I have a 2001 Nissan Maxima with roughly 170,000 miles on it and recently it's been acting up. The engine won't turn over unless I depress the gas pedal, and then dies instead of idling. This has been happening the last week or so, however today when this happened it apparently blew out black smoke from the tailpipe. I'm not really all too sure what this could be, but I know that my battery isn't in the best condition but the black smoke is troublesome. Help please?

 

black smoke = car is using too much fuel

http://www.freeasestudyguides.com/exhaust-color.html

 

Black could be fuel/ oil related, someone with knowledge will come by soon and help you out!

 

I think that there is too much fuel, hence the black smoke. Plus he has to step on the gas pedal which opens the throttle and lets more air into the cylinders so the engine will start also sounds like too much fuel.

I think the fuel injectors need to be checked. Start by pulling the spark plugs and see which one(s) are black colored and then check the fuel injector(s) for that/those cylinder(s).

 

Whenever I see this it's b/c the spark plugs are shot.

 

It's possible fuel pressure regulator is your culprit, how many miles on your car

 

This is actually pretty helpful; thank you!

 

170,000 roughly (little less)

I haven't tried to start it since then, but on a side note, this happened once before, and I had tried to see if maybe a line had come undone somewhere. I gave up eventually, and then my loose neg battery terminal had come undone, so i fixed it and tried to start the car again for ****s and giggles, and it started no problem and drove the next couple of days until today.

What's the best way to check the fuel system?

And could it be the MAF sensor possibly?