Car turns off when cold and idles rough

Redliner13 · 07-27-2011, 11:54 AM

I have an 1991 nissan sentra se-r. In the mornings and when engine is cold the car turns off and it idles hard. After it's warmed up it run great. I just got the car and it did that from the beginning. I done a tune-up on it. All I need are new spark plug wires and the timing is advance on it too. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PhorB13 · 07-31-2011, 08:28 PM

When you advance the timing, you need to run 91 octane at least. You are better off putting it back to stock until you get things in proper working order.

I wonder if there is a problem with the air intake valve or the idle air control valve. Maybe it's getting stuck on colder days? If someone advanced the timing, you might want to see if someone removed the coolant lines to the throttle. They heat the throttle up so it runs smoother in areas that have temperature fluctuation. Are you in NorCal or SoCal?

Redliner13 · 08-02-2011, 11:29 AM

I'm in SoCal. I only run 91 octane cause of pre-detonation. I going to clean the throttle body and check out the valves that you said. Thanks for the help *** I haven't been getting to much help.

DeathByNissan55 · 08-22-2011, 02:02 PM

Idle air control valve, back of engine, that happens to me too. master tech told me to check that and it makes sense, it basically says the where you should look for the solution right in the name of the part haha

Perttula · 09-20-2011, 09:49 AM

I have issues with idle as well, my b13 is swapped, and my 02 sensor is way too far away from the heat source. I'll have to look into the idle air control valve. I wonder if you gain lower air temps by bypassing the coolant lines on the throttle body if the car is being used primarily for race/time attack, of course depending on outside temp!