Yesterday I changed my valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gasket. Prior to that the car started and ran fine. The car started u after while giving it some gas. I attributed it to oil draining down in the cylinders and cleaning the manifold a bit with some cleaner. After that I kept having to do it for it to start or else it would shut right back down. Found that a vacuum hose wasn't connected and one rerouted wrong. Fixed those and it did the same thing but said I would just leave it alone and see. came back out 30 mins or so later and it started fine. No problem after but keep in mind it was all cold stars. Started up fine this morning when to the gas station and when trying to start it did the same thing and had to gas it for it not to shut down. Found that I didn't tighten up one of the intake hose clamps, but after tightening it still does the same thing. Besides that the car idles fine and everything. Sometimes it starts w/out giving it gas, but it sputters immediately after startup and then idles up fine. I checked the routing of the vacuum hoses with the FSM and its correct. I can't find anything else wrong. Any ideas?

 

Maxima year?

 

Oh sorry guys...It's a 2000 I30t

 

sounds like maf symptoms... even though it doesn't sound like you were messing with that. check it for ***** and giggles.

 

Nah I didn't mess with the MAF but I will try and test it. Also I reset the ECU and still doing the same thing. I will try replacing all the vacuum hoses and see if that does anything. Any other ideas guys? I really don't wanna be throwing money at it guessing since I'm highly broke...lol

 

It sounds like the random no start/hard start issue.

I suggest looking at your electrical and sensor connections. Make sure all ground wires are in place as well.

If all of that is in order you may want to run a ground wire from your transmission to the negative terminal on your battery. Use a large gauge wire for this such as 2 or 4 gauge.

I had the hard start problem and the ground wire completely solved my issue. It would randomly not start well or start hard...cold or warm.

Shoot...I remember someone posting something about specifics to look for on a "warm" hard start since that seems to be your issue more than anything else. It was a sensor of some kind...can't remember which one. You may want to do a search for "warm hard start" and see what you come up with.

 

Check your idle air control valve. Mine did the same thing - wouldn't start without gassing and keeping the rpm up. After a few minutes it would idle on its own, and but even when it was warmed up it was dipping really low on rpm if I had the air on or the rear defogger and lights. Got in the habit of slipping to neutral at stop lights to keep the rpm up.

 

+1 on the IACV. I don't have an 01, but this is a problem I'm seeing on our camry and after a bit of research, the symptoms match a sticking IACV. Try cleaning it w/ carb cleaner.

 

Sounds like vacuum problem. Make sure you secured intake hose really good.

 

Ok thanks for all the insight guys. I will see what all I can try this weekend without spending too much money. If anyone else has any ideas keep 'em coming. I will dedicate my entire weekend trying to solve this issue.

Could it really be the IACV? wouldn't that make it idle erratic all the time? The car idles perfectly and only problem is that 1-2 second after startup.

 

I couldn't speak to how it might perform when it is on its way to going bad, I guess mine just bit it all at once. The car would start and immediately die if I didn't gas it and keep it running. Once I was going down the road, no problem. At a stop the idle would dip down to 500 or less if I left it in gear but would go to between 650-700 if I slipped it into neutral. I just did this repair last night, so its fresh in my mind. The IACV was for sure my problem because now it starts without my touching the gas. The issue I have now is high idle - the opposite of what I had before! I'm hoping its just a learning issue, and that one of the relearns will work.

 

Yes, very well can be the IACV. Consequently, I found an earlier hard start problem I had (when warm) was due to the IACV. When I changed it out the problem went away. I did find the same fast/high idle after changing the IACV. Unfortunately for me, the relearning procedure did not fix the high idle and I had to take it to the dealer. I guess I wasn't doing the procedure correctly because they fixed it within 15 minutes using the Consult II.

 

Well so far I have reset the ECU, replaced all vacuum hose and top up the coolant since it seemed to be about 1/4 gallon low. Will test it tomorrow at various times during the day and see if it still does the same thing. I will also order a MAF sensor this week since I feel like it is causing my loss in power I have felt ever since buying the car after replacing oil soaked plugs didn't rectify it.