# '98 Pathfinder kind of lurches **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 1, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778 "2012-06-01T03:50:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mommadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mommadell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mommadell)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/1 "2012-06-01T03:50:22Z")
(It has 220K miles) This started suddenly the day after a painless 450-mile trip – It will run fine for a few minutes, then starts jumping like it’s running out of gas (but it’s not). Then the lurching stops and it runs fine. Repeat . . .etc. New fuel pump 2 years ago; yesterday mechanic changed spark plugs, distributor, crank position sensor . . . but still doing it. Help! ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/2 "2012-06-01T06:47:20Z")
You need to give a better description of the conditions under which this happens. At idle? (How does it idle?) At X speed? Only above/below X speed? Only while accelerating? Only while cruising? Comes and goes if…? Automatic or manual transmission? When the mechanic did all of this stuff was the fuel pressure checked? ---
**Author:** ![Mommadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mommadell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mommadell)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/3 "2012-06-01T17:44:24Z")
Thanks for helpful questions (I’ve never done this)! Sometimes idle is a very little rough, but usually fine. Seems to kick in around 2000 rpms, but not consistently. Can be absolutely fine at all speeds (and I think it’s been fixed), or can do it in all gears but 1t (5-speed manual). I will ask about fuel pressure . . . Thanks again, ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/4 "2012-06-01T19:02:25Z")
When was the fuel filter replaced last??? ---
**Author:** ![Mommadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mommadell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mommadell)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/5 "2012-06-01T20:07:24Z")
Thanks for the thought – he did that yesterday with the spark plugs and the other stuff ☹ ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/6 "2012-06-01T20:23:34Z")
Is there a check engine light involved? If so, what are the exact error codes? (format: “P1234”) If the plugs/wires/distributor (cap only?)/fuel filter were just replaced and it is still running poorly then here is what I would be doing: - check fuel pressure under load - clean MAF sensor, if equipped - check air intake snorkel for hidden splits/cracks etc. - put a vacuum gauge on it to check for exhaust clogs / funky valve behavior - check air and coolant temp sensors - check compression - look at oxygen sensor outputs/fuel mix. Its all busy work that would mostly cost labor time. I’m not a mechanic and I could do all of that in hour. (Compression should have already been done when the plugs were out. ---
**Author:** ![Mommadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mommadell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mommadell)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/7 "2012-06-01T20:42:12Z")
Thanks so much – I passed those on to the mechanic. He said that the error code was for the crank position sensor, which he replaced. . . I appreciate your jumping in with all the ideas! (whole distributor replaced). The weird thing to me is that sometimes it runs perfectly. A frustrating few days! ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/8 "2012-06-01T21:19:50Z")
There isn’t an error code that tells you that the crank sensor is bad. There are plenty of error codes that refer to the crank position sensor - usually to its **_circuit._** I surely hope he didn’t replace the crank sensor for want of a simple wiring fix. A bad/loose connection could easily give you intermittent issues like this, and replacing the sensor won’t necessarily address that - because the sensor itself might be fine. Here are the basic crank sensor circuit codes: P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction P0336 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance P0337 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Low Input P0338 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit High Input P0339 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent There are others that involve the crank sensor circuit (e.g. out of synch with cam). He should spend some more time with the wiring for the CkPS ---
**Author:** ![Mommadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mommadell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mommadell)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/9 "2012-06-02T02:10:04Z")
It was 0335 – so he’s now checking the wiring. You just might be a genius. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mommadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mommadell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mommadell)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 9:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-pathfinder-kind-of-lurches/72778/10 "2012-06-02T09:41:55Z")
Now he’s trying throttle position sensor . . .