Nissan Almera (2000 - 2006) - 1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Sun 14 Oct 2007 18:40

1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. - scott1s

My brother has my old Almera 1.8 sport now on 82K miles. It has been faultless up to now but now shows a 'jumpiness in its pick up. To explain - it revs up, then drops back a few hundred rpm, picks up, drops back another few hundred rpm. Today the engine control warning light came on. I initially suspected the MAF, however I now fear the worst - stretched timing chain. Can anyone shed any light?
Is it safe to disconnect the MAF and try driving? I can do this with the Alfa and it doesn't store a fault code, but In so far as I can remember the Nissan ECU stores the code and does not clear until it was reset.
Thanks for any assistance you can give a now ex-member.

{SLT and moved from Discussion. }

Edited by Pugugly {P} on 14/10/2007 at 18:53

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Sun 14 Oct 2007 19:24

1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. - Screwloose

scott

Does the tacho needle jitter at idle? This does sound a bit like the dreaded chain issue. If it's stored misfire, or cam/crank synch, codes that's not a good sign.

It's only five minutes to whip the cam-cover off and visually check the chain tensioner protrusion, which is the definitive test. More than 10mm out and the chain is gone.

You can swap the cam and crank sensors on these; it's the same part. There were allegedly "improved" ones available; but they don't mask a worn chain for long. [Just until the warranty expires....]

They will store MAF codes if you disconnect it.

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Sun 14 Oct 2007 20:03

1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. - scott1s

Thanks for the reply. No idle seems perfect, just seems to start when accelerating from 1500 rpm upwards. Really weird sensation, no violent jerkiness as such you are just aware of repeated, short hesitations.

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Sun 14 Oct 2007 22:46

1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. - GregSwain

AFAIK the chain issue only affected the 1.5 version, and even so, only the early models. Could still be the chain but I think it's unlikely.

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Sun 14 Oct 2007 23:27

1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. - Screwloose

Greg

That was Nissan's spin on the scandal; it wasn't exactly correct.....

[They didn't mention the Micra chain epidemic either....]

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Tue 20 Nov 2007 19:58

1.8 QG18DE engine. Erratic revving and EWL. - scott1s

Went to an indy garage, diagnonsed - another - faulty crankshaft sensor, the cars third in its lifetime. £50 later fault cured

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