Engine stalls/surging at idle/low speed especially at cold
10-10-2002 | 01:31 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 37
Engine stalls/surging at idle/low speed especially at cold
My car is Maxima SE 1992, Automatic
Problem description:
Engine stalls at idle/low speed, especially when I stop the car at a long-time red traffic light. If the engine just warmed up for a few minutes, the problem is even worse.
I found the engine speed is not stable. Normally the idle speed (at P or N switch) is 720-750rpm. If I pressed the bake paddle and put the switch at "D" (the car doesn't move), the engine speed is 600rpm. But at sometime, I saw that the engine speed suddenly dropped to 400rpm or even lower and then came back to normal. I can feel that the engine is shocking and its sound becomes very weak at this time. It seems that some cylinders don't work at this situation. Sometimes, the engine completely stalled. So far, at high speed, the engine has never stalled, but sometimes I still can feel the engine speed drops and quickly comes back.
Another problem happens sometime. If I press the acceleration paddle too fast at low speed, the car is "choking " or "surging". Maybe it's the same problem as I described above.
I tried to fix the problem in the past month. Here is what I did:
Use the complete fuel system cleaner to clean the fuel system.
Change 6 spark-plugs (NGK PFR5G-11).
Change the fuel filter and air filter.
Unfortunately, the problem is still there. I sent the car to dealer,
after 2-day inspection, they told me the ignition coils break down
when hot. They let me change 6 ignition coils which would cost me more
than $600(the part price of each ignition coils is about $80). I declined that because I doubt if this is the reason. Normally my car
works fine after warmup, so I think maybe it is not the ignition coil problem. Anyone has an idea about this problem? Thanks.
Problem description:
Engine stalls at idle/low speed, especially when I stop the car at a long-time red traffic light. If the engine just warmed up for a few minutes, the problem is even worse.
I found the engine speed is not stable. Normally the idle speed (at P or N switch) is 720-750rpm. If I pressed the bake paddle and put the switch at "D" (the car doesn't move), the engine speed is 600rpm. But at sometime, I saw that the engine speed suddenly dropped to 400rpm or even lower and then came back to normal. I can feel that the engine is shocking and its sound becomes very weak at this time. It seems that some cylinders don't work at this situation. Sometimes, the engine completely stalled. So far, at high speed, the engine has never stalled, but sometimes I still can feel the engine speed drops and quickly comes back.
Another problem happens sometime. If I press the acceleration paddle too fast at low speed, the car is "choking " or "surging". Maybe it's the same problem as I described above.
I tried to fix the problem in the past month. Here is what I did:
Use the complete fuel system cleaner to clean the fuel system.
Change 6 spark-plugs (NGK PFR5G-11).
Change the fuel filter and air filter.
Unfortunately, the problem is still there. I sent the car to dealer,
after 2-day inspection, they told me the ignition coils break down
when hot. They let me change 6 ignition coils which would cost me more
than $600(the part price of each ignition coils is about $80). I declined that because I doubt if this is the reason. Normally my car
works fine after warmup, so I think maybe it is not the ignition coil problem. Anyone has an idea about this problem? Thanks.
10-10-2002 | 01:35 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,016
From: Hoover, AL
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=157824
might wanna pay attention to this thread, hes having similar problems to you, might give you some ideas
might wanna pay attention to this thread, hes having similar problems to you, might give you some ideas
01-04-2003 | 01:07 PM
#3
I know this thread is kind of old, but I did a search ( yea, who's your daddy?) and this problem basicly describes my problem. I just wanted to know how the situation turned out and if anyone knows the fix. I have no idea, and the problem does lessen or go away when the car has warmed up. I am planning to change the sparkplugs when I get paid but do bad plugs affect your performance like this??? 
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