# Engine skips a beat **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, frontier, engines\ **Created:** [November 18, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-skips-a-beat/39678 "2009-11-18T19:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jaymooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@Jaymooky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jaymooky)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-skips-a-beat/39678/1 "2009-11-18T19:11:25Z")
Hello, I have a 2000 Nissan Frontier, V6 manual speed transmission 135k miles. Recent belts changed, fairly new plugs, regular maintenance done. My question is: when I’m in 2,3, and 4th gears, the engine seams to skip or miss a beat… not sputtering or back firing. no engine lights on, temp. gauge is normal, etc. It’s worse going up hills and more acceleration. Idles only slightly rough. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jason ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-skips-a-beat/39678/2 "2009-11-18T19:21:54Z")
When was the last time that the fuel filter was changed? That would be my first suspect, especially if you don’t know when it was last changed. ---
**Author:** ![Jaymooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@Jaymooky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jaymooky)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-skips-a-beat/39678/3 "2009-11-18T19:30:18Z")
Not quite sure, I only bought it 2000 miles ago. I did change the oil when I bought it so I knew it was up to speed and I also use fuel injector cleaner with every oil change… Could the cleaner have dumped grit into the filter and clogged it up? I’ll start with changing the filter, easy/cheap enough. Thanks for the suggestion VDCdriver!