Hi all just joined this forum and really like what i see so far,lots of helpful ppl here. I just bought a 1997 Maxima with 176k for my wife and we really like the car but have a couple issues with it.Sometimes the car starts just fine other times it doesn't,if you press the gas pedal while turning the key it starts and it drives just fine.When i bought the car dealer told me MAF (mass air flow sensor) on it was bad and that's what's causing the problem.Ckeck engine light came up the following day so i took it to my mechanic and it was reading bad MAF code as well as knock sensor code.I called Nissan dealer and they were asking around $ 600 Canadian for new MAF so i went on ebay and ordered aftermarket part for around $ 60,my mechanic told me KS code is most likely triggered by bad MAF code and should go away after i replace my MAF.Anybody else had similar experience with their Maxima and did MAF in fact fix starting issue and if so did you have to replace KS as well.Looking forward to your replies and thank you in advance.

 

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I had a bad KS and MAF on both 4th gens I had/have. Neither had a starting issue caused by the MAF. Though I have one now, and I can give it more air and it will start right up, but i think I have fuel leaking. But a driving issue, yes, I had that. And I wouldn't have bought an aftermarket MAF if I were you. Something as sensitive as that needs OEM. Also, the maf could have cold solders, so if you are even slightly able to solder, you could fix the original MAF.

The KS is actually bad more than piggy backing, and they aren't that expensive off of eBay. Unlike the aftermarket MAF, the no name KS works very well.

Good luck and enjoy the Maxi.


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Thanks for a quick reply Aflion,i was looking to buy a used MAF at pick n pull but couldn't find any.My mechanic cleaned it but it didn't help, i know OEM parts are much better but i wasn't prepared to spend over 600 bucks for a part that might not fix my starting issue.Once it starts it runs fine and has plenty of power,only thing i noticed RPM gauge is jumpy at times and sometimes it goes to 8000 RPM's and just stays there for a while not sure why it does that but i don't think it has anything to do with MAF.Do you have any other ideas why the car sometimes starts normally and other times it doesn't until you press the gas pedal? This is my first Nissan and i don't know much about them but both my wife and i really like the car and we are planing to keep it for a few years but i gotta figure out this starting issue first lol
Any input on this problem is greatly appreciated.

 

The rpm issue is with your gauge cluster. The tachometer likes to do that on a lot of Maximas. Not too big of a deal if you're auto.

As for the MAF, you have to take the top off of it so you can see the internals. Then solder jump wires to each connector. (Its obvious where they go once you're looking at it, trying to explain would make it sound harder than it really is.) I tried just cleaning both of mine, but it didn't run right until i soldered the jump wires. (The car would buck and jerk when it tried to accelerate any)

Also, does the car run a little rich, or is the exhaust ok?


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Yes it's automatic tranny so rpm gauge isn't really a big deal,when the gauge works it shows around 600 rpm's in D and around 800 rpm's in P which i think is good.

 

Yeah, thats about normal. If it really bothers you though, you can take the cluster out and tighten all of the screws, and thats supposed to help with it.


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Not too worried about RPM gauge it doesn't effect car's performance,starting issue is my main concern especially since my wife is driving the car and i don't won't her calling me at work asking honey the car won't start can you please come to the other side of town to take a look at it lol You know how ladies are when it comes to cars

 

Haha. I know exactly what you're talking about man. See, I'm 18, but I know a lot about cars, especially since my grandfather has always worked on them, along with my mom. And my uncle is a master mechanic. So I've picked up a lot over the years since I've been helping out since I was really young. And as it turns out, most of my friends are girls, and they refuse to have any knowledge about cars. So I'm called upon all the time. Lol.


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I am little older then that,well twice your age to be specific.Luckily i only have to look after my wife's car for now but my daughters are growing up fast and in few years time there will be 3 girls relying on me.I do have some basic knowledge about cars did some work by my self on my Audi but not a pro by any means.Just trying to narrow down possible solutions,i am also thinking fuel pump might be going bad but all of these repairs are kinda costly and not sure if they will fix my problem.As mentioned earlier this is my first Nissan so i joined this great forum to learn more about Nissan vehicles especially Maxima's since i have one sitting in my driveway now.

