Out of ideas...Advice needed please.
#1
Out of ideas...Advice needed please.
About 2 weeks ago I was driving down the highway in 5th gear when all of a sudden my car starts puttering for some strange reason. Not sure what to do I give it bit more gas and it seemed to take off fine as usual...strange. So I let off the gas and drop it down to 2500 rpm, at which point the puttering comes back, I give it more gas and it takes off fine again.
I get off the highway and come to a stop at a red light, the car is idling perfectly and no signs of anything being wrong are evident. Light turns green, I take off in 1st when at around 2000 RPM, the car starts jerking hard. So I give it more gas and it takes off ok, shift in 2nd and again the same jerking, I floor it and it's fine again.
This happens in all gears between roughly 2000 and 3000 RPM if I try to accelerate normaly. If I give it more gas than usual, I can avoid the jerking until I get up to cruising speed, at which point the hesitation comes back.
Crusing at 3000RPM will make it jerk but crusing at 4000RPM will not. IF I floor it too much it will jerk sporaticly throuhout the power band until 5500RPM when the jerking is too much and I have to shift. If I take it REALLY easy on the gas and gradually bring it up to 3500, it does not sputter.
I've had a check engine light ever since I installed my intake, but it does not throw any codes (0505). So I bring it to my mechanic who scans the car and it's giving him engine misfire...damnit. He suggests maybe changing the sparkplugs, doubtfull it was going to fix the problem I went with it regardless since they needed to be changed anyways. We swapped them out and one of them looked pretty bad...hey maybe it is the problem...wrong. The car drove the exact same only no misfire anymore. All he's getting now on the scanner is "undocumented code". This guy used to be a Nissan dealer mech. who started his own shop so he's usually very knowledgeable and doesn't miss a beat. Even he was dumbfounded and suggested I bring it to the dealer.
Anyways, I'd like to hear what people's opinions are before I bring it to the dealer and take it up the a$$. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.
I get off the highway and come to a stop at a red light, the car is idling perfectly and no signs of anything being wrong are evident. Light turns green, I take off in 1st when at around 2000 RPM, the car starts jerking hard. So I give it more gas and it takes off ok, shift in 2nd and again the same jerking, I floor it and it's fine again.
This happens in all gears between roughly 2000 and 3000 RPM if I try to accelerate normaly. If I give it more gas than usual, I can avoid the jerking until I get up to cruising speed, at which point the hesitation comes back.
Crusing at 3000RPM will make it jerk but crusing at 4000RPM will not. IF I floor it too much it will jerk sporaticly throuhout the power band until 5500RPM when the jerking is too much and I have to shift. If I take it REALLY easy on the gas and gradually bring it up to 3500, it does not sputter.
I've had a check engine light ever since I installed my intake, but it does not throw any codes (0505). So I bring it to my mechanic who scans the car and it's giving him engine misfire...damnit. He suggests maybe changing the sparkplugs, doubtfull it was going to fix the problem I went with it regardless since they needed to be changed anyways. We swapped them out and one of them looked pretty bad...hey maybe it is the problem...wrong. The car drove the exact same only no misfire anymore. All he's getting now on the scanner is "undocumented code". This guy used to be a Nissan dealer mech. who started his own shop so he's usually very knowledgeable and doesn't miss a beat. Even he was dumbfounded and suggested I bring it to the dealer.
Anyways, I'd like to hear what people's opinions are before I bring it to the dealer and take it up the a$$. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.
#4
Originally Posted by njmodi
1. Pull the codes, if the CEL is set, there should be something stored other than 0505.
2. Sounds like failing coils to me.
2. Sounds like failing coils to me.
I was under the impression that 1997 Maximas didn't have coil issues?
#6
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
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Posts: 16,033
If your buddy is a true mechanic he should have been able to tell you whats going on by looking at the one "bad" plug you pulled out. The problem is definately on that cylinder. If the plug was black with soot, it could indicate a weak coil. If it was very light or yellowish, that would point to a lean condition most likely caused by a bad fuel injector.
