2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S from North America - Comments

2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 starting problem.

I purchased a 2002 Altima with 2.5 DOHC (variable valve timing engine) new and now have over 65,000 miles on the car. It has a very annoying intermittent cold start problem the dealer could not define under warranty, further more the dealer states that all the 2.5 DOHC engines have this problem and the only fix Nissan offers is to hold the gas pedal to the floor and crank the engine over until it starts. When the engine finally starts there is a lot of black smoke from the exhaust a result of unburnt fuel, the E.P.A. should decertify the car for this. The official explanation from Nissan for this no start in cold weather is that the vehicle floods, and if the customer writes to Nissan he is assured there will be NO written response.

I have researched this problem and found the flooding is a result and not a cause of the no start condition! The real failure has more to do with variable valve timing.

What really happens:

1 During a cold start in cold weather the oil is very thick.

2 The E.C.M. (engine control module) tests all the components - this happens every start cycle, but this problem only occurs intermittently during cold weather cold starts.

3 The I.V.T. (intake valve timing control solenoid) receives its test pulse, but due to the thick cold oil can drive the intake cam to an over advanced condition.

4 With the intake cam advanced for operation beyond 2,000 RPM and the starter motor cranking the engine below 500 RPM the near static compression is nil compared to the dynamic compression of a high revving motor with an advanced cam.

5 Cold cranking an engine with low compression while injecting fuel results in a flooded engine.

6 Holding the gas pedal down while starting from this failed condition causes more fuel to be injected, more air to flow through the engine and the throttle position sensor to tell the E.C.M. that the throttle is wide open. The E.C.M. senses the RPM of the engine is at cranking speed (too low for an advanced cam), The PHASE (camshaft position sensor) signals the E.C.M. that the cam is advanced and the E.C.M. commands the I.V.T. to retard the cam, however since the oil is still cold and thick this takes several cycles to work - resulting in more flooding until the engine finally starts.

Proof - for those who are not technically lost yet.

1 With the engine in the cold no start position (and not flooded yet)

a. Remove the spark plugs.

B. Bring pistons 1 & 4 to top dead center.

C. Put 5 psi of compressed air in cylinder 1 and feel it exhaust out cylinder 3.

D. Put 5 psi of compressed air in cylinder 4 and feel it exhaust out cylinder 2.

A tech could reasonably expect either steps c OR d to occur because ONE of the cylinders 1 or 4 will be on overlap a condition where both intake and exhaust valves are slightly open, however the other cylinder in this static condition should be on compression and the valves should be closed! If the same leak down test is performed after the failed engine finally starts and runs there will be no leakage at one of the last two steps.

Holding the gas pedal to the floor on a fuel injected engine shuts off the fuel injectors, so a flooded engine can be started. As for the cause of the initial flooding, who knows?

Wow, where did you find out all that information?

I have a 97 NISSAN Sentra GXE which had a cold start problem last winter, (and it happened again last Friday). It cranking OK and there are sparks on the tips of the spark plugs if you try to start the car, and there are gas supplied to the cylinders too.

I took the car to dealer last time and was charged $375 without any explanations about what really going wrong. Of course the car could start!

I'm not sure I want to do the same this time. Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks.

So in other words, the 2.5L 4cyl. engine is defective and should be avoided... unless you don't mind major defects in the vehicle you drive.

I am a 2002 Nissan Altima owner, I have had the cold start problem also. There are currently 3 or more recalls on this car, please check with your local dealer on these, as I did not receive notice from anyone until I inquired. My comment is... buy with caution.

I have not heard of this problem in the 2003 Altima. To your knowledge, has this cold start defect been eliminated starting in 2003?

2002 Altima -- rear brake pads worn to the metal after only 33 000 km (21 000 miles), 2/3 of which are highway miles. Seems like the "wear and tear" may be a little excessive? Nissan Canada seems to think that this is "normal". I disagree!

My wife has a 2003 Nissan Altima, 4-cyl. and today we had to take it in for the second time in less than a year due to this cold start situation. I am going to take one of the other users' advice and check for a recall... what's "too ironic" is my mother-in-law has the same model and has had her car towed in twice due to this same issue... Nissan really did a number by allowing this to continue. I sure wish I would have known about this prior to our purchase...

My fiance's car is a 2002 Nissan Altima and we have had two key problems that have both unfortunately been mentioned already on this site. First our rear breaks 'froze' at 22,000mi. This means that the pad was unable to be removed from contact from the rotator. The car makes some funny rubbing noises when this happens. I took it to a Nissan dealer (not the on I purchased it at, since I moved about 50mi away) and they said the brakes are worn out due to the pad not being able to glide freely within the caliper. This means that, essentially, the rear breaks are always on. After telling me this they said it was a wear item and that despite the mechanic comment that Nissan "doesn't grease the channel in the caliper when the car is being built. It would take way too much time." The service manager refused to fix the problem under warranty. I went 6 rounds with this character who (his words) "don't get my hands dirty" & "I have no idea, but its breaks and its not covered" and then was charged a $650 inspection fee to look at it and open up the caliper.

I went home and took up my issue with Nissan of America (# in your owners manual) who reimbursed me monetarily and called my dealer of purchase who said that they would gladly take care of it and they did - no charge.

