I have a 2000 Maxima SE 5-speed, completely stock. I took it into the dealership here in Austin TX to get a 30K mile tune-up. When I got it back, everything seemed sharp: the brakes were clean, the shifting snappy, etc.

BUT:
- The technician said they upgraded the fuel-injection software. When I took my Max out into the hills, I noticed that it doesn't have quite the pick up it used to, particularly in 3rd and 4th gear. I have to rev a lot higher (5000-6500 rpm) before up-shifting to get the same performance.
- At speed (65mph+) the steering is noticeably looser than before. One reason I went with the 5thGen Max over the 4th is that I thought the 5th's steering felt more centered. Now, after the tune-up, it wiggles around more in the middle.

Questions:
1. Is it possible to have degraded performance after a tune-up? Has anyone had this experience also?
2. Any suggestions about what to do?

Thanks!

 

Tune-up is an often misused word and one person may include alot of different things from another peron in their 'tune-up'.

Hard to try to answer your question without knowing exactly what was done...i.e. as far as steering, was anything done to the tires, suspension, alignment, rotation, etc.?

 

Tires rotated front to back, balanced and aligned.
Nothing done to the suspension
Oil & fuel filters replaced, oil change
Coolant flush (not that this should degrade the steering )
All fluids topped
Spark plugs removed & cleaned (not replaced)
Brakes cleaned
Replace oil pressure switch
Brakes cleaned
Reprogram New Engine Control Module

 

It costs $380 at my dealership so I said heck with that...I just hit 30K and there is no way I am paying that much for a glorified oil change...

 

The only "must" have is the air filter. With K/N Air Filter
that's taken care of...

 

how often do you guys clean your K&N filters? and if you do, what do you use and how do you clean it?
atw

 

I paid $125.00 for my 30K Interval. U paid too much!

 

As far as alignment - only toe in is adjustable - sounds like they got it too close to zero so the steering would be a little more vague around the center.
As for perfomance - the spark plug cleaning could easily have degraded the plugs - it'snot really a good idea. The ECM upgrade is probably the TSB for the so called "fuel cut problem" and theoretically only affects low speed part throttle driveability - of course, you never know. That's why I havent had mine reprogrammed - the fuel cut problem isn't a problem for me and my car gets 30 mpg on trips and runs like a raped ape - I don't want to take the chance that they'll mess it up.

wdave

 

I have been told that the 2000 Maxima (I would assume all 5th Gens) do NOT have a fuel filter....or at least it isn't easily changed. It is part of (or somewhere around) the in-tank fuel pump and is supposed to last the life of the vehicle.

I also own a 2k Max and I was very pi$$ed off about this. I don't understand how a fuel filter could last ....at least 10 years. My bet is that it will not. One day the thing will get clogged....and stranded I will be!

Also, If your dealership charged you for a fuel filter change, you need to have a talk with them.

 

I'd be interested in knowing how they 'cleaned' the spark plugs. I don't think you are supposed to clean platinum plugs anyways....

 

you misunderstood me, I didn't get it done, there is no way I would pay that much...

 

you have to buy K&N filter cleaner and oil, you clean out he dirt then re-oil it...buy it at your local auto store...

 

Your dealer is taking you for a ride in the wallet!

Rotation was a good idea, but alignment? Did the car pull? Where the tires wearing uneven? Only toe can be adjusted and it doesn't really go out under normal driving conditions.
Oil filter is changed with a normal oil change but the fuel filter? Why did they change that at 30K? Doesn't Nissan reccomend 60K for fuel filter change?
Again a 60K interval, wasn't needed in your 30K service.
This is a good one, Platinum plugs don't need to be changed for at least 60K. There is no need to clean spark plugs. Unless your driving a 1973 Buick with a 4 bbl carb. and manual choke.....
Let me guess, they washed the brake dust off your calipers and hubs??? WTF??
Warranty issue with that switch. Hope you didn't pay for it.
TSB about the fuel cut off in low RPM's should have had no effect on performance. Was just a slight jerky feel from the car when driving in stop and go traffic. Most drivers wouldn't even feel this.

If I were you I'd find another dealer to do your service. The one your currently going to is doing unnecessary maintanance to your car and digging deep into your wallet.

 

Thanks for the tips guys. I brought my Max in and just asked for the "standard" 30K service, without really knowing what all was involved. It cost me around 300 bones-- a costly but well learned lesson. A coupla things:

- The oil pressure switch and ECM upgrade were under warranty. And actually I did notice a significantly smoother ride in stop-and-go, first gear traffic.
- These discussion boards now have me pumped up about all the things I can do with my MAX!!! Besides getting some nice tint (black leather and Texas sun don't mix) I haven't done a thing to the car... first off, I'll try the K&N filter everyone's posting about. Is $48 a reasonable price? The dealer says the service fee would be $25 to put it in...

 

Got my K&N at Autozone for around $40...don't recall off hand exact cost...

The easiest money to make is what you don't spend!! $25.00 to put an air filter in is service bay robbery! Do it yourself...it will take all of 5 minutes (if that) to open the filter area, pull the old one out, line up the K&N and drop it in.

Also, where in TX? I know the feeling...black on black AE and Houston sun are a lethal team!!

 

I hope you were joking about that $25 charge to put in your air filter. If you can open your trunk, you can change your air filter.

If you still don’t want to, though, bring a six-pack to my house and we’ll call it even.


What dealer is this, since you mentioned Texas? What city? I’m in DFW, want to make sure I don’t go there.

As for the K&N, it may make a difference, but it’s not really noticeable. If you want a cheap, simple intake, do a search for OSCAI… I’m not exactly mechanically inclined and I did it in 15 minutes. And felt a very nice little gain. You’ll need the K&N for that, too.

~$50 is right for the K&N, by the way. It’s worth it since you never have to change it.

Good luck, happy modding!

 

Cool, I'll check Autozone and do it myself. BTW, just joking about using the dealer to put in the filter-- I just payed them around $300 for apparently unnecessary maintenance work...

I'm here in Austin, Texas.

On another note--> this kind of ticks me off (does anyone run into this as well?):
Some guy who works in my building also has a Sterling Mist 2K SE, almost identical to mine except for:
- He has a frost interior; mine is black
- He doesn't have window tint
- I think he has an automatic; my MAX: 5-spd
- But most disconcertingly: he never washes his! Granted, the Sterling Mist paint hides road grime pretty well, but I'll occasionally park right next to him after I've cleaned my car. HINT: buddy, you have a really cool ride: why is it always draped in dirt?

 

Hey, my neighbor has a 2001 Sterling Mist GLE Max, purposely in that color so he doesn't have to wash it as much. I actually get jealous quite a bit, my Grey Lustre needs to be washed 2 to 3 times as often.

Under the list of 30K tuneup stuff the dealer did, I am surprised they didn't replace the air filter and your tranny fluid. Now that you are looking at some cheap, easy do it yourself mods, take a look under the how to section. Y2Kev has a nice easy tranny fluid change to synthetic red line fluids, pictures and all. You should do this ASAP, 30K+ is pushing it, and it was easy as hell. And the 30K+ on the air filter is also a lot.