Disclaimer: I do realise someone has already created a very well written webpage on this. I'd like to add my two cents.

I did BOTH of these in one sitting. Since I was throwing a CEL/MIL, I disconnected the battery's negative ground FIRST, before working on anything. I figured, it'd take me 30mins to finish the job which would reset the ECU.

If you are only doing one... there's other ways to resetting the ECU.

MAF Sensor
Replacement Time: ~10mins... less if you have an aftermarket air-filter setup.
Tools needed:
- phillips screwdriver
- flathead screwdriver
- 10mm socket and rachet
- 6" extension
- 10mm racheting wrench (recommended)

Parts needed:
- new MAF sensor
- new air filter (recommended)

1. Remove the two plastic screws holding the scoop to the airbox w/ phillips screwdriver. Use the flathead screwdriver to help pry up the screws and their "holders".

2. Remove the sensor near the battery on the "Fatty hose". pull on it from the base, not from the wires.

For 2000 Owners
3a. remove the "boost sensor" from the scoop. It's a 10mm bolt. then remove the scoop from the lower elbow and the airbox with the sliding bracket.

For 2001 Owners
3b. remove the the scoop from the air box. It may take some prying as the upper rad. hose gets in the way.

4. Remove the 6 or 7 10mm golden bolts from around the box. start with the one between the box and the battery using the extension. then work your way around. This will also include that bracket that holds two additional sensors.

5. Disconnect the wiring for the MAF Sensor. and loosen the hose clamp near the MAF sensor.

6. Remove the airbox. Remove the 4 10mm bolts using the 10mm racheting wrench or socket wrench.

7. clean airbox. bolt on new MAF sensor. MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE THE RUBBER FITTING FROM THE OLD MAF SENSOR AND INSTALL ON NEW SENSOR.

8. Installation is reverse of removal.

The longest part of that is cleaning the air box.


Ignition Coils
Disclaimer: This was NOT hard. For those who spouted off that cylinder 5 was difficult... it's not. Doing an oil change on the Maxima is more of a PITA than replacing coils.

Replacement Time: ~15mins... more if you've got back problems... are a midget, hate getting dirty, or are a complete fool.
Tools needed:
- 4mm Allen wrench
- wide, but thin flathead screwdriver (HIGHLY recommended)
- 10mm socket and rachet
- 6" extension
- magnetic "probe" (HIGHLY Recommended)

1. Remove the valve cover dress-up plate w/ the allen wrench. There are 4 screws. Throw it away as it's a pointless add-on that makes you made if you don't have an allen wrench.

2. The connectors for the coils are a really crappy design. Pressing the connector and pulling on them is hardly enough to get them to release... hence the wide-thin flathead screwdriver. Push the connector and use the screwdriver to seperate the connection from the coil. Do all 3 while they are exposed.

---NOT necessary, but a good damn idea: Use compressed air or a rag, something, to remove any debris around the coils PRIOR to removing the coils ---

3. Remove the 10mm bolts and place them somewhere safe, then twist the coil counter-clockwise (this helps in their removal) and pull. Do one at a time so you know which one has been replaced. Reinstall the new coil (part 20005...aka, the RIGHT side coils...yes, i know it's in FRONT, but, it's the RIGHT side of the engine) and hand tighten the holding bolt. Do this for all three.

4. Tighten the 10mm with the rachet and reinstall the connectors.


NOTE: When remove the following bolts, LOOSEN then FIRST, then use the magnetic probe to remove them from the engine... you will curse A LOT if you drop a bolt in the engine

5. Remove the bolt holding the sensor right above the 1st coil on the LEFT side on the LEFT bank, do the same for the middle sensor.

6. Remove the two 10mm bolts holding the throttle cable bracket down and remove the cables from the guide brackets near the middle coil.

7. Remove the 10mm holding bolts from the coils.

8. twist and pull each coil individually, while replacing them individually.

9. Reinstall everything, in reverse.

10. Start engine and see if you have any CEL/MIL and check to see how it's running.




FYI: It took longer to type this up than it did to do everything.