# Engine Hesitation and Loss of Power **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [June 16, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359 "2008-06-16T08:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/1 "2008-06-16T08:26:22Z")
I was driving up to Crossgates yesterday when out of nowhere, I notice a loss of power when I step on the gas. The engine sounds odd too, the exhaust note is “pulsating”. I headed home and popped the hood and I found that a radiator hose wasn’t secured and I was leaking coolant a bit. I checked the coolant and the level and color is fine, so I just slipped the hose back on and tightened the clamp. I also checked the MAF and cone filter and both seem to be fine. So my next guess is either fuel delivery or spark. I’m going to check the fuel filter and swap the spark plugs for NGK iridiums today. I’m curious though as to what you guys think the problem is. ---
**Author:** ![ninety1two40](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ninety1two40/32/6332_2.png) [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/2 "2008-06-16T08:28:33Z")
I had a similar issue when I was running on 5 out of the 6 cylinders, made a pulsating WRX sound. Turned out it was a broken wire in my injector harness. ---
**Author:** ![JRubino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jrubino/32/6285_2.png) [@JRubino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JRubino)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/3 "2008-06-16T08:28:56Z")
Did you clean the MAF? ---
**Author:** ![n\_cole](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/n_cole/32/6382_2.png) [@n\_cole](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/n_cole)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/4 "2008-06-16T08:29:55Z")
My car did the same thing when my coil packs were shitting the bed. I kept telling VW service that my car would jerk or fall on it’s face out of no where… Their answer: make sure you have the clutch all the way let out. (AKA - You’re a girl and obviously can’t drive.) So I would say yeah probably check the plugs… ---
**Author:** ![Johawk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/johawk/32/6284_2.png) [@Johawk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Johawk)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/5 "2008-06-16T08:30:36Z")
Im going to lean towards a head gasket for following reasons. -loss of compression or power on 1 or more cylinders. hence the exhaust noise and lack of power -compressin leaking to coolant system. radiator hose blowing off due to higher than normal system pressure. check your fuel/air/spark stuff first especially the ign. but if everything is fine try a coolant pressure leakdown test first (cause its easier) and then a cylinder compression leakdown. Dont drive it cause if this is the problem coolnt in your oil will wash out your bearings… ask me how I know… :idiots ---
**Author:** ![Johawk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/johawk/32/6284_2.png) [@Johawk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Johawk)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/6 "2008-06-16T08:31:18Z")
is your exaust white and smell sweet? ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/7 "2008-06-16T08:31:43Z")
Yeah, I cleaned the MAF and air filter. The mesh on the MAF is all intact and looks good aswell. I’m hoping its not an injector but it does sound and feel like its not firing on all 6. I can get a video clip up once my phone stops tweaking on me. I’m going to OHM test the injectors as well. ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/8 "2008-06-16T08:32:55Z")
Doubt its a head gasket. The exhaust is fine and the color of the fluids is normal, they haven’t mixed. ---
**Author:** ![99FRC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/99frc/32/6335_2.png) [@99FRC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/99FRC)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/9 "2008-06-16T08:33:05Z")
I had a bad ECU and it did the exact same thing you are talking about… ---
**Author:** ![Shawn96VR-4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Shawn96VR-4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shawn96VR-4)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/10 "2008-06-16T08:33:38Z")
I hope Johawk is wrong. Check the coolant. You can get a coolant tester too to look for hydrocarbons. There are 20420909249 ways to explain this but the coolant thing trigged my head too. ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/11 "2008-06-16T08:34:19Z")
What would I be looking for in the coolant? Oil? ---
**Author:** ![Johawk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/johawk/32/6284_2.png) [@Johawk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Johawk)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/12 "2008-06-16T08:36:14Z")
edited post above ^ ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/13 "2008-06-17T14:40:31Z")
Alright, I’ve made some progress. Did a cylinder balance test a few minutes ago. I copied my reply from my post on the Z forum. I only had to pull two coil packs before I found the misfire. Its cylinder #1, (passenger side closest to the front bumper). I pulled #3 first and the idle changed. Pulled #1 and it stayed the same. I did get a spark though when I pulled #1, it jumped and contacted the plenum. Does this rule out spark plugs and coil packs? Edit-I should probably add that I got a somewhat strong whiff of gas from the tailpipe. Also in the weeks preceding the misfire, when I would go to start the engine, it wouldn’t really crank. It would just kind of start right up instantly. I always thought there was something strange about that. ---
**Author:** ![Singh1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@Singh1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Singh1)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/14 "2008-06-19T19:05:11Z")
> [@JRubino](#): > > Did you clean the MAF? - 1 ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/15 "2008-06-19T19:13:22Z")
Got it figured out, my injector is dead. It OHM’ed at 0.lol Changed plugs, tested coilpacks, cleaned air filter and MAF. Even pulled codes from the diagnostic comp. and got nothing. Hopefully tomorrow I can get that new injector in. I’m gonna need to grind the plenum to get to the injector screws though, I hate Nissan. lol ---
**Author:** ![SSmokinn\_SS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@SSmokinn\_SS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SSmokinn_SS)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/16 "2008-06-19T19:19:39Z")
> [@NedZ32](#): > > Got it figured out, my injector is dead. It OHM’ed at 0.lol > > Changed plugs, tested coilpacks, cleaned air filter and MAF. Even pulled codes from the diagnostic comp. and got nothing. Hopefully tomorrow I can get that new injector in. I’m gonna need to grind the plenum to get to the injector screws though, I hate Nissan. lol let us know after you install the new injector is the misfire is fixed… ---
**Author:** ![Shawn96VR-4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Shawn96VR-4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shawn96VR-4)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/17 "2008-06-19T19:54:09Z")
Good job going through the analysis. ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/18 "2008-06-19T20:28:51Z")
Thanks, I’ll post up when I’m finished ---
**Author:** ![Singh1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@Singh1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Singh1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/19 "2008-06-21T11:24:09Z")
> [@NedZ32](#): > > I’m gonna need to grind the plenum to get to the injector screws though sweeeeet dont u love engineers ! ---
**Author:** ![NedZ32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nedz32/32/6393_2.png) [@NedZ32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/NedZ32)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359/20 "2008-06-21T13:44:58Z")
> [@Singh](#): > > sweeeeet dont u love engineers ! Seriously, wtf is with the plenum design on the VG30DE’s… Its either grind the plenum to get to the bolts or pull the plenum all together to replace one bad injector. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/engine-hesitation-and-loss-of-power/237359.md?page=2)