Second, and more importantly, I have the cold weather why won't my Altima start blues too! (For the second year in a row!) The brakes happened to go in December and that's right when my cold weather starting problems started. I took it to Nissan (the original dealership who actually fixed the brakes) They worked on it, a couple of recalls, replaced a crank position sensor and 'reprogrammed the numbers.' I thanked them and told them leave the keys under the mat as I will pick the car up around 11:30pm. (think cold cold December 23rd night) Obviously the car would not start in the dealer own lot. I left it there and retuned the next morning. That morning the shop manager recognized me and greeted me saying "let go get your Altima!" I said let's!!! He walked me to it and I asked him for a favor. I said would you mind starting it for me? Not a problem he said. I thought to myself no, no it is a problem, and it is all YOURS! The car would not start and I told him how I came to pick it up and it wouldn't start. He eventually got it started by pushing the gas to the floor and revving the engine to about 5,000rpm. (By the way, cold engines LOVE this) He told me how sometimes you just have to give it some gas on cold days. I was fuming on the inside, but kept it under control. I said give it some gas hu? I then told him that it was a new car with 22k on it and my 95 accord with 125k and his rental 99 Altima with 150k on start everytime in the cold. I empathized that this was not directly his fault and he actually looked as though he understood my frustration. I told him keep the car. Do what every you think needs to be done so it ever does this again. If it's not ready in a week your dealership will hear from (unfortunately) my lawyer. He took the car in and left me with his rental. He promised he would call m when it was ready. He called that night. Said it was done and that the ECU was previously programmed with 'California numbers' (e.g. temperate weather).

The car has run fine until September of '04 when I was finished giving it a wash by hand. The car would not start without stepping on the gas. The weather was sunny and in the 80's. This scenario has occurred 3 times (totally independent from each other, months apart) after washing the car on warm days. I let those warm flukes go as just flukes and nothing more.

Well it is now December '04 and the weather is I the 20's. Do you think my Altima with 45k miles on it will start? Unfortunately by its track record this first cold week the answer is NO! Back to the dealership and long phone calls with Nissan of America!!

I purchased a brand new 2002 Altima in May of 2002. It now has 4,8000 miles on it and I have had several problems. Headlights have been worked on twice. Now I have a problem with overheating. I started hearing fluid running in the dash area on the passenger side of the car. This went on for a while until it got much louder and then the engine light came on and the car overheated. The thermostat was replaced ($140) but it still had the fluid noise in the dash. Took it to the dealer where they hooked it up to diagnostics and did not find anything wrong. ($233) Car still had fluid noise when I picked it up. 10 days after picking it up I had the same problem, overheating, loud fluid noise in dash and engine light on again. This time the dealer told me I need 2 new thermostats and a new radiator! $750!! I said no to the new radiator. Told them to flush it and they came back and told me they did and that it was 95% clogged. It is now unclogged ($300 later) and the car still has a slight fluid noise in the dash. I was told to run the heater to help get the air out of the lines. Ran it all the way home (15 Miles) and the noise is still there. Now I'm being told from someone at work that he thinks there is air in the lines due to a leaky headg gasket! Will be very costly to fix. I don't know what I'm going to do. I have $700 in repairs into the car this month alone and it is no longer under warranty. I have also had the cold start problem that was mention in several other posts. I have never had a more UNRELIABLE vehicle. I have had Toyotas, Nissans and Mazdas and never had this much trouble. I want to trade it in!

I have a 2002 Altima 2.5S and seem to have the same problems. I took my car to the dealer for a service 37,000 miles. Everything seemed fine. Then problems started in cold weather. The service engine soon light stayed on, but I was told it was my O2 sensor. I replaced it only to see the car overheat. I replaced the thermostat, but still had the same problem. I was then told it was the head gasket. I replaced that and the light was still on. Now they told me the second O2 sensor was out. I replaced it and everything was fine for a week. The service engine soon light is back on. I am fixing whatever is wrong and am trading the car. I thought I had made a good investment, but Nissan has disappointed me with this car.

Have you tried synthetic oil? It is a lot more "fluid" at low temperatures. Try 5W30 Mobil 1 or any 0W30 rated oils.

I currently own a 2002 altima 2.5 sl. I bought the car with 17k miles used and it currently has 83k (i live kinda far from school), Any way i'd like to report that I never ever had a cold start problem. The reason I think this is so is because the car has a manual transmission instead of an automatic.

Does anyone have a manual that doesn't start?

I have a 2003 Altima (manual) and started having the starting problem over the summer. I live on the east coast and as the cold weather has set in the problem is worst than ever. I have has my car towed in 7 times because of this problem and the gas pedal to the floor fix that Nissan keeps giving me does not work anymore. I am very frustrated that I purchased this car. Once I do get this started I am driving straight to my local Honda dealer and trading for an accord. I don't care what they give me for my car, I trying to get rid of this car no matter what. I will never recommend a Nissan regardless of the model to anyone!!!

I have a 2002 nissan alitma it has 68000 miles on it took it in today cause it was hard starting and not heat,, dig this all day they had it and they found that the motor was shot, letting the coolent into the cylinders, i asked how much they said around 6500 dollars,, i got the extened warranty,, i have to pay 50 buck, but the kicker is they don't have the parts on the market yet, told me to bring it in when they call, just be easy on it and don't go far..lol.. what a joke never againif you have any comments send them to scottie3450@aol.com.