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2020 Altima S hard starting and occasional stalling

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Angela R. · rep 0 · May 22, 2:48 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2020 Nissan Altima S

I've been having some frustrating issues with my 2020 Nissan Altima S, which has about 45,000 miles on it. For the past few weeks, it's been really hard to start, especially after sitting for a few hours. I have to crank it for a good 5-10 seconds before it finally sputters to life.

Even more concerning, it has stalled on me twice while driving at low speeds, once pulling out of my driveway and another time in a parking lot. Both times, it restarted after a few tries, but it's making me nervous about driving it. There's no check engine light on right now, which makes it harder to diagnose.

Could this be a fuel pump issue, or maybe something else in the fuel system? I've kept up with all my regular maintenance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

ClearTheCode Team · rep 0 · May 22, 2:48 AM

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The symptoms you're describing with your 2020 Nissan Altima S – hard starting and occasional stalling – are highly indicative of a problem within the fuel delivery system, even without a check engine light illuminated.

Common Causes & Diagnostics:

  1. Failing Fuel Pump: This is a primary suspect. A weak or failing fuel pump struggles to build and maintain adequate fuel pressure, especially after the car has sat and pressure has bled off. This leads to extended cranking and potential stalling when the engine demands more fuel.
  2. Clogged Fuel Filter: While many modern Nissans have an in-tank fuel filter that's not typically a separate service item, a severely clogged filter can restrict fuel flow, mimicking a failing pump.
  3. Fuel Pressure Regulator: A faulty fuel pressure regulator can cause incorrect fuel pressure, leading to both hard starts and stalling.
  4. Crankshaft Position Sensor: Less likely given the specific symptoms, but a failing crankshaft position sensor can cause intermittent stalling and no-start conditions. However, this usually triggers a check engine light (e.g., P0335).
  5. Ignition System: While less probable for hard starting and stalling without misfire codes, weak spark plugs or coils could contribute, but fuel delivery issues are more consistent with your description.

When to See a Shop:

  • Immediate Action: Do not ignore these symptoms. Stalling while driving, even at low speeds, is a significant safety hazard.
  • Professional Diagnosis: Take your Altima to a trusted mechanic. They will perform a fuel pressure test to confirm if the pump is delivering adequate pressure. They can also check for any pending diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that haven't yet triggered the check engine light (e.g., P0087 - Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low).
  • Component Replacement: If the fuel pressure is low, the fuel pump assembly will likely need replacement. It's a critical component, and a quality replacement is essential for reliable operation.
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