ramccombs

I've been working on my 1999 Maxima GLE every weekend (except last). It is getting old because I live in Pensacola, Fl and my wife and daughter live in Jacksonville, Fl (350 miles apart). Long story, but I'm in the Navy.

A few weeks ago the wife told me the car was hesitating during take off. It has 106K+ miles and I hadn't changed the spark plugs, so I did. Filled it with gas (A Gate a station) and drove the rest of the evening and it seemed fine. Return to Pensacola.

A few days later the wife says it is worse than before. So, I add a fuel additive (CD-2) and change the fuel filter. Take it for a spin and run it hard. It hesitates when I get on it and SEL comes on. I check the code and it shows 06-04 (#5 cyclinder misfire). I check the coil and it reads about 1600 ohms (good for a coil) and even compare it with # 3 cylinder coil. Identical readings. I swap # 3 & 5 coils, reset the ECU and take for a spin. SEL still on and still reads 06-04. Return to Pensacola.

This weekend the wife says it is still running rough. I remove the battery cables for about an hour and then take it for a spin and am pretty rough on it. Still hesitating when I get on it. Noticed that the SEL light flashes when I get on it and am over 4000 rpm, but goes solid when I'm at normal speed and rpm. Get home and check the code (expecting 06-04) but receive 07-01 (multiple cylinder misfire). I checked resistance on all fuel injectors (good at 13.5 ohms). Can even hear all except #3 which I cannot get to because it is under the manifold and it runs smooth at idle. Check coils 1, 3, 5 at about 1600 ohms.

Any ideas before I have to return to Pensacola again? Could it just be bad gas?

Thanks in advance,
Robert

ramccombs

Well, I see I didn't have any help with my post. But, the good news is I think I have it licked. Either it was bad gas or the fuel injectors were clogged. CD-2 and a fresh tank of Chevron gasoline mixed with a trip to Pensacola seems to have cured my problem (for now). Hopefully it will not return.

So, for all you guys out there with a Service Engine Soon Light (SEL), don't go out and spend $100 or more on a coil or a fuel injector before you tried what I did. Only cost me $5 for the CD-2 at Pep Boys and the price of a full tank of gasoline. I was already coming to Pensacola, so the 350 mile trip was easy for me.

Thanks every one,
Robert