Silvia Club of NSW

Once again i find myself fixing things that i shouldnt have to worry about. Maybe that SR20 VCT Blacktop conversion is looking very inviting.

Anyway My CA18 S13 will not start. It backfired on start up i mangaed to drive 60m down the the road with the car running like a dog as if it was running on 1 cylinder then it died and didnt restart. (AN AUTO!!!)

Ive checked as many leads, sensors, wiring, hoses as i could see and they seem fine. It keeps rolling over and over on the starter motor with no sign of life.

Would it be fuel pump, coilpacks, ECU, low compression maybe. It is the weirdest thing ever!!

Ill check that its receiving fuel and see if there is a spark going to the engine tommorow. Its so strange how it was running fine one day and not running at all the next. Ideas, advice a possible diagnosis would help greatly

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- 1989 Nissan 300zx Fairlady (weekend warrior)

-1989 Nissan s13 silvia K's (Daily)

Nissan+ turbo= Good fun

a backfire can often blow a hose off somewhere and cause a major air leak.
Check all the intake plumbing.

A fuel pump problem is also fairly likely, so pull the fuel line off the filter and check that it's pumping fuel when you turn the ignition on (have a bottle / bucket to catch the fuel!)

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The Engine Whisperer - fixer of things

Took me three hours to isolate problem but it was a coolant sensor, (YES A COOLANT SENSOR ) that wasnt seating properly. cleaned it and all good now. Car running ok. I cant believe something like that could give me such a headache.


1. Checked for fouled spark plugs, changed them that wasnt the problem.

2. Checked no 1 cylinder for spark had a spark. still no start.

3. Checked for fuel delivery by taking off hose from filter into fuel rail plenty of fuel so no fuel problem.

4. Checked for injection pulse. All good still no start.

5. Checked earth leads too engine still no start. Also checked crank angle, maf, TPS

6. Mechanic told me too check coolant sensor not the gauge one but the other sensor. Not seated properly so cleaned and it ran fine. So frustrating but all good.

All the while i had a 180sx enthusiast telling me how great the sr20det is in his car and hasnt given him a problem once so that didnt help my frustration either.

So yeah im losing faith in the CA's quick smart and just want a blacktop sr now





fuel delivery

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- 1989 Nissan 300zx Fairlady (weekend warrior)

-1989 Nissan s13 silvia K's (Daily)

Nissan+ turbo= Good fun

good job finding it!

Coolant sensor issues can cause all sorts of problem, but it's weird that it would backfire and then die.

Definitely plan for SR conversion
(although someone did have a really strange coolant sensor problem recently on an SR!)

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The Engine Whisperer - fixer of things