 

Yeah. A fuel pump is possible. But you might also consider checking the engine coolant temperature sensor. Also the fuel pressure regulator. Or, if it ran it low on gas one time, it could have sucked trash into the injectors and has one stuck open. Thats all the stuff, minus fuel pump, that I'm considering is wrong with my car, because I also have gas in my oil. Thats something else you can check. Posted from Maxima.org App for Android

EDIT: Also, if the fuel filter has never been changed, which is quite possible, that could be causing it.

 

Thanks for your input bro it's greatly appreciated,i'll try what you suggested and fill up the car tomorrow and add Lucas fuel injector cleaner and see if it helps any.Will stop by Nissan dealership as well and buy genuine air filter since one that i have now is made in China and i was reading that aftermarket filters don't work all that great on Maxima's and they let dirt trough which can cause problems for MAF's.Will start with less expensive repairs and go from there.Time to go play black ops 2 now, got a little tired reading about cars and watching Maxima videos on youtube lol If anyone experienced the same problem as me and found the cure for it i would greatly appreciate if you share it with us.Thanks

 

Ok today i replaced my air filter and fuel filter got both at Nissan dealership, filled up my tank and added Lucas fuel injector cleaner.Car seems to run a bit quieter but starting problem is still there and service engine soon light is still on.While i was at Nissan dealership i asked one of the mechanics there what he thinks the problem might be and he is pretty sure it's fuel related he figures most likely a bad fuel injector but of course he told me to bring the car to the dealership so they can take a look at it which i am sure will not be cheap.He doesn't think mass air flow sensor has anything to do with my Maxima not starting at times but why would service engine soon light be on (showing bad MAF and knock sensor) if MAF is working properly?Also how do you find out which injector is bad and how hard is it to fix it?Any thoughts!!!

 

You can listen to each injector with a stethoscope to see if it's flowing right. You can also unplug the clip on each boot individually and listen to see if it makes it a lot worse than any of the others when you unplugged them. Thats really about all you can do with them still on the car. Id replace the KS and then try to fix your MAF before letting a dealership rip you off.


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Ok thanks for the advice,new MAF it's on it's way and will go now and order knock sensor from ebay,only thing that sucks i have to wait 2 weeks or more to get parts from ebay dealers in USA to Canada but oh well car is drive-able so it's ok.Also another question after i replace MAF and KS do i have to clear codes or they will go away on their own or can i just unhook terminals on my battery and CEL will be gone?

 

You'll need to reset the codes. You can do that from the computer itself. Beside the drivers right foot is a panel; pop it off and you'll see the computer. There is a little spot for a flat blade screwdriver on it; turn it all the way to the right, wait for the CEL to start blinking to show you the codes, then turn it back to the left. That should clear the codes.


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Thanks for that info Aflion, i will clear codes once i replace my MAF and KS.Not sure what happened but after i replaced fuel filter and added Lucas fuel injector cleaner car was starting normally today (knock on wood) even this morning while engine was completely cold no need to step on gas pedal to get it started.Now i am almost certain my problem is fuel related and seems like injector cleaner fixed one or more injectors on it, i know it's only one day but it's a step in the right direction.What type of fuel do you guys normaly use in your Maxima's,i filled it up with regular but i think premium fuel which is recommend seems to make a big difference in these cars.

 

I use regular with an octane booster. Its cheaper that way.

And no problem. Glad I could help.


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Tcw3 as well...cheaper than injector cleaner and burns better. Check the sticky in the fluids and lubricants section


And always premium.

 

Thanks for the tips guys apreciate it, so the bottom line is running just regular fuel 87 octane without additives is a big no no,either premium or some sort of additives are needed.

 

Midgrade or premium.
Gas additives are a waste of money in my and many other's opinion.

Edit: except for tcw-3 for maintaining your whole fuel system.

 

By additives i meant Lucas fuel treatment, that's the only additive i use and seems to improve gas mileage i especially notice a big difference in my truck not so much in small cars. I thought Lucas fuel treatment was the best out there, i am sure you guys have tried it before. I am looking for a good fuel injectors cleaner so would you say that tcw 3 will work better for that purpose or you guys prefer it because it's much cheaper then Lucas? Thanks in advance.

 

^ yes.

 

Ok thanks on next fill up I'll try it and post the results in sticky section.