http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=496091

Refer to there^ for the whole story.

My idle seems to be unstable, keeps droping and rising as if its gona die but the computer wont let it, causing it to raise and drop constantly.

After cleaning my TB and IM i replaced everything with the stock gasket. Piece of **** caused a vacuum leak so i replaced it with a Fel-pro gasket, Much BETTER quality.

Vacuum leak seems to be gone because my car doesnt die after i start it, but the idle is still jumping up and down, which worries me. (**is it normal to have minor smoke come out during idle after cleaning/replacing the Intake manifold?)



Another thing, My friends told me about this clicking/knocking sound that they said was one of cylinders/or pistons. When i reved the engine they said it got worse. But during idle all i hear is a non-stop clickclickclickclickclick near the read cylinder heads? (back of intake manifold)
I never really noticed it or took it into consideration as a "problem" because when my mom handed me down the max to me it was like that already.

What could be causing my unstable idle and the clicking/knocking noise?

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=496597

check post 2...

might help bro

 

Not sure what that link has to do with it his problem...
Shady now that you replaced the gaskets and torqued the manifold to spec what happens?

 

Well, i torqued the manifold by hand...I dont have the money to rent a $100+ torque wrench. i alsready stripped/damaged one of the middle threads of the 4 holes on the lower Intake manifold where the upper bolts on. But it still bolts on tightly, just doesnt lock, so im not worried about that.

Theres no more hisssssing and my car hasnt turned off. Like i stated my idle is just unstable. it drops and rises constantly at Park or Neutral. Im worried because before the IM cleaning it never did this before.

And now the NEW problem which my friend notified me about was the clicking/knocking noise. He said it might be one of the rear pistons/cylinder.(i dont know the appropriate name). I dont want to have further engine damage, so should i get it checked out?

Im low on $$ so thats a problem. But yea, any other questions? If your confused let me know, ill try to be more detailed.

 

Just so you know they shouldn't be very tight. Just tight enough to make a seal with the LIM.

 

This is my car BTW....

 

Take it as a compliment i saved it to my computer. Its nice.

Care to explain that minifilter? And hows that airbox working?


Back to subject
Ill try to loosen them up, I dont want to replace the lower manifold. I heard its more difficult than the upper.

 

Its a crankcase breather filter. There should be a hose on it going to the air box.

 

Look at my reply on the other post. Paul

 

don't worry about clicking noise that's your timing chain rattling very common problem on high milege maximas the only thing you can do is to replace the tensioner

 

have you driven the car around yet?? After a TB or IM clean you should take the car for a "spirited" run around the block to clean all the loose carbon out. If you do happen to have fouled plugs and bottle of injector cleaner and half tank of gas should cure some of the deposit left on them.

As for the "click" you hear...obviously from here I can't help you much seeing as I can't hear it, but I can tell you all nissan's have a injector clicking noise.

Take it to a "trusted" mechanic or even head to the dealership and ask for a mechanics opinion for 2mins. If you ask them nicely they will have a quick listen to your car and wont charge you.

Hope this helps you.

 

I took it out for a drive. Seems to be performing better thought it only turned off on me once...

After that the idle seems to be stable. Im still worried about that clicking/knocking noise. Doesnt sound "safe."

As for the lower manifold, how difficult is it to replace?

I think i might get another one and replace it, just to have confidence in the threadings.

 

It might be easier to re-tap the threads to a slightly larger size.

 

I have clicking sound too. I think it's coming from IACV.
Did you take any pictures during the manifold removal ? I'm thinking of cleaning it too. Also I have dry oil or some kind of grease around intake manifold gasket- where is this coming from ?

 

If you dont know what your doing, i wouldnt recommend it. Its tough. Well...for a beginer in taking apart cars...

And so far, the cleaning and everything only caused more problems for me due to lack of experience.

 

No no. Your lack of experience wouldnt mess everything up. If you took it apart again and put things back together correctly you can do the LIM as well. Just need to mark your hoses when you take them off, remove the UIM the correct way, then remove the LIM the correct way. Make sure you have a manual and torque wrench tho. You cant put everything back together right without the torque wrench.

 

If your still have the studdering and stalling its gotta be that stripped bolt. Vacuum leak

 

UPDATE instead of making a new thread, ill continue this one....

After replacin the gasket and fixing my vacuum leak, my friends noticed a clicking noise i've never paid attention to before.

So today i take my car to the Nissan dealer and ask a service/repair man how much a Diagnosis/inspection cost and he just said "Pop the hood". He took a look at it, listened to the noise and said it might be the Lifters or injectors. And said it was not worth it because it has 140k miles and its a 2500$ job.

I dont know what lifters are but could you guys inform me on his "ear diagnosis"?

He kinda pissed me off. I mean, if im taking the car in to get it fixed he should i assume it MIGHT be WORTH it to me to get it properly diagnosed. Sigh....dealerships.

 

bump10char

 

Dealerships suck ***. New injectors would cost you under $100 on here or car-parts. The other thing, Idk what it is exactly. $2500 my a$$. His ears might be right but the price is the dealership talking.

 

So what are injectors? Fuel injectors?

Im just looking whether i can do this myself or get a mechanic to do it and buy the parts myself.

 

yes the fuel injectors--they make a clicking noise-normal. the valve lifters also make a clicking noise-also normal. as the lifters wear they get louder, and may be an expensive repair. also lifters that stick a little can be noisey. the lifter adjustment is best left to the pros. try auto-rx, it may quiet the lifters.

 

Sounds like my occassional stalling problem on my 95 Max with 160K miles. Starts fine, runs great most of the time, but then for no reason it will try to stall with the idle jumping from below 500 to 2000+. Just had tune up, new plugs, fuel filter and injector cleaning. Apparent waste of cash as it is still threatening to stall occassionally. Great car, wierd stuff.

 

My problem was a gasket leak bro.

When cleaning my intakeManifold, i didnt know you have to use a new gasket. The OEM nissan gasket is stiff and hard, and sucks! I ordered one from Kragen and its very good quality for around 20$.

Try that, my car runs pretty good now, no more stalling...knock on wood. *knock

 

Many thanks shady. I'll have my mechanic check it out.