two years ago around the same time in november i had a problem. the engine starts and then shuts down in about one second. i went to my repair shop, snap on computer showed that i have a knock censer problem. they changed it and next morning i had the same problem. then they changed the climate control censer, same thing. then they changed the tpu censer, same thing again. then i went to nissan dealer, i told the guy about the problems i had and how much money i already spent, he started laughing cause he knew what the problem was. he said i needed to reset the computer. he did and for two years i had no problems, he also said that every 60 thousand miles maximas since '95 need computer reset. if you are not going to reset that's the problem you're going to have. when i did it, i had about 104 thousand miles. as of today i have almost 115 thousand. And two weeks ago here in New York it was raining for two days. i didn't drive for about two days. it wasn't that cold. when i started the car it sounded like only 4 cylenders were working. turned off the car , turned on the car again and pressed the gas pedal little bit and it began to work normally. went to the shop to ask what the problem was, he said because i didn't drive for two day the moisture on the idle speed, so it should be no problem. tonight, i started the engine and it went on for a second and shut off. it sounds like the same problem i had two years ago, so if it is the same, then i need to reset the computer again, how come the guys said every 60 thousand miles? if anyone can help or any ideas what's going on with my car, any suggestions are welcome because the repair shop doesn't know much about the electronics and computers. as i said earlier, he said that it's idle speed censer. i don't want to change it cause last time i spent almost $300 and still the problem continued. monday i'm gonna go and check if i need to reset the computer again at the nissan shop. before i spend the unneccessary money at the repair shop or at nissan, maybe some one knows what's going on. thanks!

 

my maxima likes to stall in the morning too unless you give it a little rev. Please let me know how this turns out, and if I can reset the computer myself?

 

it has to be done only on nissan computer beccuase it sounds like i have the same problem again. when i had it the first time it was done on snap on computer and another conpany computer, and the finally the only result was at the nissan computers. when u need to reset the computer it resets it on all zero's it gives false information to the computer. they have a special program for maximas, one so all the numbers go back to the way it should be. so the problem appears only when it's cold outside. example: when it's cold ur idle speed should be 0.8 but the computer send the information for 1.4, that;s why we have the problem to start the engine, the reset is done , everything goes back to normal. i will keep u posted, whe the problem is resolved. i hope i have the same problem, cause it's only five minute job.

 

hey man, i feel for ya. This what you need to do to fix your car. Have autozone or test the alternator yourself. If the car starts and then dies soon afterwards it suggests the alternator is not keeping the battery charged. That should hopefully fix your problems. If not, next you need to buy a Hayne's manual to your max, buy a volt meter, and test every sensor in the car using the volt meter to make sure everything is to spec. Now, for resetting the computer, you can do that yourself with a small screwdriver, or letting your car sit not connected for a battery for 24-48 hours. Do a search on how to reset the ECU. Also, is your computer giving you any trouble codes? You can check it yourself and then decipher the codes using this website, once again search. If the above suggestions don't work find a local tuner shop that handles nissan's and take it to them, sometimes they know more than the dealer, as in my case.

 

first dont worry about the bad noise when you star your car after some days ...the sounds or noise is the oil sensor on the head of the engine...that put the oil around the engine and it try to work after cool days etc. The other problem check the gas filter first, second reset the computer and check the MAF and the connections, sometimes when the MAF is bad or has a problem with air the car shut down rare...so good luck

 

Stop replacing sensors! Your wasting your $$$.

If you don't have a CEL light then most likely your cars electronics are just fine. The ECU does not need to be reset every 60K miles, that just a line of BS. Our ECU's are smart, they continuously learn and make adjustments as you drive your car. Sometimes after the ECU is reset your car may not run correctly as the ECU begins learning your engine again.

Please find another mechanic, your's doesn't know what he's talking about.

As far as your cold start and stall goes, there are a few things you can look at.

1) Clean your throttle body out. GOTO www.motorvate.ca for info and pics of how this is done. It makes a world of difference with your cars idle.

2) Check the cold idle circuit linkage for binging. Under the throttle body sort of on the right side is a little plunger. That plunger comes out and hits the cold idle cam which opens your throttle slightly for cold starts. If that plunger is not coming out, or your linkage is binding or in need of adjustment, then your car may not start and idle correctly when it's cold.

Stop changing sensors unless you have a check engine light on with codes that refer to failed sensors.

The Knock Sensor replacement for a cold start problem was absolutely ridiculous!

Tom

 

i'm not replacing anything any more.all that replacement was done 2 years ago,and nissan reseted my ecu 2 years ago,and i did not have any problems,now it's started again

 

I understand that. Now go try some of my suggestions.

 

i will ,thank you.
is it posible that i need ecu reset?

 

Ummm i'm confused. Now is it just me or is resetting your ecu with a screwdriver and what the dealership does to reset it 2 totally different things that have 2 totally different results. I'm having the exact same problem so i wanna figure it out also. I've already done the throttle body cleaning, i have no idea what your talking about with that cam linkage but i'll try to check that out next. But what i really wanna know is. Is it a different reset when the dealer does it? Cause it seems to have helped him out the first time he did it, and if thats the case i'm making an appointment soon. P.S. i've reset my ecu PLENTY of times since the problem (after every mod and sensor replacement) and i've still had that problem.

 

i'm telling you brothers, must be done at nissan computer only, some of my friends used snap on computer no result. i m going to nissan on monday for a reset.

 

Just came back from the outside, i stareted the car and there was not problem. over night it was cold enough to have the same problem that i had two years ago, but last night i did have problem to start my car as i mentioned earlier. the only that comes to mind what happened two weeks ago and last night because of the rain. my mechanic said that probably of the moisture on the idle speed, what is it all about? monday going to go to the nissan dealer and hopefully they r going to have some answers. i'm thinking it's most likely the computer reset.

 

dont worry...look theres two ways to diagnostic the codes of the check engine...one is reset the computer and see the codes...theres a page that give you the details...of the codes etc, and the other is the computar that every nissan dealer has...is the same diagnostic but different code, and has others books with the codes, haynes i think has it. so just look the page with the codes..and diagnostic by your self, be a big men dude...tell your mechanic whats the code tells you and thats it.

 

came from the nissan dealer .
nothing is wrong ,computer shows no problem.censers r good everything is fine.
this morning was kind of cold my baby started without any problems . but over night hear in NYC will be very good combination of rain,snow and very cold, will see what will happen in the morning,i hope she will start without problems and make me feel better.