5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

how to get more acceleration

Old Feb 6, 2014 | 06:41 AM
  #1  
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I have the 4 speed auto, and quite honestly, 1st gear is quite slow at low speeds. What do you guys recommend modding for more low end power? As of now, I have a cat-back exhaust and an air intake. I don't want to spend too much money. I've thought about doing a turbo install, but decided not to because of the price. Soon, I will also be doing a full tune-up, and replacing my struts and springs.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 06:48 AM
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Buy a s6MT or different car.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:10 AM
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a turbo wouldn't give you low end power regardless.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:12 AM
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Originally Posted by TallTom
a turbo wouldn't give you low end power regardless.
Playing devils advocate, but, that would depend on his turbo set-up, of course at the compromise of high end hp.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:30 AM
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want more acceleration at low speeds? turn the overdrive OFF and punch the gas harder.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Amerikaner83
want more acceleration at low speeds? turn the overdrive OFF and punch the gas harder.
No OD button on the 5.5 gen.

Also, while at speed, ~ 55+ MPH, going back into 4th, in your case (4th and 5th gen) OD ON, gives a jump for a few RPM's and aids in better acceleration.

Jime covered this quite nicely many moons ago.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:56 AM
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Originally Posted by NmexMAX
No OD button on the 5.5 gen.

Also, while at speed, ~ 55+ MPH, going back into 4th, in your case (4th and 5th gen) OD ON, gives a jump for a few RPM's and aids in better acceleration.

Jime covered this quite nicely many moons ago.
OP has a 5th gen...do they not have o/d buttons either? and he said first gear, not freeway speeds, yes?
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:58 AM
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I can't think of the product name but there is a product that installs to your electronic throttle body and has 3 settings that adds some extra pep. I will see if I can find out the name of the product and if it will work with your vehicle.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 08:06 AM
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How to get more acceleration

Install PCV oil catcher
Install 75 mm big bore throttle body see the link below
http://www.nwpengineering.com/
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 08:10 AM
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Originally Posted by ac max 92
I can't think of the product name but there is a product that installs to your electronic throttle body and has 3 settings that adds some extra pep. I will see if I can find out the name of the product and if it will work with your vehicle.
OP has a DEK, no TBW. And you probably mean the SprintBooster.

Originally Posted by Amerikaner83
OP has a 5th gen...do they not have o/d buttons either? and he said first gear, not freeway speeds, yes?
Well FML, that's the problem then. 4AT + 5th gen chassis + VQ30 = FTL re: initial acceleration.

Originally Posted by colt149
How to get more acceleration
Install PCV oil catcher
Install 75 mm big bore throttle body see the link below
http://www.nwpengineering.com/
Not available for the DEK, and DEK's don't burn oil like the VQ35.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by NmexMAX
OP has a DEK, no TBW. And you probably mean the SprintBooster.

Well FML, that's the problem then. 4AT + 5th gen chassis + VQ30 = FTL re: initial acceleration.

Not available for the DEK, and DEK's don't burn oil like the VQ35.
Thank you. Yes it was the sprint booster I was thinking of
Old Feb 7, 2014 | 11:55 AM
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Buy a new car. U won't ever get good low end power. You want that buy a diesel truck.
Old Feb 7, 2014 | 12:33 PM
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That sprint booster thing looks like total rice.
Basically it tells the throttle to open more vs how it used to open when
pressing the pedal.

It's just tricking you but really you're just giving it more throttle.
There's no cheap or free bolt on things that turn these cars into GTRs.
Old Feb 7, 2014 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by TravisCadello
Buy a new car. U won't ever get good low end power. You want that buy a diesel truck.
People don't come on this site to be told to buy a different car FFS.

Your not helping answer his question.

If it was "Should I continue to do performance mods or buy a new car?" then sure, maybe.

I'm not sure why you would say that anyways considering you have power mods on your Maxima too.

Old Feb 9, 2014 | 07:22 PM
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For a 2000? Y pipe should help with power.
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 04:05 AM
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light weight rims
Old Feb 12, 2014 | 05:40 PM
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It wont help that much with off the line, but it'll give you a kick you can feel in the higher RPMs. The NWP intake manifold spacer kit. They're affordable too.
Old Feb 12, 2014 | 06:02 PM
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Old Feb 12, 2014 | 06:24 PM
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I can't believe no one has asked this yet...but what kind of air intake does the OP have? The type of aftermarket air intake will affect low end power.

When I had the crappy Injen intake the low end was terrible. After I went to a modified short ram intake the low end greatly improved.
Old Feb 12, 2014 | 08:31 PM
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Suuuurrreee.
Old Feb 12, 2014 | 11:17 PM
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Edge Racing torque converter... 3000 stall.... $450
You will still have the lock-up function in OD and the car will pull from a dead stop much harder.
Old Feb 13, 2014 | 04:42 AM
  #22  
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YPipe + gut your cats or get headers = will give you most punch

Bigger exhaust, nwp spacers, timing advance, good intake

and then get a shift kit, will feel much better after that
Old Feb 13, 2014 | 06:46 AM
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Originally Posted by foodmanry
I can't believe no one has asked this yet...but what kind of air intake does the OP have? The type of aftermarket air intake will affect low end power.

