Hi I just found out bought the valve in the muffler in the maxima's, its suppose to open the second exhaust hole on the muffler at 2,000 RPM.

My max seems to feel a bit weaker lately and I thinks it because of this valve getting rusted shut or something. So I going to rip open the muffler to take a look(I know what I'm doing). But if you guys have any Idea of what it looks like and where its located in the muffler or maybe even a way to un-clog it without opening up the muffler that would be great.

I believe its causing too much backpressure and i'm loosong strength and fuel economy.

Any picture of what the valve looks like would be great!!!

 

The valve won't rust, it's not steel. It opens only at or around WOT not 2k.

Year, miles & mods of your car would help.

 

Stalix....I cant tell from your profile what year Max you have but if it's an '00 or '01 with more than 40-50k miles, what u may be experiencing is the dreaded case of VIAS -variable intake- system actuation failure due to the 'cup' coming loose on its shaft..there are many posts here on that subject of fixing VIAS, try to find some of them if u cannot search

 

I have an 02, generation 5.5. I'm sure its the problem cuz a while back it was cold and noticed the smoke coming from the muffler from both holes, but lately its been only blowing from 1, no matter how far i rev the engine.

And what kinda of company makes a stupid valve in the muffler???
You have got to be an idiot to do that!!!

Don't get me wrong I love my max, but come on a valve in the muffler...now thats just going to far with the gadgets and gizmoz.

Uhh cars lately with their sensors, the car would bea lot less of a pain in the *** without those sensors and service engine soon light.

excepts for some, some help make the car run, heheh

 

No it opens around 4k RPM. It is made of out iconel. Below 4k RPM exhaust gases only go out the right hole for quietness. Over 4k RPM it opens up both for performance.

 

I am not sure what RPM it really opens at. But I did find this info:


The variable capacity muffler system, derived from the one on the high performance Nissan Skyline GT-R, improves both engine horsepower at middle and high speeds by reducing exhaust pressure and reducing exhaust noise at low speeds. The system uses a special muffler flap valve – which uses high temperature aerospace spring technology and materials – that opens and closes according to exhaust pressure inside the muffler, switching the flow of exhaust gases from one tailpipe to two.
At low exhaust pressure, for example, while idling or coasting, the control valve remains closed. Exhaust is emitted without passing through a secondary bypass, through a single exhaust pipe. As the pressure becomes higher, the control valve (using aerospace industry spring and composite technology) opens, and the exhaust gas flows through a bypass – reducing exhaust resistance and exiting through the car’s dual exhaust pipes. The valve opens at 2,000 rpm and is always open at wide-open throttle.

 

That valve is not going to make a noticable difference in HP and is mainly there to control exhaust noise at idle and rpms below 2,000rpms. You should look elsewhere for your loss of power and fuel economy such as spark plugs, throttle body cleaning, fuel injection cleaning, MAF issues, coil pack issues, knock sensor issues, or even a dirty air-filter.

And yes, the flap does open at P/T throttle as well. Just follow behind another Maxima on a cold day and you can see the transition. Otherwise, have someone rev the car for you at idle pass 2K and you can here the action within the muffler take place as a springy sound near that rpm.

 

Actually, from an engineering standpoint, it's an excellent design. The fact that the same thing is used on the Skyline should reinforce that point.

 

If you want pictures Stalix, get ahold of a brochure for a 2002 Max, I have one and it has a cut away view of it.

I also have to agree with irish44j

 

If the skyline drove off a bridge should my max do it to???

I dont care for quietness, well unless it sounds like a tractor, but 2 or 1 hole wont make a much difference in noise. and the hp change is crazy.

I was wondering since i don't have the brochure can someone poast alink to a pic of it or something like tht i tried searching google for it but couldn't dind one. I really need to see that valve.

 

I think i can get pictures from my friend. Im pretty sure he has those pics on his comp. BUt im not really sure.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...6&postcount=10

You guys REALLY need to find something more constructive to focus all this energy on. Yes, it opens at 2000rpm. Yes, there are two paths through the muffler and one is blocked until the flap thingy opens reducing back pressure somewhat. Finally, yes the main advantage of the flappy thingy is for noise.

 

bahhh is there an echo here?

 

 

We have another newbie who knows more than us Check elsewhere for your power problems, its not your muffler. If your looking for an excuse to buy a louder muffler and trying to make the gains seem worth it, just say so. Consider yourself lucky if you gain 1hp from just welding on a straight through muffler.

I'll tell you what, you do ahead and dyno your car now, take off the muffler and open it up, remove the flap, and dyno the car again. The only thing you'll notice is a change in exhaust tone below 2,000rpms, which is where the valve would have been shut the reduce exhaust noise.

