So today I was driving about 50 something and noticed my max (2002 gle 22x,xxx miles) started shaking a little. I gave it a little more gas up to 60 mph and it shook more and the ses light flashed a few times. I got home and shut it off for a few hours. I started it up again and the car had a rough idle and struggled to get going out of first and in to second gear. I also notice that while I'm sitting at a red light the idle is worse in gear than in neutral, which is not too great but better nonetheless. Once I got to about 55 mph the ride smoothed out but 60 and above the car starts to hesitate and shake and the ses light flashes until I lower my speed and Rpms.
This is really bad timing because I'm supposed to be taking a 6 hour road trip starting wed. Help please ha

 

The flashing SES light is telling you that the engine is misfiring. Take the car to an auto parts store and ask them to read the codes. You will have at least one, maybe several, codes in the P03xx category.

This will tell you which cylinder(s) are having problems. Most likely cause is a bad ignition coil.

 

Just like stated above. The light flashes because of a misfire. Go scan the codes and then check the spark plug and coil pack on the misfiring cylinder.

 

Dont try to start the vehicle again. Get yourself an OBD II scan tool and check the error codes

Follow this:
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2002/EC.pdf

 

I've never understood why people don't think to check and see why a check engine light is on or flashing.....

 

They, more than likely, expect to find a quick answer on here without having to check.

 

Actually there's a few reasons why I posted on here about what the flashing CEL meant before getting the codes pulled, which I know I was going to have to do anyways the next day I just wanted to hear it from here and not some dude at the auto parts store who may not know what he's talking about.
1 I posted on here to see what I may be getting myself into.
2 it was about midnight when the light started flashing.. Last time I checked there are no shops to pull codes that late.
3 I didn't know the difference between a flashing cel and regular cel but thanks to the .org now I know.