Took on a friend’s Nissan Altima SER 3.5v6 that has been in and out of several shops and all have fixed nothing. Going with a computer code lead me to find a bad connection on one cam sensor , wow it couldn’t have been that easy . Codes gone. After a test ride and with the engine starting much easier I continued with a list of other problems and finished most of the list and fixing a few others I went for a test ride . Idle slightly low but smooth. I let the owner drive it and afterwards I could see his tears of joy.
A few days later he ran it on the highway 70-80 mph when suddenly he developed some lack of power and came back to me. Different code this time , one dreaded by owners according to YouTube university. Check engine flashing and running rough I asked when and what was replaced , I decided to pull the plugs and found the 147k plugs compromised a bit and 1 coil pack broken. Plugs replaced 2 years ago so I suggested we change the plugs and coil packs . Not for the faint of heart 3 cylinders easy, the back 3 wow , tedious work. In I went a few days later (today) after getting all the parts I dove in , front 3 cylinders 15 minutes. Started the car and code gone check engine off, idle still low and hunting, so I decided to go in and check the back cylinders , pulling the intake off , then the upper manifold and the back manifold the gasket was soaked in fuel, and the mating bolts loose. Pulled off the upper manifold and immediately found a crack into one cylinder, continued with the replacement of the plugs and packs as planned. Found the back 3 plugs loose
Tomorrow or shall I say 4 days later I’ll continue with the replacement of the manifold.
By the way , all this for no charge.
Just being a good friend.
Dakazman