# '92 Nissan Stanza

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/92-nissan-stanza/7887>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [December 1, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/92-nissan-stanza/7887 "2007-12-01T17:11:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tomvosik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@tomvosik](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tomvosik)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/92-nissan-stanza/7887/1 "2007-12-01T17:11:25Z")

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I’ve only had this car a short time–since late September. It runs beautifully for a car with 112000 miles–a bit of a gas hog, but there are way worse, new cars, out there. Anyway, randomly, without notice, when I attempt to start it, it’s simply dead.The dashboard lights all illuminate, but nothing cranks. New battery, alternator tests perfectly. I wait a minute at most, and it starts right up. Again, this is a random phenomenon, and days can pass without it happening; on other days–for example, when I have 6 or 7 errands to run–it will do this 6 or 7 times. My mechanic theorizes it’s the distributor, but he cannot replicate the problem because–naturally!–it works like a dream when he has it. No other problems with the car-when I bought it from a trusted friend, it got a complete tune-up, new battery, fluid and filter changes, et al. Can anyone out there help? Thanks so much,  
  
  
  
 Tom

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/92-nissan-stanza/7887/2 "2007-12-01T20:39:32Z")

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“nothing cranks… My mechanic theorizes it’s the distributor,”

Get a new mechanic. If the distributor is out it may not start, but the engine will crank.

I would look at the ignition switch or lock out (the gizmo that keeps it from starting unless you are in park.

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**Author:** ![tomvosik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@tomvosik](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tomvosik)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/92-nissan-stanza/7887/3 "2007-12-02T07:08:15Z")

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Thanks, Joseph! Your response saved me several hundred dollars. Have Happy Holidays! Thanks again–Tom