i have an 01 maxima se with the VQ30DE-K in it. The car starts and idles perfectly fine but if you tap the gas it bogs and dies. Now if you push the pedal down very slightly it will rev up but only to 2400 rpms which is signature of a bad maf but i have had my maf unpluged before and it would run and rev when you hit the gas so im thinking there is more to this one. /it is throwing a code but i dont have a scanner and cant get the car to an auto store. I cleaned the maf and still no help.
Any ideas?

Getting the code should be your first priority. Why guess when all you gotta do is look at the code which could give you significant info on what's wrong.

PS:

does that work on the 5th gen?

I thought that method of getting the codes did not apply to 5th gens. I think I've seen a different one, though, for those who don't have a scanner and can't get their cars to places like Autozone to get it scanned.
Quiksilver, see if you can borrow one from an autopart store that lend tools for a deposit fee.

Thanks. yeah i thought about that but i wasnt aware that they would loan out an electronic like that.

They'll loan you lots of electronics... for a price.

My 00 did this too. I bought a new MAF which fixed the problem for about a month then it did it again, next day threw a code for the o2 which cleared that for 2 weeks, then my pre-cat went out.....so good luck that totaled about $1500 because I was dumb and took it to the dealer.

I recently replaced my MAF same B.S. like you're having. Wash it down with the CRC maf cleaner and if you notice a change in performance...replace it. And always remember owning a Max ain't cheap. Yeah I paid the stealership $598.00 for the genuine articlde, only to find out that I could have saved a lot, just by knowing the 01 could would work with the thermistor replacement. Aaarggghhh!!!!

take it to autozone. they read codes for free

He can't drive his car....hence the point of this thread...

If you're trying to save money, the maf isn't somewhere to do it. You can try to find the best deal on one but cheapest I think i've seen was like 90 or so. However if you think it's your o2 i'd get a simulator. See if that helps with the cel/ses light and if your pre cats shot, i'd gut it to make sure that's the problem. After which you could buy new pre-cats on here. However you assume full responsibility to anything you do to your car, or buy for it. I don't want to get blammed for saying replace this and waste your hard earned money. Call autozone and see if they lend out the obd-2 for a deposit fee. Read us the codes you get and we can go from there.

I want to say the code was p0100 but it said malfunction or faulty wiring in the maf/vaf
What does VAF stand for? sorry havent searched it yet
I figued the maf was the problem from the start dude to it reving to 2400 then bouncing if you put the throttle down very very slightly.

I had basically the same problem with my maxima se, i replaced the maf and it ran nearly perfect, put after about 2 weeks the engine light came back on evntho the c ar was running fine. i replaced both 02 sensors (bank 1, bank 2). the problem your having is cause by the engine recieving to much oxygen "too lean".