So a few weeks ago the pipe on my muffler broke and my 2003 Maxima sounded like bored out Cobra. I bought the muffler on the ebay link below. Didn't want anything performance, just an OEM muffler replacement. I called them and they confirmed that it fits 99-03 Maximas which didn't sound right but I figure they should know better than I do.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-20...mZ190033694002

To make a long story short, me and my buddy installed it...the muffler pipe was too narrow and didn't fit over the lip of the connecting downpipe. So we ground down the down pipe, stuck the gasket in and it's a pretty tight seal.

Now my gas mileage has gone to crap! ESPECIALLY at idle! I used to get about 26 miles to the gallon consistent and now I'm around 18! Not positive but I think I lost a little bit of power as well. Doesn't make any sense except that i think that maybe it's too restricted...maybe too much back pressure. Help me out fellas!

Does the same muffler fit 99-03??? Or did I just get a heavy foot from the loud broken exhaust tone (I really doubt this b/c I never push the car hard at all).

 

That does not look like a muffler from a 4th gen so it would rule out a 99...maybe the one from the 00-01...but i would think that it would be the same for all 5th gens.

Seems to me like it is a generic knockoff that they "said" will fit the Maxima...when really it was mass produced to generally fit on "most" cars.

Because they said 99-03, it leads me to believe that they have no idea what they are taking about.

 

yeah, I figured something wasn't right when it spanned from the prior generation. I'm thinking I'll drill some holes in it somewhere to free up some of the backpressure. I guess the undersized pipe was my first clue...when you're under there though and you got the tools, you usually try to find a way to make it work.

 

00-01 mufflers are not the same as the 02-03's.

 

i thought 00-01 and 02-03 mufflers were very similar, the only difference being the chrome tail pipe piece.

 

It is going off of production dates, not model years.


I also thought that 00-03 mufflers were the same, spare the tip differences.

 

i thought so too buy the piping must be narrower to accomodate the 3.0 vs a fatter pipe for the 3.5...the muffler I put on is definitely more restrictive

 

OEM pipe diameter is the same for the 3.0 & 3.5.

 

the word used to be that the power (flap?) for torque used to be just the AE and 5.5gens. so that would make it a different muffler

 

99= 4th gen=different muffler. 00-03 no matter what level is the same muffler (internally) minus the tips, even the ae. that auction says oem type, not oem. if it were then there would be a nissan part number which i dont see. im betting its a copy of the oem which is bound to be subpar in quality. if i were you, id check the classifieds to find a used one from any 00-03. i know the oem piping into the muffler is smaller but that auction pic looks even smaller, could just be the picture though.

 

As Sloppy said, the Power Valve was is all 5th gen Maximas (00-03).

The different part #'s are just the different tips.