My son has a 95 Maxima that, (when it cranks), idles fine but when you are driving down the road it hesitates, almost like it has bad fuel. He had the diagnostics ran, bad crank sensor, knock sensor, and 1 other. Of course he can't remember the last. Prior to replacing the crank sensor this evening, the car would not start. I replaced the sensor and with a little gas pedal the car cranked. We took it for a test run, and sure enough the hesitation and jerking was still there.


Any ideas?

 

We need to know what the 1 other code is. It seems that you already replaced the crank sensor and the starts up now. It sounds like the other code is a misfire but need to know in which cylinder if that is the other code.

 

after taking it on the test run, it failed to start.

 

And, the temp gauge jumps around. I have read other threads with similar problems, and some suggest replacing the temp sensor.

 

we live in NC where it was 75 degrees today.

 

Replace the knock sensor and the other then try again. I bet it will run fine then

 

You need: fuel, spark, compression, and all the right time to start a car. By mashing the gas pedal when cranking this engine, you're actually cutting the fuel off.

My hunch is on fuel. Prime the pump a few cycles, then try to start it.