first off, you guys have a great site here, alot of references for most issues. i'm coming from a ford site and this one has some great resources here.

Now, the nitty-grity, girlfriend picked up a 95 top of the line maxima, 6 cylinder, auto trans. shes had it for a few months now and its having trouble starting. it wont start, hot or cold, without giving it some gas. recently, it has stalled out while stopped at lights, turns, etc. does this every now and again. check engine light appeared and i got 3 codes out of it. po115, po325, and po136. i've looked them all up but was wondering if anyone has some experience or insight into these. I'm thinking maybe an o2 sensor, or maybe even the engine head temp. sensor.??!! if anyone has any ideas or starting points for me, it would be greatly appreciated.

I believe that this starting trouble may have started from her putting in a tank of 87 octane gas when she first got it.

thanks, guys

 

P0115 is the engine coolant temp sensor or circuit fault
P0325 is the knock sensor or circuit fault.
P0136 is the downstrean o2 sensor fault. That is the O2 sensor behind the Cat convertor.

 

It's the O2 in the cat not behind it. Do some maintenance on it for starters.

 

Change the engine coolant temp sensor first. The ECU needs to know the operating temp of the engine so it can provide the correct air fuel ratio. That sensor alone can cause the o2 readings to go crazy and also trigger the knock sensor code as well. It's also most likely the cause of your hard starts and stalls. It's a easy fix, the sensor is located where the upper radiator hose connects to the engine. There are 2 sensors there, the sensor thats closest to the engine is the one you need to change. After you change that, clear the error codes from the ECU and your car should start and run correctly.

 

o2 sensor... a lot of times an o2 sensor code will also throw a knock sensor code. replace o2, reset ecu and you shold be fine. if you would like to change the temp sensor first go ahead b/c that is the cheapest of the three.

 

oh and welcome!

 

Not that it really matters, but the downstream O2 is in the cat on 95-96 and behind the cat on 97-99.

 

well, i just changed the coolant temp sensor, it runs better, but not great. i still have to crank it twice for it to start, but i dont have to ive it any gas. i think i'm gonna go ahead and put in a new o2 sensor, since it was getting horrible mileage and the other sensor might have impacted the o2.

any more ideas that you guys have would again be welcomed, thanks so far.

 

My Nismo does the same thing with the whole every once in a while cutting out, but its the knock sensor. They are kinda high, and I know I shouldnt wait, but I am kinda broke for the next 3 weeks so I just gotta deal with it till then It will cut out every once in a while and then about 20 minutes later, it will start back up again. The knock sensor just shuts the engine down. << grr >> I hate knock sensors!
Hey -- if anyone knows where I can get one cheaper than $170.00 lemme know, k? Thanks in advance


(P.S. You can always just have your sensors tested .... then you dont have to buy one if the one you were thinking it was isn't bad. Did that come out alright? LOL Kinda sounds confusing ... I hope it was understood!)


~*Jinni*~

 

the stalling is fixed and it runs much better.

the thing still is that it takes 2 tries to get it started. i have to turn the key, it starts and then dies immediately. start it again right after and it runs fine for the rest of the trip. if i shut it down, i have to start it twice, no CEL.

any ideas, you've all been great so far?

 

cam sensor, or fuel delivery is my guess. know when the fuel filter was last changed?

 

it had never been changed, but i changed it when i did everything else.

this is bothering me since i'm driving it back to my girls school so i can get my truck back. i'm ok with it running like it is, since it runs fine now, but i would like to have it start perfect again. wish i could figure out what is wrong it still.