Summary: did the 3" oscai and K&N filter mess up my ECU so that when I start my car it is begging for air but cant receive it as it does when the car is moving?

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*98 Auto maxima with no performance mods - 56k miles*
I have a question for you, I installed an OSCAI a couple of weeks ago and had a stock air filter, my car started fine.

A week later I installed a new 3" oscai for more airflow, installed a K&N filtercharger AND reset my ECU according to BrianV(.net)'s instructions.

A couple of days later my car started hesitating to start. at first when i turned the key it would NOT even make a sound, it was just quiet and it didnt turn over. after a little time it did start but VERY POORLY, the rpms were jumping up and down.

Anyway, now this happens everyday: the car turns over and starts whirring but DOES NOT start. could this be my starter? or did the INCREASED airflow with the OSCAI and K&N mess up my ECU? could it be that the car is begging for more air when I start it and it cant receive it because air isnt being pushed into the OSCAI like it is at speed?

 

Did the Check Engine Light ever go on? If so, did you do a Diagnostic Trouble Code readout?

Some owners have had trouble with the Mass Air Flow Sensor after installing an aftermarket intake.

 

well, if u took out those 4 little tiny philips screws on the mass air flow sensor and pulled out that thing that has 3 metal prongs, then that could be 1 reason why. Can you rev your engine over 2500rpms? If u can't, then u had the same problem i did after installing a JWT intake. Cuz I ruined my Mass air flow sensor by pulling that device out. In order to fix it, i had to resoder the prongs back on. But i am considering to buy another MAF from a junkyard (just in case if i get stranded somewhere that is!) Anyway, just trying to help.

 

the Check Engine Light never came on...other than when you put the key on the ON position...

I never took out the MAF, never messed with it, never touched it.

But what I noticed today was that the car wouldnt start at 9am when it was kind of cool around 70degrees, but it started with some hesitation at 3:30pm when it was around 98+ degrees (im in California). Could it be some temperature problem?

One last question, so you are sure that the OSCAI (since it increased the airflow into the engine ALOT) cant and wont mess up anything in the engine/ecu?

thanks alot for your help

 

No, I'm not sure. My field of interest is diagnosis and repair of stock Maximas. I have scant knowledge of engine mods and cannot vouch for the safety or effectiveness of any of them.

Anyone who follows this forum is familiar with the number of problems which seem to arise soon after installation of a mod. This might be the result of a botched installation, but it might also be the result of a harmful mod.

 

This is a good clue. You may want to test your Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. This is easy enough, requiring only an ohmmeter.

On the 4th Generation Maxima engine the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor is located in the water outlet tube close to the engine end of the upper radiator hose. There are two sensors in that area. The one nearest the hose is for the dashboard temperature gauge. The ECTS, the one you're interested in, is right next to the the gauge sending unit. There is a good picture of these sensors in the Haynes repair manual on page 3-7.

With the engine cold, disconnect the ECTS and measure its resistance. Reconnect the ECTS, start the engine, run it until fully warmed up. Stop the engine, and repeat the resistance measurement. The "warm" reading should be a much lower value than the "cold" reading.

The manual gives these specs:
Engine coolant temperature 68F, ECTS resistance 2.1 - 2.9 Kohms
Engine coolant temperature 194F, ECTS resistance 0.24 - 0.26 Kohms
(Roughly a factor of ten difference.)

 

Keep me updated on this problem... a poorman's CAI sounds right up my alley what's this oscai business and whered you get it???