4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Stuttering on acceleration and high speed cruising, checked stickies

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 08:56 PM
  #1  
StrikerHA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29
Stuttering on acceleration and high speed cruising, checked stickies

When im accelerating the car sometimes stuttering on acceleration and high speed cruising. I already checked stickies, cant find out what it can be, any ideas? it ususally goes away after an hour of driving or so. Any help is appreciated, thanx
Old Dec 9, 2004 | 11:15 AM
  #2  
drewm's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,390
Originally Posted by StrikerHA
When im accelerating the car sometimes stuttering on acceleration and high speed cruising. I already checked stickies, cant find out what it can be, any ideas? it ususally goes away after an hour of driving or so. Any help is appreciated, thanx
You must have a 99. Its a coil pack issue. When you get a CEL, read the stickies to find out which cylinder.
Old Dec 9, 2004 | 11:26 AM
  #3  
zachosz's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 131
it could also ba a clog in the fuel system. Try changing the fuel filter and see if it helps. But I like the coipack theory better, especially if you get a CEL. Spark plugs/wires also comes to mind....
Old Dec 9, 2004 | 05:05 PM
  #4  
StrikerHA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29
thanc for the replys, its a 98 se , so i doubt the coilpacks are bad. And i replaced the fuel filter about 1K ago , ill check it again but i doubt its this. Could it be the timing? what i mean is could it be being retarded by the ecu, perhaps due to a bad knock sensor? Thank fo the input
Old Dec 10, 2004 | 08:34 AM
  #5  
Brudaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,226
Drewm,

Mine is doing the same thing kind of.
I have replaced all the plugs/fuel filter within the past 15k miles and it started back.
It will blink a CEL sometimes, but by the time I stop and check it(like that day at AutoZone), it does not show any codes....even with their scanner.
I never get a CEL that stays on.

My question is:
Do I just keep driving until I get a CEL if I don't want to replace all of my coil packs?
Old Dec 10, 2004 | 10:23 PM
  #6  
StrikerHA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29
i honestly dont know what you should do , but a blinking cel light means you are having detonation, dont know what could cause that tho if u dont have a cel on all the time. mabey sumone else here knows?
Old Dec 10, 2004 | 10:46 PM
  #7  
Maxine's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 823
I had the exact same problem. Turned out it was fuel injector #1. Of course right under the im. Needless to say had had a fun filled day removing it.
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 06:51 AM
  #8  
Terran's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,983
Originally Posted by StrikerHA
i honestly dont know what you should do , but a blinking cel light means you are having detonation, dont know what could cause that tho if u dont have a cel on all the time. mabey sumone else here knows?
It actually means you're having a misfire...so bad coils.
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:28 AM
  #9  
TonyGotSkilz's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 868
From: San Diego, CA
I had/have same problem, replaced coil....still having same problem, only code i got was 0603 (and knock sensor buts its unrelated)
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:39 AM
  #10  
Maxine's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 823
I'm telling you guys its not always the coil if you have a misfire. Odds are that it is, but i had a misfire in cylinder one. Changed coils everything was the same. Changed fuel injector problem went away. So remember its either spark or fuel.
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:49 AM
  #11  
TonyGotSkilz's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 868
From: San Diego, CA
I'm not disagreeing i just want to make sure, before i go and waste more money since it looks like i bought a coil for nothing
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:52 AM
  #12  
Kbuitre's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 198
From: Austin, TX
i have the same problem I'm going to chane plugs again to bosch platinum +4 if doesnt change i will start with the injectors... any recomendations or tricks to replace injectors?
cuz mine does it when i'm driving about 75+ mph stutter and kicks about 500 rpm and loss them again...
it cold be the injectors but i will try the plugs first due.
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:57 AM
  #13  
Maxine's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 823
What i did was changed coils around then unplugged them if the engine tone changes then you kow its a good coil. But if you unplug the one where have the cel and no change still its most likely a injector
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 08:59 AM
  #14  
Maxine's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 823
Originally Posted by Kbuitre
i have the same problem I'm going to chane plugs again to bosch platinum +4 if doesnt change i will start with the injectors... any recomendations or tricks to replace injectors?
cuz mine does it when i'm driving about 75+ mph stutter and kicks about 500 rpm and loss them again...
it cold be the injectors but i will try the plugs first due.
Just im me or pm if you need help with the injector, i had to remove my IM to get to mine.
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 09:19 AM
  #15  
Kbuitre's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 198
From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by Maxine
Just im me or pm if you need help with the injector, i had to remove my IM to get to mine.
Thanks man...
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 10:54 AM
  #16  
96maxdaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 289
could also be an egr problem. when the valve stick open it will cause a little shuddering at high speeds. it hard to tell though without driving the car though
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 06:52 PM
  #17  
Terran's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,983
Originally Posted by Kbuitre
i have the same problem I'm going to chane plugs again to bosch platinum +4.
Do NOT switch to bosch. ONLY USE NGK plugs. Copper or plats will work.
Old Dec 11, 2004 | 07:41 PM
  #18  
StrikerHA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29
wow thax for all the replys and info , i guess ill check out the coils first, ill do em in a week or so, after exams.
Old Dec 14, 2004 | 07:49 AM
  #19  
Brudaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,226
Don't everyone bail out yet....

