Alright its spring, back to screwing around with my Max (and hence visiting the X and ORG more often). In that spirit, last night I was looking at my intake to see if it needed cleaning. The reason was that I have been having continual cold running/hesitation issues that 2 different mechanics haven't shed any light on. My SES light has stayed dark the whole time and my problems didn't seem as severe as those with coil problems but I asked that question to both mechs. Both said the same thing, no to the coils being damaged/worn out, the plugs looked fine and hey, we don't know. Run some injector cleaner through. I did, no obvious difference.
So, back to the intake. While I was under the hood I again glanced at the inlet port that butts right up against the grill/hood seam. Hmm, there are sensors there. They must monitor airflow right? Unplug them...

So I did, there are (2) plugs attached, one on the top easily visable as soon as you open the hood, the other below at the back of the inlet plumbing. This one (#1 on the pic ) has a rubber hose attached to it that runs to the box section on the air intake assembly right above the filter. The second one (#2 on the pic ), is attached to the back of the inlet assembly and looks exactly like a smaller version of the main MAF.

I started the car. Waited a few seconds for Mr. SES light. Nope. Drove down the street. Now, the car was already warm, but it did seem smoother overall. Thinking I had stumbled onto something I was already supposed to know, I went back and reattached #1 plug. Started the car, BANG SES light. Dang. So I reattached both. SES didn't go away. Unhooked both, unhooked the battery and went in to eat pizza . About 45mins-1hr later, reattached bat, NO SES light. Cool. Keep in mind the sensors at this point are both unplugged. Drove about 15 miles, stopped and shut off the Max, restarted it a few minutes later, BANG SES light. At this point, after driving it for a little while I am SURE that it is running better. I leave the plugs undone and deal with that bright piercing yellow light shooting out of the dash. Drove around another 20 miles or so last night. No problems, smoother than usual.

The real test (I knew) would be this morning. Normally this winter, after the car sat overnight the Max would actual buck and kick a little when cold. This would usually only happen once but was very obvious...
NOT this morning. Granted, it was warmer today, but I have seen the bad behavior on the sparse warmer days we have had in the past few weeks.
Now, the car runs better, but that SES light is not cool. Am I harming the Max by driving around with those sensors unplugged? The biggest question is what the heck do they do? I am pretty sure that it has something to do with airflow (DUH), and theeir omission from the system might be forcing the main MAF to see the actual air intake correctly and not have to deal with a variable that doesn't exist anymore (the stock airbox). Does this theory hold? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Pic:
http://www.nissanx.net/gall/alb/albu...iagnosis_A.jpg

 

AhHHhh--CHOOO!!!

Come on...NO input on this?

Anyways, I think I might be a little closer to the answers (thanks to my NissanX homies ). The rear sensor apparently monitor incoming air temp. That temperature wouldn't be what the intake was actually getting since I changed to the Berk. It may also be that sensor is faulty in some way and not giving the ECU the proper reading. Either way, late yesterday afternoon I strapped the sensor directly onto the filter itself - kinda ghetto I know, but the car seems to be running as smooth as when I disconnected it.

That is...just in case anyone cares *looks around with a stoopid look on his face*

 

I run the sensor in its stock location with a Franken intake. So if that senses intake air charge, it may be off for me. With my current setup it runs great.

I will say that I am not sure what your probmlem may be.

 

Well for the longest time I thought I was just being too critical of the car. I mean the car is still great but I would prefer runs smooth as butta ALL the time...
But I DO feel a difference. Another factor to consider here is that it is warmer more of time than it has been all winter... In other words, it is probably a poor time to be moving around a sensor that detects air temp . Oh well... I am leaving it there until I get a CAI...