Change the KS harness while you are down there, too. Hopefully the problem is just with the KS or harness and not something else setting off the code. That's when the real fun starts...lol

 

get a friend with very little hands to help/do most of the work for you.
and get bandaids. lots. nissan welds razors to the manifolds. its about a 100% chance that you will cut your hands up. it took me and a friend 30 min tops without pulling the intake manifold off.

 

So now this thing is turning into a nightmare. I pulled the codes using the screw by the gas pedal and it came back 03 03 and 03 04, Front left heated O2 sensor , and knock sensor. Yet, the light wasn't actually lit in the car when I checked... Wouldn't an O2 sensor issue trigger the light to actually go on??? I reset it and have a 2 hr drive home today so I'll check the codes after to see what came back. I don't really want to have to replace both sensors cuz that is mucho money.

 

It should've been, unless it was a pending code (I've yet to see that on an A32, though I rarely use an OBD-II scanner to see for sure so it might happen).

But as njmaxseltd said above, replace the O2 first; the KS code seems to pop up when other emissions related codes are stored. That is of course if the codes come back.

 

O2 sensors will not cause performance problems like this.

My money is on coil packs. I've read your reasoning for thinking that your coilpacks are good and it's flawed. Bad coilpacks will NOT necessarily manifest themselves at startup. "Bad coilpacks" does not mean that the coilpack (or packs) is not working entirely, it can mean that under certain conditions it doesn't provide the power required to properly fire the spark plug.

My 95 beater max was purchased with bad coilpacks. I knew what the problem was the first instant I test drove the car. If my mother had driven this car she would NEVER have known the car had any sort of problem because it only manifested itself above about 25% throttle. The car started up perfectly and would drive perfectly under about 25% throttle. Swapped the known good coils that I had kept after my old maxima got wrecked and the car ran absolutely flawlessly. This car did not have a check engine light illuminated. I really believe that's your problem. I've never had a bad knock sensor in any of my 3 maximas so I can't comment on the symptoms of that first hand.

 

Anyone want to sell me some good coilpacks? hah

 

Update!!!

So finally tackled the stupid sensors today. Bought the O2 sensor and replaced it. Reset the codes and started the car up, checked the codes again and the KS came right back. So trip #2 to the parts store, got the KS sensor and changed it. And the engine bay took no blood from me, some scrapes though. Once I got it loose it was definitely an easy job. There was some corrosion on the contact so I sanded it down on the engine, and put the new sensor on. Drove it around for a bit, very noticeable difference!! It's like my car is new again (ok maybe not that good but you get the idea). Now I'm kind of wondering if I could have just sanded down the original KS and put it back on, but I guess it is too late now. Would have been nice to save 140 ish bucks though. Thanks for all your help guys

 

Did you really spend $140 for a KS? Damn. Was there a reason you needed it immediately?

Only reason I ask is you can get a brand new one for $40 from eBay...

 

Yeah I didn't want to mess around w/ the ebay KS, I know most people had said their quality is fine but I only wanted to have to get in their and change it once so I just bought it @ Advanced Auto Parts

 

Ah. What brand was the Advance KS?

FWIW you can usually find the OEM part on eBay for less than $50.

 

Thanks for the updated, RedWagon

 

check the simple stuff oil change. filter

 

LOL. Try reading the thread next time...

 

Did the code go away? I'm sanding down all my contacts now before I go out for a new one.

 

Good luck, let me know how sanding the parts down goes for you. Be careful and use fine sand paper. My problems went away and it runs like new and no code. Hope the sanding down works for you. (Wish i had thought of it before)

 

Wow...good to know others have the EXACT same symptoms i am having.

Went out and scanned my OBD and found i had P0325 as well. Good news i guess.

I especially knew my performance wasn't up to snuff since i was barely beating a 95 avalon auto (i'm stick), and i've got a y-pipe too. Also barely beat an auto cobalt. Low only 110k miles on mine too (and VLSD).

Mark