Car hesitatites with hard acceleration while driving. Press accelarator pedel while in motion and theres a pause before car speeds up. After pause car accelarates strong. Takes off just fine from a stop.

New MAF sensor, plugs. Cleaned k&n cone filter, and scanned for codes. No codes found. Car is an auto with 114k, runs strong for high miles.

Anyone have thoughts on where to start with this problem?

 

its not like you are the first person with this problem
http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB00-039a.pdf

 

Pretty sure that's not the cause. I was "lucky enough" to have that problem with my last Maxima. This feels very different, but thanks for the service bulletin.

 

Anyone have more input on this?

Motor doesn't rev up during accelation pause, just maintains same rpm for a second then revs up.
My previous Max would rev up around 500 rpm then shift from 1-2.

Are both of these symptoms from the same problem that Sooner is talking about?

 

i believe i have the same problem as you
it only seems to happen to me when i'm in an idle roll and want to accelerate quickly

ive primarily noticed this when making a left turn and want to quickly turn to avoid oncomming traffic
so, no throttle to near full throttle
nothing happens for a bout 1-2 seconds, then the car jumps into action
i also do not believe it is a slipping problem
i always thought it was the MAF causing the hesitation... but it seems like you tried the obvious things to no avail

 

you may want to replace your cat. conv. my car had sluggish problems. i bought the MAF(have yet to install it) my SES light came on(still is on) and one day when i was one the accelerator hard, i heard a pop, saw 'dust/smoke' come from the exhaust rear and the car felt like a difference of night and day...you MAY have a clogged cat