

The Series 3 computer box is well protected from the elements (it's beside the accelerator pedal) and failures are rare. A failure will usually manifest with a check-engine-light on your instrument cluster.

You can have the box checked for good measure but I'd check more mechanical things like the idle controls (a maze of hoses and servos on the engine) that manage vehicle idling.

Also start with the fundamentals like new fluids and filters. A clogged fuel or air filter can cause stalling also.

The 'thud' could be an engine support or a transmission issue. Best to have it checked.

If the a/c blows cold to you, don't mind your mechanic.

**BigHead** · July 28th, 2009 06:43 PM

Thank you very much sa input Galactus,

I am actually pretty happy sa performance ni "Turing" (my Sentra's name). Oh and hindi po ako loose thread mga chiefs.... my wife and I have grown really fond lang of giving names to our cars. Kinda cheezy I know hehe

I actually called up a Nissan casa sa Shaw and they did mention na baka kailngan lang linisan yung "throttle body". At least now I know na sakit pala talaga ng Sentra yan and I can probably have it fixed as well w/out spending an arm and a leg.

Chief, san ba yang mekaniko mo? where is Shell Pook Ligaya located? Plano ko rin dalhin talaga si Turing dun sa Shell na malapit samin tho di ko lang sure if their mechanics have the same calibre as yours does. I hope they do sana para di nako lumayo pa.

Sasabay ko na rin sya sa Oil Change ko.

Thanks again for your help mga chiefs.

Originally Posted by Galactus

I used to own a Sentra Series 3, until I sold it in 2007. Served me well, solid yung makina, lamig ng aircon, pero I had issues with the radiator and bypass hoses, kaya madalas mag-overheat noon.

Re: (1), malamang marumi na yung IACV and/or throttle body. Sakit talaga ng Sentra yan. Dami ko ring nagastos noon trying to find the culprit kasi bumababa yung idling ng makina to the point na namamatay siya. Mainly pag nagme-menor ako or paliko (kasi I have to decelerate). Humihina din buga ng headlights until eventually mag-stall yung engine.

Yung mechanic na nakaayos ng ride ko (taga Shell Pook Ligaya), sabi niya marami na raw siyang Sentrang naayos na ganun ang problema. Actually, di pa nga tapos ang kuwento ko, sabi niya agad na alam na niya ang problema, at yakang-yaka niya ayusin.

Well, true enough, naayos niya nga. Since sinabay ko na sa oil change, I didn't pay him anything. Dinagdagan ko na lang yung tip niya, hehehe. Less than 5 minutes' work.

Basically, IIRC, tinanggal niya yata yung parang idling screw(?), tapos binugahan niya lang ng compressed air (daming naipon na soot at maitim na alikabok!) sabay buga ng carb cleaner, voila! Idling issues solved.

**Galactus** · July 29th, 2009 08:52 AM

Chief, san ba yang mekaniko mo? where is Shell Pook Ligaya located? Plano ko rin dalhin talaga si Turing dun sa Shell na malapit samin tho di ko lang sure if their mechanics have the same calibre as yours does. I hope they do sana para di nako lumayo pa.

Dito kasi kami sa may Commonwealth Avenue. Shell Pook Ligaya station is near BF Homes QC, papuntang FEU-FERN College. So baka malayo nang masyado sa inyo.

Yung ibang mekaniko kasi, pag sinabing palinis ng throttle body, talagang baklas. So mahal yung labor nila, pero pulidong malinis naman yung TB. Tipid mode kasi ako nun eh, hehehe, kaya ok na yung buga at spray method.