I heard, from the Autozone guy, that there is a way to test the coil packs to see if they are functioning correctly or not. Is this true? He said that if I took it to my mechanic, he would know how to check them. I don't want to have to take it to a mechanic, but want to fix it myself.

Any help?
Old Dec 14, 2004 | 10:05 PM
  #20  
TonyGotSkilz's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 868
From: San Diego, CA
they aren't hard to check u just need a multimeter and you check the resistence between the 2nd and 3rd plugs that connect to the wire harness, should be infinite when going from 2nd to 3rd or something like that, buy a haynes manual its all in there.
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 06:41 AM
  #21  
Pappa Grande's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 677
Hmm, your description is a bit vague. When I had similar symptoms both my exhaust and engine coolant temp sensor were the basic culprits.
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 06:49 AM
  #22  
dallas0593's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 608
From: Central NJ
I am having the same problem intermintently [?] as well as a heat problem and i have a bad Engine Temperature Sensor as well. I beleive it is a the culprit in both cases.
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 09:08 AM
  #23  
Brudaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,226
Originally Posted by TonyGotSkilz
they aren't hard to check u just need a multimeter and you check the resistence between the 2nd and 3rd plugs that connect to the wire harness, should be infinite when going from 2nd to 3rd or something like that, buy a haynes manual its all in there.

The Haynes does have it all in there?
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 11:25 AM
  #24  
Brudaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,226
The problem is finally showing up a pretty consistent CEL. It took like 6 months for this to happen. For quite a while, the problem would just go away....but then return again.

Anyway, I cannot remember which coil packs are better: Hanshin or Mitsu?

Also, the NAPA guy told me that there were two prongs per coil.......one coil split to two cylinders. I just didn't know if this was true. I guess I have not really looked under there enough to know. Is that the case, or are there 6 coil packs....one for each?
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 11:27 AM
  #25  
njmodi's Avatar
Do I get a tax break?
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 5,438
From: Elmhurst, IL
Originally Posted by Brudaddy
The problem is finally showing up a pretty consistent CEL. It took like 6 months for this to happen. For quite a while, the problem would just go away....but then return again.

Anyway, I cannot remember which coil packs are better: Hanshin or Mitsu?

