Recently installed an Injen CAI on my 99 SEL, and love the new acceleration and the great sound. Then started hearing a backfire/misfire around 3k – 4.5k RPM all the time. 5-10 popping sounds, loss in acceleration, then engine clears and pushes to redline. 2-3 more pops when the tranny shifted. No codes, car has 50k miles, always 93 – 94 octane, concentrated STP fuel injector cleaner every oil change, cleaned TB, changed fuel filter, re-checked for air leaks on CAI and still no change. Actually got worse when the air temp was below 50 degrees.

Installed new NGK Platinums several days. Front set first, took a test drive, and misfire occurred intermittently. Installed the rear set today and stomped on the throttle and WOW, instant improvement in acceleration. Backfire was GONE!!!!! Problem solved.

Two question though, all the plugs looked normal but the rear plug on driver side had a white glazing around the nut and isolator area. What is causing this condition on the spark plug? Anybody else experiencing this with the same rear plug?

FYI, bought plugs from www.xterraparts.com for $51.48 plus shipping. This happens to also be a sister site of www.courtseyparts.com which charges $57.00 for the same set for their Nissan Maxima parts.

 

It's probably your ignition coil in the rear w/the hot spark plug.

 

I noticed my rear plugs were nastier also. I gained more low end when I changed my plugs, I just have to get around to changing the fuel filter now

Thats a good post for someone's first time. Welcome!!

I bought my platnum plugs off ebay for less than 35 shipped to my house!!!

 

i never experienced that problem with my injen.. hopefully wont either.

 

Just experienced this problem, swapping out the beat up bosch platinums with some Nissan plugs cured it.

 

I was wondering why my car was making that sound, guess ill change the plugs, and see if it goes away

 

way to bump an old a$$ thread dude! naw just playin.

 

Just wanted 4000 posts

 

Just curious; I thought the injen "cai" doesn't make power on our cars? I emailed injen about it but they never responded.

 

It doesn't, really.

 

I agree, it doesn't do much, but it sure sounds good! lol

 

Do this to your customer for running Bosch plugs in the Maxipad ....

 

It would probably break his heart, in addition to this problem I took care of.... SEVEN dtc's! I imagine I'm his new best freind.

 

or you can take the easy way out and just get a plate and filter from oreily for 20 and get the same sick sound.

oh and that popping is called back fire and typically that means you are running lean(to much air in your mixture) and a white plug is a good sign of running to lean. and vise versa is black plug=to rich.

jake

 

If black spark plugs mean your running rich and white means your running lean, what does brown plugs mean ? BTW they were bosch platinnums I just pulled out of the car.

NJK ALL THE WAY

 

Brown means you are running like crap.....sorry bad joke...

 

Tan/brown is just about right.

 

it means you get your plugs from fredrics of hollywood.

 

hehe..made me chuckle.

 

I think that if you are getting into it that much you are either a good musician or should start being one cause you are getting way to deep into a simle little part I think you should leave it be at the cool noise any intake makes.

kapeesh???

Jake

 

NGK's all the way. I have found problems with anything but.

 

would you get more of a power gain from the intake if you had a y pipe and a catback?

 

Y pipe is the only gain...