Ok just got back from the dealer with no luck, here is the situation.
2000 GLE
46,000 miles

My car accelerates pretty poorly, especially from 0-40. At a stop light, it seems like everybody else takes off while my car accelerates at a nice slow pace. The car shifts fine, and once I get on the highway, there are no problems.

I broght it to the dealer once and they said it was nothing. I brought it back and the Service Manager came for a test drive with me. He drove for like 15 minutes and put the car through the ringer. He said that he also drives a 2000, and that my car was driving normal. He said the shifting was perfect, and the car was not holding back at all.

What else could my problem be? I drove my girlfriend's 2000 Honda Accord and that thing flies. I know my car should feel better than that, what else could be the problem?

 

Test drive a pre-owned 2000 to see if its the same.

 

I dont know if it will help but I had my MAF go bad and my car started out doing what yours is doing and ended up getting to the point where it just didnt want to rev above 2000 rpm. I bought a new MAF from my local Nissian dealer and paid $120.00 bucks with tax. Just my .02

 

How far are you putting your foot on the accelerator? Is it hot out and your AC on?

 

which trans?

 

get a new MAF, spark plugs.. do the Seafoam... check your VIAS... and change all liquids.. do all this and let me know how it is doing.... enjoy your new car....

 

agreed...even if the MAF isn't 'fully blown' i would replace it... i've heard of several cases where people haven't had any of the symptoms of a bad MAF and when they replaced it, the car felt like new...the other stuff mentioned should help it a bit more as well...good luck!

 

here: 1-888-254-6060
ask for Dave Burnett (sp?) and he'll get you a good .org discount and quick shipping...after that, just install the sucker yourself and enjoy!

 

so if its the maf, then why is he not having this problem on the freeway? is that a common MAF symptom?

 

I think it might be the same thing on my 95s. Are 4th gen mafs known to do this too [/off topic]

 

I want to thank everyone for the responses. The car is an automatic Transmission, and the problems I described do not happen on the freeway. Also, I do not have any strange shifting or stuttering, nor strange idling either.

I have thought about replacing the MAF through Dave B. but I am not that savy. I do not have faith that I could replace the Maf myself, at which point I would have to pay somebody to do it.

 

another question. if you go WOT on the freeway, is it sluggish?

 

Burn Her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Just buy a MAF already. This topic has been beatten to death on this forum.

 

blackbird, is that common with MAF failure? to actually have normal driveability at freeway speeds?

 

i dont think that it is necessarily MAF FAILURE, but several people have complained about their cars feeling sluggish but showing no other symptoms a bad MAF usually reveals, but when they replace it, the car feels like new....i say just replace it and see what happens...it's only, what? $87? It's exceptionally easy to replace as well...you gotta start somewhere and replacing the MAF is a good place to do it...it's much better than paying $100 in labor just to have it put on...

 

im just trying to differentiate between a MAF problem and some other problem. and yes, you gotta start somewhere, but throwing parts at a problem usually isnt the place. i know... its PROBABLY his MAF, and thats cool... most of you have experianced the MAF failure and have been driving 5th gens longer than i have. AFAICT, a failed MAF will cause problems, regardless of vehicle speed. so either hes not noticing the slugishness on the freeway, not punching it enough, or... its not his MAF.

i guess

 

At freeway speeds, the car is not sluggish. I can get her up to 85 by simply pressing on the gas. As per some suggestions, I am stepping further down on the gas and the car is def. revving up more, but I am still pretty sure that I should not need to step 3/4 of the way down on the gas to get it to move. Again, I would love to get the MAF from Dave B, but I have no clue how to install it myself. Anybody from Long Island, NY?

 

freeway speeds it's very hard to tell if you're car is slower than it should be. my car feels powerful on the freeway and with my minor mods i feel like my car is pulling harder than stock... i lose to my friends IS300 on the highway, which should beat him STOCK. what i'm saying is it's hard to tell on the highway that you're car is normal, so don't take that into consideration when puzzling up a problem wiht your car. btw, i'm not sure what's wrong with my car, i think it's the MAF, coils, and plugs.

 

Its kinda hard to figure it out with out being in your car or seeing a timeslip from a dragstrip. You should try posting in the North East Regional section. http://forums.maxima.org/forumdisplay.php?f=15

I'm sure there is at least 1 nice person in NY to help you install a MAF or figure out your problem. If not someone can at least tell you of a good shop up there.

You should also consider that the car is just a little slow? Damn autos. I kinda came to that conclusion. But I'm pretty damn sure its faster than a 2000 Accord. Good luck.

 

for me its obvious... i was just hoping that his problem is something relatively cheap like a MAF, and not a freewheeling stator in the torque converter.

 

I have the same issue and don't know what the problem is. I have a new MAF and it still feels sluggish from a stop but really picks up after 2000RPM. Throttle was cleaned, maybe i need to replace the spark plugs again, had the fuel injectors cleaned at one point, used seafoam in the tank and crank case (didn't do the brake booster since jiffy lube cleaned the injectors for one). So--- I don't know what to do.

 

does is feel more sluggish with increases in throttle? like less throttle yields better acceleration but once over a certain engine speed sorta goes away?

you check the vias?

 

I think you should swing by a dealership and test drive another car similar to yours (as mentioned earlier) before you start throwing money into a fire you don't need to start.

That's my .02.