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Need help changing 2000 Maxima coils

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Old 12-15-2004, 01:52 PM
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Need help changing 2000 Maxima coils

I hit the dreaded coil problem at 74K miles, although my car is still running fine. The local Nissan dealer wants $850 to change them. Has anybody written a detailed procedure for changing them? I'm no mechanic, but I'm hoping to do this myself to save some money. Please don't laugh, but I don't even know where to start, under the engine cover?

Where are other people buying replacment coils? Can somebody recommend a reliable web site for doing this? I would prefer to get genuine Nissan parts.

BTW, My dealer says there is no chance Nissan will recall this because they have known about the problem for over two years and haven't done anything yet.
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Old 12-15-2004, 02:02 PM
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Hey man...
its really really easy...you can do it yourself...
check this website out hope it helps ya out
http://www.nissanx.net/tanman/
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Old 12-15-2004, 02:03 PM
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On Ebay, there is a "2000-2003 Nissan Maxima Factory Repair Service Manual" for about $20. Is that going to be of any help?

Thanks.
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Old 12-15-2004, 02:07 PM
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The recall thing seems pretty accurate.

They Are NOT hard at all to replace... took me less than 10 mins for one coil and could have changed the front 3 in 5 more, the back ones are tricky to get to but also not too difficult. There is a write-up in your manual under spark plug removal.

My dealer wanted 70-80 bucks for each coil, someone on the .ORG sells them for 250-270 shipped for all six... good deal, i was lucky enough to throw a specific cyl code, so I only bought one...front bank... and I got it from Dave Burnette at south Point Nissan in austin Texas... shipped 56 dollars.

Don't be afraid to change them yourself, the harness is wierd but once you figure that out the rest is a breeze.

Yes, front bank under the engine cover, rear 3 between the intake manifold (arms)
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Old 12-15-2004, 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by kevin2
On Ebay, there is a "2000-2003 Nissan Maxima Factory Repair Service Manual" for about $20. Is that going to be of any help?

Thanks.
That link that BLKMAX posted is really all you need. save the $20.
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Old 12-15-2004, 04:13 PM
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Actually, the FSM is a very good thing to have. It won't help you here, but it has all the info for the suspension, engine, transmission and ECU codes along with troubleshooting procedures.
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Old 12-15-2004, 06:53 PM
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i bought them on the org for 250 shipped.

3 front coils are easy..3 rear are alittle more tough to reach ..u gotta unplug few wires and then its easier...a newbie like me took me a while to get the last 3 replaced.
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Old 12-16-2004, 07:34 AM
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Can somebody post a link and/or phone number for buying coils on the .org site? I poked around a bit, but didn't find them.

Thanks.
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Old 12-16-2004, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by kevin2
I hit the dreaded coil problem at 74K miles, although my car is still running fine. The local Nissan dealer wants $850 to change them. Has anybody written a detailed procedure for changing them? I'm no mechanic, but I'm hoping to do this myself to save some money. Please don't laugh, but I don't even know where to start, under the engine cover?

Where are other people buying replacment coils? Can somebody recommend a reliable web site for doing this? I would prefer to get genuine Nissan parts.

BTW, My dealer says there is no chance Nissan will recall this because they have known about the problem for over two years and haven't done anything yet.
Just curious, how did you know a coil went bad? Did it post a code? I've had my 2k for about a year and bought it used and no coil problem yet (knock on wood). I'm hoping the previous owner repalced it.
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Old 12-17-2004, 06:56 AM
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The service engine light came on about two weeks ago and I brought it to a Nissan dealer, the dealer diagnosed the problem as a bad coil, but the code didn't state a specific cylinder. At that point the car was running fine, but yesterday it started to run poorly... seems to be running on 5 cylinders. I ordered a set of six coils for $309 shipped from Dave B. at South Point Nissan. Next week I'll pretend to be a mechanic and try to change them myself instead of paying the dealer $850.
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Old 02-05-2013, 05:33 AM
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changing coils and plugs

Ok first time I have posted technical on here. My experience was a very good one, I even did the coils and plugs at dusk when I got home from work. It was very simple. Requires removing no brackets at all very easy to take the back ones in and out. Make sure you pay attn to the small bolts on the coils easy to drop will land behind engine you hope. Yeah I had to pick one up out of six. Make sure you use the anti seize on the plugs and the silicone anti sieze on the coil boots. You dont want a plug in block or a coil you cant pull off later. Easy to do without removing any brackets LONG extionsions are a must as they said earlier in the post. YOU CAN DO IT!
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Old 02-05-2013, 05:47 AM
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I have the same problem

My 2000 SE auto has the same problem... I need to get all of them replaced but don't know how. the shop i took it to said around $1000 i would rather do it my self though any help? The car seems to shake a lot in gear and vibrate when u rev the engine. The engine light starts to blink when going over 50 or accelertating hard

Last edited by aarroyo15; 02-05-2013 at 05:50 AM.
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Old 02-05-2013, 10:49 AM
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seriously???? did anyone look at the date? "12-17-2004, 06:56 AM"
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Old 02-05-2013, 12:44 PM
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This thread is 10 years old. If your light flashes you should not drive your car. Scan the codes, replace spark plugs, and if there is still misfire codes, replace the bad coils with OEM ones. Done
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Old 02-09-2013, 01:07 PM
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Wrapped my bad coiled (the insulator where it cracks and arcs) with huge heat shrink and they work as if they are brand new...
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Old 02-09-2013, 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by L_U_D_I_AMaxima
seriously???? did anyone look at the date? "12-17-2004, 06:56 AM"
DAMN...
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Old 02-09-2013, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Rods03Max619
DAMN...

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Old 02-09-2013, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by L_U_D_I_AMaxima
seriously???? did anyone look at the date? "12-17-2004, 06:56 AM"
You beat me too it. Newbies LOL
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Old 02-09-2013, 05:13 PM
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Any of yall in the Houston Area...... I'll change those coilpacks for you! $120.....is my going price including changingthe 2000-01 spark plugs as well!
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