Basically just as the subject says, my mom bought this car when it was new and she bought a new Acura TL so I got the 95 Maxima

Only bad part is I can tell the acceleration is not what it used to, when I would drive it on "special" occasions to like dances in HS and such it would DEFINITELY accelerate better. Now I feel like I have to floor it so it will downshift and actually accelerate (or just drop it down a gear manually). Which I hate doing this b/c I know it's a stress on the engine.

Does anyone have any suggestions? It has 180K miles on it and I *think* the transmission fluid was changed when it was supposed to (I'm not 100% sure though, when I check the dipstick it looks clean, not thick like when you don't change it for 180K miles.

What can I do? Should I give it a tune up? New air filter? Fuel injection cleaner?

Please help!!!!!

 

Well what maintainence has been done? Plugs changed? Air and fuel filter? There are alot of things that have an effect on the acceleration. I would first find out exactly when the plugs were changed and what kind you have in there (copper, plat, or iridium). Start off with the least expensive parts first.

 

I bet upwards of 95% of the time, slow or sluggish acceleration on these cars is due to a failed knock sensor and the engine running on the safe map. -30hp/tq or thereabouts. Read the FAQs to learn how to check for codes. I bet you have a knock sensor (0304) "ghost code" in there which won't actually light the check engine light.

 

Find out what has been done so far. Do you use 93 octane ONLY? Here is a list of to do's:

Throttle body cleaning
Air filter change / clean
Spark Plugs (NGK only)
Engine Oil change & tranny oil
Engine & Tranny flush
Fuel filter change
Fuel Injector cleaning

Then you can start modding. Y-pipe is the most bang for the buck.

Tell us by summer what mods you've got.

 

Yea I only use the 93 octane, yea I read about the knock sensor and was thinkign that might be it. It's pretty much just hesitating. When I get home I'm going to go through all the maintenace records to see what my mom has had done and when. Hopefully something will turn up.

One thing though, do I have to buy something to figure out what the error codes are? I've seen a lot of stickies about what the codes mean, but how do I actually get the code from my car? (my chec engine light has been on for the past 4 years too, but the mechanic said it dealt with carbon build up somewhere, he cleaned it out some but the light stayed on and he said that was fine :/ ) So perhaps the light is on because of the knock sensor ?

 

if its hesitating then maybe its your coil packs. do you have a CEL?

 

ditto what everyone else said. At 180k you are basically due for another 60,000 mile service/full tune up. I would also look at your knock sensor as well.

 

Your mechanic sucks, read the stickys on how to check for codes yourself,and then decode them, or just buy a haynes manual and read it on how to check and diagnose the codes, and fix them.

Most likely poor performance is caused by a bad KS, I have one for sale, PM me if interested.

 

When I got my 95 (used), I immediately changed all plugs, engine oil, transmission oil, air-filter, and fuel filter. Then eventually, I replaced the coil packs (2 had cracked boots) and PCV. Initially my car wasn't running sluggish but it was consuming way more gas than I know it should. Doing all those above, plus checking/correcting tire inflation, adjusting accelerator cable, idle speed, cleaning MAF sensor, throttle body, and IACV greatly improved MPG and performance. I'm still on original knock sensor at 140k + miles. Almost forgot, fuel octane has something to do with performance as well. I'd suggest 92 or higher, and if you must 89 but don't go below that.