Hello everyone,

My 2002 Xterra has an intermittent problem that has my mechanic stumped. While traveling on highway like trips the engine seems to just 'vanish' and I loose the ability to accelerate. Power functions normally in the car and I don't get indicator lights when it happens. While the X slows down the oil and battery will come on, and it's not till the engine slows down to near 0 RPM's that the check engine light comes on. Once all the road noise is gone I can hear the engine is still somewhat there and just sputtering before it dies. Usually trying to start it right back up will again have the engine sputter for a bit and die. However if I wait a few more mins (about 5) it starts right back up like a charm and continues to drive.

The only thing that gets posted is a knock sensor code, and nothing else. I drive it around town daily without problems, it's only on these smooth coasting trips that I run into the problem. (If it even happens at all)

My mechanic doesn't want to start guessing, and I don't want to just throw money in random directions... Yet at the same time I don't trust driving long distances with it either.

The only trend that I see is the distances and days on the hotter end of the spectrum. (87+) It has 104 miles on it, and I was about to start changing belts, and other maintenance parts before this started to happen.

Any suggestions, or anyone run into something like this before?

It's possible it could be a problem with the Fuel Sending Unit.

If you do a search, there has been much written about the FSU on here over the years. There was a recall on that part a number of years ago. I think the 2002 might have been included with that recall.

It might be worth taking a look at the part and see if some corrosion has started to develop.

I'm sure others will chime in with suspected causes for the problem.

Look at your distributor, pop the cap and see what it looks like inside there.

You are describing some of the symptomes of it going bad, and it is not unheard of.

I'm reading up about that FSU recall.

"This will cause the fuel pump to stop operating and will result in not being able to start the engine or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash. "

That seems exactly on key with my problem. I'm going to give my dealer a call and see what it takes to take part in the recall. Might as well start with the free stuff first!

I made an appointment to have the FSU replaced. But one thing the dealer mechanic suggested *as a guess* is that the fuel pump could be over heating or ceasing. I also keep the gas tank on the lower end of being full.

Since I'm at 104K miles at the moment, plus the recall is going to be paying to drop my gas tank... what do you guys think about replacing the fuel pump at that time? A quick google suggests a pump should last 10 or more years, I'm at late 8 at the moment. It doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.