- Location
- Huntsville, AL
Info:
2000 Xterra XE
252,xxx miles
Automatic
Timing Belt changed at 171,xxx
Oil changed at 249,xxx
No CEL
On my way back to Alabama tonight, I noticed a stutter while on the interstate around 3 hours into my drive. The stutter wasn't consistent enough to be a gear from the trans or axle, and it had no pattern. I pulled off the interstate to do a quick and somewhat inaccurate check of symptoms and problem area.
Symptoms:
After pulling off the interstate, I left the engine running. In park/neutral I revved the engine to 3000 rpm, stopping every 500rpm or so to see if there was any consistency. Initially, I couldn't replicate the problem. Upon performing the same test a minute or so later, I was able to recreate the stutter. This time, however, it would start to stutter on its own, intermittently, without the addition of the skinny pedal. I attempted to listen when it would stutter, for any noises. I hardly heard a light clicking sound. I felt around the engine, while still running, to check for any knocking. Although I didn't check many places, I thought I matched up the sound with the light knock coming from the distributor. I say thought, because I'm not positive it was indeed coming from the dizzy. I am fairly confident it is something in the engine based upon my test (boy, doesn't that narrow it down).
I eventually took the chance and continued to drive it, more cautiously, all the way back to my current accommodations. The entire time I drove, it got worse, most noticeably under higher torque situations (accelerating up hills) or right around 60-65mph (2400-2500 rpm). That said, it was happening all around the tachometer, but it was most noticeable around those conditions. Upon disembarking from the interstate, the truck stalled out at a stop light. Prior to doing so, the engine would rev to attempt to keep rpm. This happened twice at the same light and then one final time when backing into my apt.
The Question(s):
Is it the distributor? I don't WANT to say it the timing belt or a warped piston/rod.
TL;DR:
Engine sputters. Don't know why.
2000 Xterra XE
252,xxx miles
Automatic
Timing Belt changed at 171,xxx
Oil changed at 249,xxx
No CEL
On my way back to Alabama tonight, I noticed a stutter while on the interstate around 3 hours into my drive. The stutter wasn't consistent enough to be a gear from the trans or axle, and it had no pattern. I pulled off the interstate to do a quick and somewhat inaccurate check of symptoms and problem area.
Symptoms:
After pulling off the interstate, I left the engine running. In park/neutral I revved the engine to 3000 rpm, stopping every 500rpm or so to see if there was any consistency. Initially, I couldn't replicate the problem. Upon performing the same test a minute or so later, I was able to recreate the stutter. This time, however, it would start to stutter on its own, intermittently, without the addition of the skinny pedal. I attempted to listen when it would stutter, for any noises. I hardly heard a light clicking sound. I felt around the engine, while still running, to check for any knocking. Although I didn't check many places, I thought I matched up the sound with the light knock coming from the distributor. I say thought, because I'm not positive it was indeed coming from the dizzy. I am fairly confident it is something in the engine based upon my test (boy, doesn't that narrow it down).
I eventually took the chance and continued to drive it, more cautiously, all the way back to my current accommodations. The entire time I drove, it got worse, most noticeably under higher torque situations (accelerating up hills) or right around 60-65mph (2400-2500 rpm). That said, it was happening all around the tachometer, but it was most noticeable around those conditions. Upon disembarking from the interstate, the truck stalled out at a stop light. Prior to doing so, the engine would rev to attempt to keep rpm. This happened twice at the same light and then one final time when backing into my apt.
The Question(s):
Is it the distributor? I don't WANT to say it the timing belt or a warped piston/rod.
TL;DR:
Engine sputters. Don't know why.
Last edited:
