So I have automatic 97 maxima 218kmiles with a stalling problem. Happens randomly, used to misfire but changed all ignition coils and that helped as well as one fuel Injector that wasn't working right. Changed the idle air control thing also. There's only one code which is the knock sensor and I'm getting tired of putting new things into it. Anyone else have had this problem. Is there a way to diagnose it with the engine running so it can maybe see what's wrong?

 

Knock sensors off ebay are pretty cheap and only cost a bloody knuckle to put in, can improve gas mileage quite a bit and it protects your engine from knocking, pretty worth it to make sure your KS is operating like it should

Clean your MAF and its connections, and I'd replace your spark plugs too if it's time to do that. every 30k miles if you're running ngk coppers and 60k miles if you're running the oem ngk platinum plugs

Probably could of just cleaned your IACV btw. It's a high mileage car, maintain these things and it will run another 60k

 

I'm calling a malfunctioning MAF.

Perhaps an old TPS.

 

What brand plugs are you running? Should only use NGK.

 

If it's just the knock sensor code P0325, then you might just need a new knock sensor. It is a very common problem on these cars. My suggestion is the Hitachi KNS0001. It is the actual OE part

 

damn, you can get them with the harness for $22 from walmart online, i messed up. i think i bought a knockoff bc i thought i looked and the oems were $100 and everyone was saying the ebays work fine. :/

 

hard to start when it stalls

 

Highly unlikely it's the knock sensor. That's not how they behave when they go bad.

Clean the throttle body. And as others have suggested, clean the MAF, and make sure the plugs are good and NGKs. It could also be the TPS.

Might be coolant temp sensor too, although I've never had that problem.

But to answer your actual question, I'm not aware of any way to diagnose the problem with the engine running, unless you've got some pretty advanced equipment...

 

Check your Mass Air Flow Sensor. Common symptom for random stalls in the 4th gen Maximas.