Newbie in PA

Rocko

Rocko

Test Drive
Location
Pittsburgh
Hello everyone! Just bought a 2001 XE 3.3L 4x4. Hoping this is an enjoyable experience. My only downside is that this is going to be my daily driver, so nothing crazy on the mods but I still would like to "enhance" its performance.
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
No worries, there's plenty of "not too crazy" cheap mods you can do to spice it up a bit....but its still going to be a body on frame truck, not an auto-crosser.

:D
 
Rocko

Rocko

Test Drive
Location
Pittsburgh
Day 3 of ownership and already getting sputtering and CEL blinkage. CEL was on when I bought it, but the test drive ran great. This motor was supposedly a replacement with 70000 on it as the original had a bad knock. Already thinking about the O2 Sensor del and punching the cats as we have no emissions in this county. Motor sometimes runs great. After 3000 rpm it runs like a top. Dealer is looking at it tomorrow since its got a warranty.

Question: Could low octane gas cause this? When I bought it I filled up with 87 not knowing it takes higher grade. It ran ok with some slight sputtering at 55mph but would come out of it after about 2000 rpm. Ran that tank almost out and filled back up with 91. Sputters worse now, and now the CEL blinks.

Question 2: Should I be asking this question somewhere else in the forum as Im new to this form of discussion.
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
Rocko said:
Day 3 of ownership and already getting sputtering and CEL blinkage. CEL was on when I bought it, but the test drive ran great. This motor was supposedly a replacement with 70000 on it as the original had a bad knock. Already thinking about the O2 Sensor del and punching the cats as we have no emissions in this county. Motor sometimes runs great. After 3000 rpm it runs like a top. Dealer is looking at it tomorrow since its got a warranty.

Question: Could low octane gas cause this? When I bought it I filled up with 87 not knowing it takes higher grade. It ran ok with some slight sputtering at 55mph but would come out of it after about 2000 rpm. Ran that tank almost out and filled back up with 91. Sputters worse now, and now the CEL blinks.

Question 2: Should I be asking this question somewhere else in the forum as Im new to this form of discussion.
Click to expand...


ONLY the SC needs premium, ALL the rest run best on Regular. (You don't have an SC, they came out in 2002)

IE: 91 is not going to burn fast enough to work with the timing programs...and unburned HC will be blown out, etc.

Let us know what the shop says.
 
Last edited:
Rocko

Rocko

Test Drive
Location
Pittsburgh
TJTJ said:
ONLY the SC needs premium, ALL the rest run best on Regular. (You don't have an SC, they came out in 2002)

IE: 91 is not going to burn fast enough to work with the timing programs...and unburned HC will be blown out, etc.

Let us know what the shop says.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help TJTJ! Switching back to 89 isnt going to break my heart!

Plans:
Get motor running like it should.
headers and exhaust
airbox
PML
tires and rims
locker

Are there chips for these?
 
Muadeeb

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Rocko said:
Thanks for the help TJTJ! Switching back to 89 isnt going to break my heart!

Plans:
Get motor running like it should.
headers and exhaust
airbox
PML
tires and rims
locker

Are there chips for these?
Click to expand...

Not that really do anything. The 3.3 Computer isn't smart enough. Check your distributor for lateral play. Any=toast bearing. Bearing can be replaced for about $8 if you have a press, otherwise its a new dizzy.

It may rotate along its normal path some, your checking for front/back movement.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
 
Rocko

Rocko

Test Drive
Location
Pittsburgh
Muadeeb said:
Not that really do anything. The 3.3 Computer isn't smart enough. Check your distributor for lateral play. Any=toast bearing. Bearing can be replaced for about $8 if you have a press, otherwise its a new dizzy.

It may rotate along its normal path some, your checking for front/back movement.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
Click to expand...

I've already installed a new cap and rotor, the wires looked brand new so I kept them (although I might replace them anyway). There was no play at all in the dizshaft. Got new plugs just havent put them in since you need a 3 ft extension with 7 universal flex joints and 3 hours to get #6. :lolz:
So Im going to let the dealer take care of those.
Im leaning more towards the problem being in the cat and o2 setup since the original is still on it with 130,000 on it.
 
Rocko

Rocko

Test Drive
Location
Pittsburgh
Update number 2. As I said in my other post, I traced the problem down to the o2 sensors being incorrectly plugged in to the opposite bank. Have them switched and the motor purrs like a kitten now. I received the new distributor from the dealer, sure is purdy. I sure hate to get it dirty. I think I am going to find another donor motor and start at the bottom. I dont know much about the super charged motor. Was is worth anything? Would it be worth building a monster? Can you? Are the parts available? Anyone doing performance trans? Thanks for all the input from everyone! I knew I would enjoy driving this thing more and more. Im still on the fence about the color. I have yet to see another one like it. Anyone else seen one or have one? I really like the rigs you all drive! Awesome stuff! I happen to work in a steel fab shop as well, so, I see some steel being replaced, off the clock of course. ;)
 
Last edited:
D

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
SC conversion is a waste of a bunch of money..
You would need the computer and all to make it work right. The knock sensor is also a issue and a pain to change out EVERY time it stops working.. And unlike the normal 3.3 where the KS does little, in the SC it does **** down the Sc..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top