I wanted some help on this one. When I am stopped at a light the car sort of misses or sputters. It feels like someone is tapping my car from behind. I have no CEL. ANY SUGGESTIONS??? This only happens in drive. When you put it in neutral you don't feel it anymore.

 

What year is your Maxima and how many miles on it?

What is the maintenance history (i.e. when were plugs, filters, fluids, etc. serviced)?

 

It is a 99 with 175K, I have had it since it was new and always perfromed the recommended maint. Just changed the plugs a month or so ago. Fuel filter and air filter were both changed about 20K ago

 

Have you ever replaced the ignition coils in that car?

 

Me Too....I drive a 99 SE and mine Just started doing what your descibing yesterday. By yesterday evening I had a 'check engine light' OBD-II code is P0140 and from what i can tell it looks like the O2 sensor for the rear of the engine (right bank) has failed. I don't know if this is the fix yet will advise if i get it in this weekend. Ironically this past weekend I gave my car some love and changed the oil/plugs/filters.

 

No I have never changed the any of the coils

 

Any problems when accelerating (like hesitation, jerking, etc.).. The coils are prone to failure on the 99 model year.

You could try checking things like the PCV valve, cleaning the throttle body and the IACV.. but my money is on the coils. They are not cheap - but you can get all 6 at a discounted price - 60 bucks a piece is about the best you'll find - from Dave Burnette - look for his number in the 5th Gen forum stickies (parts sticky). If you buy coils, look for Mitsubishi replacements - they are less prone to failure.

 

When I first start to accelerate you can feel it miss , but at hwy speeds you don't feel a thing. I did notice that my MPG is down to 26 from 28. Thanks for the info.

 

I see you mention that you don't have the CEL - but you still might have a knock sensor code. Go ahead and retrieve the codes (check the stickies for instructions) and see what you get. Eventually the misfires (which is likely what you are experiencing) will get severe enough that you'll get some codes and the CEL will light on.

 

I have checked the past couple of days, no codes. I replaced the knock sensor about three or four months ago.

 

I think it is going to end up to be one of those damn coils, but I wish I knew which one so I didn't have to take it to the shop. Ireally can't afford all six of them right now

 

If it is sputtering at idle speeds, you could unplug each coil one at a time and if a coil is bad, the engine will not run any worse after you disconnect it, only working coils will affect the way the engine is running. Once you have found the "bad" coil, try swap it to another cylinder and see if the misfire follows the coil - if it does, you've found the culprit.

 

Thanks. I'll try that.

 

Did you reset the ECU with the screwdriver trick? If so make sure when you are finished that the screw is to the left. My idle was crazy and then someone on the .ORG suggested that. I tried it and worked.

 

dead coil will throw a code, but if its dying out I dont think it will throw one. Test your coils with a multimeter the haynes manual expains it well

 

Hey,
I've got a 1998 maxima, and it seems as if I'm experiencing the same problem, plus i'm getting pretty bad gas mileage. All maintanence is up to date, and oil changes every 3k miles. How do i reset the ecu??

THanks in advance..

* and sorry for the newbish question*

 

check the stickies its the one explaining how to check for codes. Or going to a local auto stores will check codes and reset, but if yourt throwing any codes a reset wont get rid of them.

 

I have a 99 SE-L with 80K and I JUST started to experience this same problem. I was going to start my own thread but then I found this one. My car for the most part is all up to date on service. I have a rear O2 sensor code and an excessive/no EGR flow error code. I have a strong feeling that it is going to be one of the coils. I'm going to investigate this weekend. Thanks for the info guys!

 

I took my car to the shop today and I will post the results when I know something.

 

Your symptoms describe the exact problem I had. My miss was so bad that you could literally see the engine shake or jerk. I'm not sure if your coil failure was at the same stage or not.

What I did to figure out which coil was bad, was to disconnect each coil at a time. The engine shakes/vibrates when a coil is disconnected, but I could still see the engine miss. As the engine shakes with 1 coil disconnected I could still see it shake even harder when it misses. So it eliminated that coil as being bad. And I would run the engine with the 1 coil disconnected for a good 2 or 3 minutes. When I got to the bad coil the engine would shake, but I wouldn't see it miss. I went out and bought a new coil and everything has been running good.

I'm pretty sure its a bad coil. Try this method, it will work.

By the way, I also have a rear O2 sensor light and the sensor is definitely shot. It in no way was related to to coil failure.

 

had the exact same problem. replaced #5 coilpack. the problem completly went away. found out it was that specific coilpack simply by trail and error because i had no ecu codes or cel light

 

You guys are right on, it was the #3 coilpack.

 

does anyone have a scan of the manual of how to test the coils?

 

What kind of plugs did you use? I trust they were NGK - either OEM platinums of V-power coppers.

You've been averaging over 25K per year and then some depending on exactly when you bought the car. Do you ever sleep?