I have a 2001 nissan sentra that the motor turns over but wont start

Hello, My name is Mike.

There is several things as you can imagine that could cause a car to not start if cranking. Good news is at least its cranking so that eliminates some things.

I try and have you test the most easiest cheapest thing first, then we go to plan B if that still does not work. Here is first what I want you to do.

If the car is run from cold for only a short period of time when you stop the engine the fuel pump continues to run on for a while. The pressure builds up and fuel leaks past the injectors into the cylinders. If the engine is warm enough it evaporates. If not it condenses over the spark plugs and when next you try to start it it is flooded and turning the starter just pumps more fuel in and makes matters worse.

Simple remedy is lift the hood and in the fuse box you'll find a fuse for fuel pump which should be removed. (check owners manual to locate if cant find)

Then crank the engine repeatedly with your foot to the floor just to pump lots of air through to dry things out.

Replace the fuse and start the engine.


NOW if this did not work with a couple of attempts from start to finish, then these are the things you need to check or possibly replace.

Again, I always try and look at the easiest for you first and well as cheapest, First check your plug wires, making sure no cracks and good connections. Then see if you can pull at least one plug, and inspect it, if it looks real black then it should be replaced, is misfiring. Check or replace Cap, and Rotor if carburetor, If fuel Injected, and always get a can of injector cleaner from auto Zone and they can even tell you were to hook it up on intake of injectors to clean injectors. Next would be checking your EGR and possible have to replace. But before that, I would replace Fuel filter as that is cheap and should be done regularly anyway.

Point is this, if you have good plugs, and wires, and EGR is good, and fuel filter is good, then it should start. I think the first method at top might solve it, but PLEASE first find your fuel pump relay to make sure your getting fuel. You can test this if getting fuel or not, by getting some starter fluid and spraying into intake area, as you crank it, if it cranks then it is not getting fuel, then could be fuel pump relay, fuel pump, or even a vacuum leak. When you turn on car (not start) listen with head out door to see if you can hear fuel pump coming on, should be like a buzzing type or Humming sound. That will also confirm your fuel pump is working. Then if it cranks, and wont start, then were back to fuel filter, fuel relay fuse, or vacuum leak, or like i said EGR. Please keep me informed. Thanks Mike

Scan computer with scanner firts. get code/s out and post. you may have crank sensor failure p0335 stored. common issue with sentra. nissan had campaign for replacement of cam and crank sensor/s. they would cause car to die or not start. in fact i just replaced crank sensor in a sentra last friday.