 

Dude, dont thin you know me, i hate those rice-o-ronie exhausts that sound like a traktor on the freeway. I never have and will put on a custom muffler on my cars.

I tried what you said, I hada friend stand by the car when i rev the engine up to 5,000, only 1 hole blew, soo its is definatley the muffler!!!

So dont call me a newb!!!

Thanx for all your help guys, especially IceY2K1, for the vid of the valve. I'm gonna rip that stupid thing out of there and i bet will solve my problem.

 

No your not a newbie yet, your status still says 'I finally post something' so your below newbie status which is comparable to a dumpster. No one told you to put those 'rice-o-ronie' mufflers on your car. I would like to hear your reasoning as to why that little flap is going to make a difference in your HP to a point of notable decrease performance.

Here is my quote from up above "That valve is not going to make a noticable difference in HP and is mainly there to control exhaust noise at idle and rpms below 2,000rpms. You should look elsewhere for your loss of power and fuel economy such as spark plugs, throttle body cleaning, fuel injection cleaning, MAF issues, coil pack issues, knock sensor issues, or even a dirty air-filter."

Here is Icy2K1 "
You guys REALLY need to find something more constructive to focus all this energy on. Yes, it opens at 2000rpm. Yes, there are two paths through the muffler and one is blocked until the flap thingy opens reducing back pressure somewhat. Finally, yes the main advantage of the flappy thingy is for noise."

You notice how they are both similar? I even bolded a key word for you.

 

OK... for one thing what do you know bought cars???

I'm a mechanic and a darn good one. and yes the valve closed could and is causing loss of hp!!!

and what does my forum status have to do anything???

So next time you open your mouth or move your fingers, make sure you can back up what you say!!!

 

I don't believe ANYONE said that it doesn't reduce horsepower. What I am saying, and what a simple or even a 'darn good mechanic' should know is that a clog in one valve in the muffler tip will not reduce horsepower enough to have a but dyno feel a difference. Thats why I suggested to look elsewhere for your power losses such as spark plugs, ignition coils, throttle body cleaning, air filter, fuel filter, timing, fuel injectors, knock sensors, clogged cat or something in the exhaust more upstream where it will actually make a significant difference. Also, like another person suggested, make sure your VIAS powervalve is actually functioning correctly instead of being shut close.

 

Next time when you type a reply, read through peoples post clearly first.

 

Oh are you? Makes me wonder with a statement like this....

I would be interested to see your findings after you take the valve out. I believe you are still going to be feeling that same loss of power. Why? Basically because what others have said in the above posts, your problem lies elsewhere.

 

I took out the valve early today this morning and is running like the first day I bought it. It is strong as heck, the problem was!!!, in the valve. I notice the valve was way too tight to have exhause fumes open it.

And i did notice it being a little louder but i like it sounds like I have a custome exhaust on but a very mild one.

So I have solved my problem by not listening to you but by trusting myself.

So bye all and I'll be passing ya on the freeway, hehehe.

 

my ebay electric turbo made my car run 11's

 

Well this was a waste of time.

 

Yeah? I put an electric fan on the back of my exhaust tips and now I'm running 11 seconds flat in the quarter.

But seriously, I'm happy you're so smart. Since you're smarter than everyone here, you obviously can't learn anything from the org - and don't need to be here any more - so go away.

By the way, what language is it that you are attempting to speak in?



If you're in it...YES!

 

Yes leave this site since you apparently know better than all of us. I too removed my valve, and now I run 11's and can womp on Z06's Notice how no one agrees with what your saying and your just making this **** up to save face? Thats why 1989-1991 SE's are 5 seconds quicker than a 1989-1994 GXE, they have two unclogged tips and vs. one tip unclogged tip

 

Did you change your muffler bearings as well?

 

Look sguys I didn't mean to offend any of you bu I didn't like how none of you believed me about the valve being the source of the prob. The last post was mad and just wanted to say ha that I was right and you were wrong but I'm sorry for what I said before.

And I'm not making up about it being stronger now, it really is stronger and just want the valve to be in mention when someone has loss of hp problem like I did in the future.

 

How did you get the valve out of the muffler?

 

I cut open the muffler and used a meatl saw to cut off the valve.

 

I have the same problem. What part of muffler did you cut open? Or did you just open the whole thing and then weld it together? THanks
Nick

 

hey I know I'm digging up an old thread but I would be happy if you could help.

I put on a dual muffler tip onto my 03 max and I'm also losing power, I have to really floor the gas pedal to go over 2500 rpm...and the car sounds and feels lazy.

If vias was the problem, would a nwp block off plate solve this?

Thanks in advance bro

 

00-01 and 02-03 VIAS are not the same design so the 3.5 version doesn't break like the 3.0. The block off loses low end power so it will not help you.