Look at that spark plug better, it's holding the answer to your problem.
Look at that spark plug better, it's holding the answer to your problem.
#9
Originally Posted by njmaxseltd
If your buddy is a true mechanic he should have been able to tell you whats going on by looking at the one "bad" plug you pulled out. The problem is definately on that cylinder. If the plug was black with soot, it could indicate a weak coil. If it was very light or yellowish, that would point to a lean condition most likely caused by a bad fuel injector.
Look at that spark plug better, it's holding the answer to your problem.
Look at that spark plug better, it's holding the answer to your problem.
#11
Originally Posted by njmodi
They don't have coil issues right out of the factory, but coils can fail on any car.. including the 97s... they typically fail under load - which is what you are experiencing.
How long can you drive on a bad coil? Can it have any other detrimental affects on the car?
#12
Originally Posted by killcrap
also check the Crank sensor REF. it could be the culprit.
Anyone else think this could be a viable possibility?
#13
Lower RPM misfire can also be EGR. EGR activates at something around 1200 to 3000 RPM. Also look into your clutch. How old is it? Might be time for a replacement. The sputtering you feel might be the clutch losing grip and gaining grip or the friction material chattering on the flywheel- which may be warped as well.
#14
Originally Posted by PAREDLINE
Lower RPM misfire can also be EGR. EGR activates at something around 1200 to 3000 RPM. Also look into your clutch. How old is it? Might be time for a replacement. The sputtering you feel might be the clutch losing grip and gaining grip or the friction material chattering on the flywheel- which may be warped as well.
#17
Check your EGR metal tube. Make sure it on correctly. Do this with a cool motor because you will burn your hand.
I think the flywheel was not resurfaced correctly- it may be warped or machined unevenly. I've had this happen before and after they changed the clutch 3 times they realized the flywheel was warped.
Also check the crankshaft POS sensor. There are two sensors POS and REF. REF is under the crankshaft pulley and the POS is on the other side by the flywheel. the sensor might be loose or broken. I may have POS and REF mixed up. Anyway its the crank sensor by the flywheel.
Haynes manual has a process where you can check this sensor's resistance with a multimeter.
I think the flywheel was not resurfaced correctly- it may be warped or machined unevenly. I've had this happen before and after they changed the clutch 3 times they realized the flywheel was warped.
Also check the crankshaft POS sensor. There are two sensors POS and REF. REF is under the crankshaft pulley and the POS is on the other side by the flywheel. the sensor might be loose or broken. I may have POS and REF mixed up. Anyway its the crank sensor by the flywheel.
Haynes manual has a process where you can check this sensor's resistance with a multimeter.
#18
Seems to me if the flywheel is warped, I would get this problem throughout the entire powerband no? And for the 1st week or so after it was fine.
Also something that could be of importance, when in neutral, I can rev it no problem and it doesn't hesitate, only when in gear and moving will it do it. Does a faulty coil also act up while in neutral?
Also something that could be of importance, when in neutral, I can rev it no problem and it doesn't hesitate, only when in gear and moving will it do it. Does a faulty coil also act up while in neutral?
#21
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,033
A weak spark caused by a failing coil is first felt via a misfire under a load. (heavy accelleration and especially at WOT) The spark plug being covered in black soot is definately a sign that it's not burning hot enough.
Another cause for a plug to be dark in color would be a leaking fuel injector. The misfire from a leaking fuel injector would be felt mostly at idle, not WOT.
I'm pretty sure you have a bad coil pack.
EGR problems and cam or crank sensors would not be cylinder specific.
Another cause for a plug to be dark in color would be a leaking fuel injector. The misfire from a leaking fuel injector would be felt mostly at idle, not WOT.
I'm pretty sure you have a bad coil pack.
EGR problems and cam or crank sensors would not be cylinder specific.
#22
would a failing coil pack or injector set a code? my 95 is actin the same way, but stalls at idle and loads up, smokes black, gotta clear it out and rev it a few times. goes away for a while but comes back. sometimes un-driveable !!
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TonyJr
3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994)
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08-20-2015 12:14 AM