A bit ago (like May-ish) I had an issue one day where the car would start really chugging, it was visibly shaking and idling around 500 or so, then it would go away just as random as it showed up, and the next morning it was as if nothing had happened...just as smooth as ever. I hadn't experienced this problem again until today, when I drove to pick up my brother at the train station. The annoying thing is that the problem immediately went away when I filled up the tank (it was around 1/2 full). I know it can't be the fuel filter or the spark plugs / wires as I did those a little before I hit 60K (which was only about 2 weeks ago ). Could it just be that I had two separate bad tanks of gas, or is there something I'm missing?

 

wow, is that 60k original miles??

are your spark plug wires in good shape? it could be your injectors acting up, dist. cap, could be many things sounds like a temporary misfire. if it were me, i wouldn't worry too much. i'd just wait and if it gets worse, it will be much easier to diagnose.

 

I had the same problem a month back. It has not happened since.

 

Sounds like an intermittent fuel injector, mine did the same thing for about a year, does it feel like it is smoothing out if you rev it higher?

 

Ditto on the fuel injector check the ohm readings on them. I think is should be around 14.

 

Thats sounds like my case. I have to change my fuel injector

 

Thankfully I haven't had this issue in quite a while (since last semester at least) the only issue I've been having recently is that my car likes to "warm up" for a few minutes before driving, if I try and just start up and go if it's been sitting overnight for example, there's a good chance I stall out. Other than that it's been smooth sailing.

 

Sounds kind of like the problem I had, engine would vibrate, though mine got worse at higher rpm's.

 

I had the same sputtering/rough idling problem with my 91 Maxima. I had these kind of problems before and most of the time the culprit would be the fuel injector. Already changed 3 fuel injectors on this car. So this time I didn't want to spend that much money on it instead I tried the often recommented Techron fuel injector cleaner. To my amazement that solved the problem (at least for now).

Another piece of observation here is that I used to get these problems mostly after prolonged use of Ethanol based gas. So now I am making it a point to use Regular gas (87 octane rating) and occasional use of Techron/Valvoline fuel injector cleaner.