I have a 1991 maxima and it just quit. It always works perfectly until the other day when it stopped for no reason. The car cranks up right away but it idles rough. Even when I try to give it gas it won't go over 500 rpm. I thought it sounded like a firing problem so I replaced the Distributor cap which was cracked and that didn't fix it. I was going to test it but the ECU unit states that the car must be at 2000 rpm to do it. It has already had new wires and spark plugs so if anyone can please tell me what is wrong with my car!!!! The fuel pump is good and I replaced the fuel filter.

 

check you timing, disconnect the maf and see if it will rev to 2k then.
how old is your timing belt?
anything over 58k and replace it now!

 

The timing belt was replaced at 99750 my car is at 132000 it was also replaced before at about 47500. I will try the exhaust. Do you think that it could catalytic converter? Please help.

 

no ts probly one of ur main sensors

 

I disconnected the maf and now my car won't start!!! I reconnected it and it still won't start. Is there any other help anyone can give me before I just tow it to a shop and they charge me an arm and a leg? Can you give me some of the main sensors that you think it might be?

 

could one of ur pulleys be seized up and so the belts not turning which would cause it not to start or to stall out. i unno if that would have anything to do with it but its worth looking at

 

without being able to look at it.
I can't / won't go any farther

 

try putting in your key at ignition on or at the 3rd mark but don't crank it.
then reset the ecu by turning it one full clockwise rotation. your ecu is underneath the stereo and you could access it by taking out the dashboard from the passenger side.
take out your car key
put back in the key and tun its ignition on again but don't crank.
turn back your ecu screw counterclockwise back to its original position or your car keeps thinking it's on diagnostic mode and it'll never run.
now, disconnect your negative battery terminal. wait a min or two, then hook it back in.
crank the engine and see if you got any cranks.

 

if resetting your ecu still won't do much justice then you might have to get a scanner. not too sure where you could rent a scanner though but that's the only way to know 70% of the time what and where are the problems.

 

u r for sure that the fuel pump is ok? but check for basic spark and fuel

 

If it would start and sorta idle before you disconnected the MAF, and now it won't start at all, I'd think you have a bad MAF. it could be something else, but I'd start looking there.