Discussion:
Nissan K25 starts and dies

We haven't seen or worked on this machine for a few years, but the customer called the other day, no starting. One of my techs went out, I don't remember the code, but it could be the cam or crank sensor and he replaced both. He mentioned the cam sensor plug was cracked up on the outside. After this, he finally got it started and found he had a bad miss on one cylinder he thought. I ran him a compressor pressure tester to site, and checked again and found #3 and 4 cylinders not firing. We checked compression. Had well over 210 each, checked for an intake leak. All seemed fine. We installed new spark plugs in 3 and 4 ( yes- the special ones) and no help. We then swapped 3/4 coils with 1/2 coils and now 3/4 will run the engine, but 1/2 are no longer contributing. So.... We ordered two new coils and I went myself this morning to install. I tried to start the machine when I arrived, but it would crank and die. Installed the two coil packs, same result. I checked the 5 amp fuse at the injector and found that it was fine, but I would get a blinking voltage there, then when it started, the blinking would stop and the engine would die. I pulled the busted up plug loose from the cam sensor and I then get no "blinks" at the fuse, so this seems to indicate the problem?? Any ideas out there?
Nissan MCUL02A33LV
SN 9Q0119
  • Posted 4 Jun 2014 03:05
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
Showing items 21 - 40 of 46 results.
This truck came in for a no start problem. No spark. (It's a Tusk 350CG-17 with the K21) After replacing the cam and crank sensors still no start but a blown fuse was found in a harness above the valve cover. Fuel pressure was also high. After changing the regulator it would start when it felt like it. We put the original cam and crank sensors back in and it took right off. After troubleshooting sure enough it was a bad TVH cam sensor. Thanks for the help!
  • Posted 21 Nov 2014 01:20
  • By Gearhead
  • joined 23 Mar'10 - 9 messages
  • Ohio, United States
a bad crank sensor will make it have NO spark at all, (the ECM requires 2 rotations to be "sensed" through the crank sensor, before any spark at all happens). the cam sensor (if bad or disconnected) will barely allow any spark, just enough to make you release the key from the crank position. MOST Nissan k21- k25 series motors give pretty good error condition codes, and should set a code for either of these conditions that is readable with the software, or in the dash.
Just in the last month, I have had a series of brand new bad cam sensors from TVH, (for K21-K25 Nissan motors) and resorted to having the local Nissan Dealer get one OEM that worked as it should.
  • Posted 18 Nov 2014 22:13
  • By edward_t
  • joined 5 Mar'08 - 2,334 messages
  • South Carolina, United States
"it's not rocket surgery"
Thank you for the reply. I will let you know what I find.
  • Posted 18 Nov 2014 07:24
  • By Gearhead
  • joined 23 Mar'10 - 9 messages
  • Ohio, United States
Gear head, I had the local dealership take the baton on this repair after discussing it with my customer. Their tech said he could have Nissan work with him after installing the updated injector if it still didn't run. Well, he installed it and it still didn't run. Then the story I got was he ordered/ replaced the wiring pigtail to cam sensor. No help. Then Factory had him replace the crank and cam sensor with OEM parts, and this made it start and run. We use TVH parts, and had already swapped them to test once- so I'm not sure I buy the story. My customer (yes still 😊)approved having me reinstall the "defective" parts to see the result, but only one of the two sensors could ever be found......
Keep us posted.
  • Posted 18 Nov 2014 06:20
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
What did you figure out on this? I have one doing the same thing.
  • Posted 18 Nov 2014 06:04
  • By Gearhead
  • joined 23 Mar'10 - 9 messages
  • Ohio, United States
Great info. Thanks!
  • Posted 11 Jun 2014 12:16
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
Yes the secondary\assist can leak, it happen to me a few times , when it happen it have a build-up of oil and the injector stay open. When the oil heat up , it start to act normmal. Oil residue can be found in injector holder and vaporizer. Try to clean it all.
  • Posted 11 Jun 2014 11:41
  • By Nickauger
  • joined 11 Jun'14 - 9 messages
  • Quebec, Canada
Alanmitsu, those are good points. The dealer tech came back today and repaired air flow sensor wiring (it wasn't broken, but the insulation was pretty ragged) and then installed a new air flow sensor, but no help. As you mentioned, he also said it wouldn't throw a code. I had ordered and we replaced the LP filter at the lock off, still no help. He thinks we should replace the injector- so I'm gonna check with the customer tomorrow.
Tell me more about the assist injector- I know this only fires under high load/ high RPM. Can it leak/ bypass?
  • Posted 11 Jun 2014 10:36
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
If all the fuel filters clean solenoid and manifold fuel pressure ok make sure assit injector free injector most likly faulty they have just been superseded to a new no now teflon coated check wiring to airflow sensor they often break worth trying a new airflow meter as they dont throw up a code can all be checked but you would need the lead and gse programe
  • Posted 11 Jun 2014 06:45
  • By alanmitsi
  • joined 8 Aug'13 - 151 messages
  • essex, United Kingdom
I'll keep it in mind.
  • Posted 10 Jun 2014 21:09
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
This may sound crazy but I've had this type of issue with Toyotas. The ignition timing gets severely retarded while cranking. Try checking the timing while cranking vs running to see if there's a difference.

