my neighbor just got a 2000 maxima w/ 110k for $7000. i think the vi is broken or the butterfly valves are hanging up on the lower plenum because it is very slow. it barely tachs to 6k in 2nd gear and wont go over 100mph at all but i dont feel a misfire or anything. my firdt guess was a fuel filter but it doesnt have an external one so i ruled that out. then i remember reading a thread awhile ago about the vi breaking. what do you guys think? if it is the vi, whats the easiest way to check it?

 

Sounds like a MAF to me. I am at the dealer tomorrow to get it replaced, having the same symptoms that you describe.

 

should it have a code?

 

NOPE,.. it rarely ever throws a code for a MAF,.. i have a 2000 as well and i had a bad MAF, put a new on in there and wow, majority of 5th geners have had or have this problem.... there like 90-100 bucks from a stealership,.. i would reccomend getting one ,.. you and your neighbor can put it in in less then a half hour

Also,.. im not sure on this,.. but if the VI was broken and stuck open it would have no problem at full throttle high speed cuz it would be open... << i think .. dont quote me on that

 

so when it breaks, the vi is stuck in the position of the shorter runners and not the long ones?

 

Even with the VI broken it will still go past 100MPH just going to take a while.... my car with a broken VI would still smack the speed limiter at 130MPH.

Now with the VI stuck open, she will run like crazy on top end- remove the speed limiter and 160 is not impossible- you will run out of revs, on a 5spd that is.

Its a MAF, I'm on my 5th one.... but this last one has last me a long time, they redesigned the part due to thousands of failures.

 

thanks for the info. anyone know who "dave b" is? supposedly he has them pretty cheap.

 

1-888-254-6060... give him a call..... Texas guys best in the business

 

Ok, sorry to move away from all the talk here.

The car was just bought and already has 110K miles. What is the service history on the car?

What is condition of spark plugs and filters?

I just bought a 2001 GLE with 132K miles and $58 later with new plugs I have no issues going north of 100. I must say though at that mileage the car doesnt feel really well planted, I did upgrade to Illuminas but it still doesnt feel like my 330

I would strongly suggest a tune up and then doing these runs you are doing. Also with high miles on the car dont push that motor so far with no real maintenance done. You are likely to do more damage than good.

Regards,
KN