When I had the crappy Injen intake the low end was terrible. After I went to a modified short ram intake the low end greatly improved.
Old Feb 13, 2014 | 07:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Cameronn3712
I have the 4 speed auto, and quite honestly, 1st gear is quite slow at low speeds. What do you guys recommend modding for more low end power? As of now, I have a cat-back exhaust and an air intake. I don't want to spend too much money. I've thought about doing a turbo install, but decided not to because of the price. Soon, I will also be doing a full tune-up, and replacing my struts and springs.
How long have you had the car? Do you have 17" rims? I think what you might be feeling is the fact that a 3.0 liter V6 pushing a 5th gen body (~200 lbs heavier than the 4th gen Maxima) with 17" rims takes a little bit away in terms of performance. Ever wonder why Nissan decided to go 3.5 V6 in the middle of the 5th gen's model run?

If you really want some pep while keeping OEM as much as possible, I would suggest downgrading to 16" rims and tires and a full tune up, including changing the primary O2 sensors. The O2 sensors may still work but may be tired if they've never been changed in the past 100K miles or so.

Another thing to consider is that most autos start off in 2nd gear instead of 1st to save gas.
Old Feb 13, 2014 | 12:15 PM
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What you do is download Highway to the Danger Zone, put on the aviators and crank it up to 11 and trust me you will feel like you are going faster!!!


Baring that... DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY! spending thousands on little things is not going to help. Auto is just slow off the line, and unless you are going to swap in a manual (thousands$$$) or do something dumb like turbo or NOS (thousands$$$)
Old Feb 14, 2014 | 04:27 AM
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trans go maybe..?
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by dwapenyi
How long have you had the car? Do you have 17" rims? I think what you might be feeling is the fact that a 3.0 liter V6 pushing a 5th gen body (~200 lbs heavier than the 4th gen Maxima) with 17" rims takes a little bit away in terms of performance. Ever wonder why Nissan decided to go 3.5 V6 in the middle of the 5th gen's model run?

If you really want some pep while keeping OEM as much as possible, I would suggest downgrading to 16" rims and tires and a full tune up, including changing the primary O2 sensors. The O2 sensors may still work but may be tired if they've never been changed in the past 100K miles or so.

Another thing to consider is that most autos start off in 2nd gear instead of 1st to save gas.
Good point about the gear shifts, and sensors!
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by SSJRICH
and unless you are going to swap in a manual (thousands$$$)
Lol maybe the prices are stupid high where you are at but in Nebraska it doesn't cost thousands to do an AT2MT swap. You can snag a CMC and Slave cylinder new for roughly 150 depending on brand, 150 on the transmission, and maybe 50 bucks max on the pedal assembly. The rest is time and motivation.

Also in regards to the Injen intake being doggy during low end, whenever my Maxima is running in it's prime I feel the intake is excellent and provides quick and snappy acceleration into the upper rpms where I feel it also does excellent.
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 08:37 PM
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Warpspeed y-pipe, lightweight rims and tires, vb upgrade, supra stick, etc.
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Cameronn3712
I have the 4 speed auto, and quite honestly, 1st gear is quite slow at low speeds. What do you guys recommend modding for more low end power? As of now, I have a cat-back exhaust and an air intake. I don't want to spend too much money. I've thought about doing a turbo install, but decided not to because of the price. Soon, I will also be doing a full tune-up, and replacing my struts and springs.
Always start with a full tune up. Gas filter and cabin filter. Seafoam. Maybe change trans fluid. Make sure u have no codes. 02 sensors would help too even with no codes. And clean the mass air flow sensor. I know its tuff on a budget just do what u can little by little.

[QUOTE="maximasicilian123;8939387"]

Always start with a full tune up. Gas filter and cabin filter. Seafoam. Maybe change trans fluid. Make sure u have no codes. 02 sensors would help too even with no codes, new coils , And clean the mass air flow sensor. I know its tuff on a budget just do what u can little by little but try not to get the cheap **** especially from eBay or Amazon. Ngk plugs, oem coils , and quality 02 sensors

Last edited by NmexMAX; Apr 14, 2014 at 07:48 AM.
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 12:45 AM
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if your motor mounts are shot, get new ones. That helped a lot with my old 5th Gen.
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 12:58 AM
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Even with the HD2 kit, the car sucks until after gear 1 and there is that 1-2 kick

Last edited by george__; Apr 11, 2014 at 01:01 AM.
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 01:06 AM
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Originally Posted by TravisCadello
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 01:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Fakie J Farkerton
Wtf u got nothing else to do?
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by maximasicilian123
Wtf u got nothing else to do?
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 01:50 AM
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:sselesu:
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