Also, the NAPA guy told me that there were two prongs per coil.......one coil split to two cylinders. I just didn't know if this was true. I guess I have not really looked under there enough to know. Is that the case, or are there 6 coil packs....one for each?
What code are you getting from the CEL? There is one coil pack per cylinder - total of 6 in your car.
Old Jun 11, 2005 | 07:40 AM
  #26  
ti2tmax's Avatar
Has his VINs memorized
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 763
From: Imperial Beach, CA
My car slightly shudders during acceleration but I thought it was just my new clutch/ flywheel combo.(which still slips) Maybe I should be checking other options. Just changed plugs(NGK double platnums) and new fuel filter.
Old Jul 9, 2005 | 08:18 AM
  #27  
Brudaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,226
Just to make sure....the right bank of the engine is the one nearer to the firewall? Correct? For some reason, I am doubting myself, even though I think that is it.....I just want to make sure....I am about to put a coil pack in.
Thanks....
Old Jul 10, 2005 | 08:19 PM
  #28  
Brudaddy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,226
Originally Posted by njmodi
What code are you getting from the CEL? There is one coil pack per cylinder - total of 6 in your car.
My brother has one of those scanners.
It says that I have a cylinder misfire, but it does not tell in which cylinder.
I don't know what to think of that.

Here is the deal...

My car is not studdering badly at idle....not just at the 3500rpm point. Before, there was just a little hesitation at that point in the rpm powerband, and then it was fine. The other funny thing is that it was not all the time.

Well, now at idle, it sounds really rough....like chug...chug...chug.
I was in the car to see the rpm's while my bro helped me by unplugging coil packs and seeing if there was change in the tone or not.

Here was the consensus:
After we tested them all, we ended up having all three front cylinders(left bank) unplugged, so that they were getting no spark at all. It is going to sound funny, but the car actually ran smoother on three cylinders than it was on 6 with some misfiring.

I put one of the good new coilpacks in one of those front cylinders and it didn't change. That tells me that it is possibly not a spark problem, but maybe a fuel problem? I don't know? Injectors?

I was wondering if, since all three of the fronts are not responding to a new coilpack....maybe it is something bigger than just one injector/all injectors. I don't know....could all of this be caused from a clogged fuel filter and trash getting into the cylinders via trashy fuel? I changed it like 35k miles ago, so I don't know if it would already be dirty? I know what some are thinking....but I use premium fuel, so that is not an issue.

To go about solving it, I would naturally do it this way:
fix the cheapest things and then work my way up to the more expensive stuff until it is fixed. That would put the injectors last.

What should I do?
Help me please.

Should I just buy another fuel filter and put some fuel treatment through it and go from there?

If that is what is recommended.....didn't I hear something about being able to use an older model 300ZX fuel filter because it is bigger or something?
Help on that too would be appreciated.

Sorry for the long post.
Old Jul 11, 2005 | 06:30 AM
  #29  
njmodi's Avatar
Do I get a tax break?
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 5,438
From: Elmhurst, IL
Bruce:

1. The right side is the bank closest to the firewall
2. You might want to start your own thread with post #28 as your first post
3. Cylinder misfire could be caused by either no spark, no fuel or no air. Looks like you've gone down the road of a bad coil pack ... did you change out any of the plugs yet? Thats another cheap option.

Start a fresh thread and let's pick this up in there.. PM me a link to your new thread.

Cheers.
Old Jul 11, 2005 | 01:57 PM
  #30  
desiboi's Avatar
Newbie - Just Registered
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
Hi everyone,
I too am noticing my 95 Maxima GLE very sluggish when accelerating and periodically it sputters and stalls when slowing down. I dont feel like i'm getting any horsepower out of it. Does this sound like a similar problem? Is there something in the '95's that I should know about?

Thanks!

- Neil
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Finkle
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
13
Sep 27, 2015 09:53 PM
schmellyfart
All Motor
7
Sep 25, 2015 04:47 PM
Rage Maximus
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
3
Sep 3, 2015 12:26 PM
Andy29
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
6
Aug 31, 2015 01:59 PM
Gsantos79
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
4
Aug 8, 2015 07:41 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:01 AM.