If there is then what I did to confirm voltage drop as it's cause was to jump the starter with another battery altogether (jumper battery for starter totally it's own circuit-not connected to forklift at all) & then check timing while cranking- in my case the timing didn't change in this scenario. Not sure it's applicable but I thought I'd share
  • Posted 10 Jun 2014 13:54
  • By bbforks
  • joined 1 Mar'12 - 1,437 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
bbforks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
Customers love technology- until they have to pay to fix it!
Those are some good points BB. It seems that once the engine reaches operating temp it starts right up. To get it started when cold, I can shoot throttle body cleaner into the air cleaner on the OHG post or pull the air cleaner elbow and pour in a cap full of gas. Once it starts it runs great. Climbs ramps, idles great, etc. The low pressure vapor line seems to be fine. Earlier in we had ordered a new Nikki regulator, my tech had determined that that pressure was a little high- we ended up pulling it back off when it didn't help (and have since put it back on). When the old regulator was back on, I tapped into it and showed the pressure was slightly high (with a simple dial gauge) but stayed steady enough during the attempted crank cycle, so it seems the lock off is doing ok. I still may bypass it to eliminate the possibility of it being a problem that you had. Thanks for the suggestions!
  • Posted 10 Jun 2014 11:50
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
You say it starts & cuts out when cold- how long does it have to run for this symptom to go away? How do you keep it running to get past this start/stop issue?

A few things to ponder- how's the fuel line from the regulator to the fuel injector assy? Any chance of a slight rub through, tar build up, etc?

Secondly-How's the fuel shut off solenoid? On occasion I've had them open enough to give initial pressure to the fuel system to start but not enough to allow the engine to run. Once the tar softens the symptom goes away- doesn't happen often but once in a while.....
  • Posted 10 Jun 2014 04:57
  • Modified 10 Jun 2014 05:07 by poster
  • By bbforks
  • joined 1 Mar'12 - 1,437 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
bbforks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
Customers love technology- until they have to pay to fix it!
BBF, here's the update. Customer went to use it today for the first time. Starts and dies.... Same as before. Apparently the machine got hot enough before to continue starting. We will carry on again tomorrow.
  • Posted 10 Jun 2014 04:39
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
Sure doesn't take much on these newer trucks to have a fuel problem since they run so lean. I feel your pain having to call the dealer- but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
  • Posted 8 Jun 2014 00:07
  • By bbforks
  • joined 1 Mar'12 - 1,437 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
bbforks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
Customers love technology- until they have to pay to fix it!
Here is the update for anyone interested. I bit the bullet and had a tech from the Nissan dealer come out with a laptop. It turned out that our fuel pressure from the regulator was 28 kPa (about 4 psi) measured with the fuel pressure sensor, he tapped out the dirty LP fuel filter just prior to the regulator, and got us up to 33 kPa which let it start and run great. 35 kPa is spec (just over 5 psi) which a new filter I have ordered should get us too. Now- it sure doesn't seem to make sense, especially since it ran great if you got it started, but that was the cure. I'm glad to have it running!!
  • Posted 7 Jun 2014 07:59
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
She is LP. Thanks Kevin.
  • Posted 4 Jun 2014 16:48
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
one question, is this a gasoline or LPG truck? If LPG,it sounds to me like a possible tar build up issue in the air mixer/injector. Remove the inlet line from the converter to the mixer and see if there is tar/debris built up on the "last chance" screen it will be under the LP inlet nipple,can remove the two small bolts that secure it to the mixer to take it off,just watch for the small clip that holds the screen in place.
  • Posted 4 Jun 2014 15:24
  • By kevin_t
  • joined 2 Dec'10 - 1,301 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
Got it- thanks.
  • Posted 4 Jun 2014 13:21
  • By Forkliftt
  • joined 13 Jul'09 - 321 messages
  • Louisiana, United States
Steve
steve at forkliftt dot com
Check your lp injector, the assistant injector is used for cold start enrichment, possibly giving enough fuel to start, but the main injector may not be supplying enough fuel to keep the engine running. Also check your lp pressure at converter should be between 4.5 and 5 psi. You need to determine if the condition is due to too much or not enough fuel, the fact that it runs good warm makes me lean towards the converter.
  • Posted 4 Jun 2014 12:25
  • By jeremy_s
  • joined 28 Mar'08 - 205 messages
  • California, United States

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