Can someone give me a pic of the passenger side relay cover under the hood? My cover is gone and have no idea which relays are whicph thanks. My Maxima has no power, and there's only exhaust coming out the passenger side tale pipe. Which cylinders does that tale pipe go to?

 

A 5th gen only has one muffler/tailpipe, so I assume you have a 2004-06? Either way the car isn’t a true dual exhaust, meaning each manifold converges to one pipe. Towards the rear of the car is when the exhaust splits back into two pipes. If nothing is coming out of one side, check for a blockage in the muffler.

 

Awesome thanks for the quick response. I definitely have a 2000 it was made on 9/99. And I definitely have two tale pipes coming out of the muffler lol? So I don't really know what that means? That is a good idea though I will check that today. Is that a common problem on these cars? I've just never heard of a muffler clogging. I was thinking that even if the cylinders weren't firing there still should be air being forced out correct? My driver side tale pipe is on the verge of sucking in...nothing coming out. Anyone got any pics or even just a discription of that passenger side relay box under the hood.

 

The whole story goes. I inherited this car from a series of someone else's misfortunate events. When I got it it didn't run. I through on a new harmonic balancer, because the old one was in two pieces, and some belts. She fired right up. She ran rough and would barely idle. But I ran her for 3000 miles on a road trip. Halfway through I cleaned the crank sensor and failed to remove the IAC. She ran like a top with rhe clean sensor minus the low idle. I ran her again untill a couple days ago when she lost all power and couldn't climb any hills in anything but first gear, and had now exhaust coming out the driver side tale pipe? I have ordered 6 coil packs and spark plugs, and mass air flow sensor, and an O2 exhaust sensor. Because when I had the diagnostics run this last time it threw these
P0100-mass air flow
P1320-ignjtion signal primary
P0505-IAC
P0140- NO 02 sensor bank 1 sensor 2
And every once in awhile P1300-random miss fire

At this point I have cleaned the IAC and she idles super smooth and isn't throwing any codes but still only exhaust out of one pipe. I haven't drove her yet cause I wanted to replace the coils plugs and Mass air flow sensor while she didn't have any codes showing? Not sure if that matters? Any help or suggestions is always welcome and appreciated thanks a bunch you guys.

 

The muffler has one pipe going in and two coming out. The pipes don't relate to anything specific at all. I think if you rev it up you'll find it flows out of both pipes.

Have you tried cleaning or replacing the MAF? These cars are known for MAF failures that can cause your symptoms.

You might want to get familiar with your local U-Pull-It style salvage yards. This car will eat you alive if you're using all new parts. I've even found old Maximas with brand new parts on them where people tried to get them running before giving up.
I've found new MAF, starter, IACV, cam and crank sensors etc...

These cars came with coils that were prone to failure. They were replaced with upgraded coils that have a white dot or circle on them. If you see the white dot or circle there's a good chance that coil will be good.

I have an 00 here I can take a pic of in a little while.

You should add the year and model of your car to your signature. There are major differences (with different issues) between years on the 5th gen cars. You'll get faster, more accurate, responses if we know which car it is.

Welcome to the forum!

 

Cool thanks for the info. Reving it up definitely isn't fixing the the exhaust problem lol. I have reved and drove it for hours with no change in symptoms. The MAF will be here tomorrow and I will be installing it asap. I don't see a white dot would it just be on the top of the coil? I can't figure out how to change my signature? I will keep looking. It is definitely a 9 of 1999 though. Thanks again you guys this site is great!!! I can't wait to see the pic. Do you know is the brake light relay under the passenger side box? I don't have break lights and can't figure out why. Power to the switch and I've jumped the switch to send power past it. Any ideas?

 

I believe that this is normal when you are at a low rpm. https://streamable.com/f07ad .

I have found a thread on this https://maxima.org/forums/5th-generation-maxima-2000-2003/347654-noticed-today-i-only-have-exhaust-coming-out-one-muffler-pipes-wtf.html .
"a new variable capacity muffler derived from the one on the high performance Nissan Skyline GT-R. A special muffler flap valve, using high temperature aerospace spring technology and materials, opens at 2,000 rpm and above – reducing exhaust system backpressure"

The white dots on the coils are on the top of them, quite easily visible.

To change your signature it took me a while to find. Go to the top right of the screen and click the down arrow next to your username (Not the small username, but the one with the empty picture beside it). Then click on "User Control Panel". From there, on the left, you can see many options. Below "Settings and Options" there is a gateway to edit your signature called "Edit signature". Then to edit is like writing a comment in the white box. Hope this helps

 

Awesome thanks. I'll change the signature for sure. Found one white don't on one of the rear coils. Taking the front cover off now. Looks like at least one has been upgraded. I don't think I have that muffler. No exhaust comes out at any rpms. Plus the real problem is no power feels like it's running on three cylinders. Can't climb hills in anything but first gear.

 

Here are photos of the passenger side relay bank for my 2000 Maxima.

Also, you can download the FSM (service manual) from here: http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/

In section EL, scroll down the index towards the end to the "Electrical Units Location".
For a 2000, it is page 340.
For a 2001, it is page 353.
For a 2002, it is page 349.
For a 2003, it is page 453.

In the future, please tell us what year your car is. There are differences in each year.

 

I should have a signature now that shows my year. So it doenst look like the relays on the passenger side are my brake light problems. Any ideas? I've got power to the switch and have jumped the switch with nothing for brake lights. Is there a brake light relay?


So I found another white dot on one of the front coil packs. So I have one white dot in the rear three and one white dot in the front three. I tried testing the plug to one of the coil packs with my multimeter. I ended up poking the leads of the multimeter through the red and black wires with nothing showing on the meter. The key was just on the motor wasn't running should this work? If so what would cause that? ECM?


Well do i have the NASA inspired muffler? I don't think this is the problem but ya never know?

 

So, where's the rest of your car and what are you doing for a coolant overflow reservoir?

Have you checked the brake light bulbs?
There's also a fuse in the panel by the drivers left leg under the hood release. I'd check that then check the bulbs.

 

Bulbs and fuses are good. Haha I have a ghetto little tank set up.

 

Fuses and bulbs are good. I have a ghetto little tank set up. I'll post a pic of the front of this car tomorrow. Let's just say the last owner wasn't the best at looking where they were going lol. We pulled on the front with the back hoe with it anchored to the Dodge. She looks way better and might even fit a grill and a fender lol

 

There is only one fuse for the brake lights, so if you have power at the brake light switch, then you don't have a fuse problem. There is no relay for the brake lights, either.

Beginning to look like a wiring problem.

 

Based on what you did (ignition key in ON position), you should have measured 12 volts. But why didn't you just unplug the connector instead of poking holes in the wires?

In the fuse block between the battery and the fender, there is a 15 amp fuse for the ignition coils. The cover calls it ENG CONT 1.

The power then has to go through a relay energized by the ECM. This relay is in the bank of relays in front of the battery. The cover labels it ENGINE CONTROL.

 

I did unhook the plug and was getting nothing so I went for the stabing of the wires. Gotcha how can I check those relays. Is there an easy way?

 

Easiest way is to swap the relay with one of the others that is the same color. The relays right next to the Engine Control relay are for the radiator fans and are a safe swap.

 

Cool I'll try to find another matching relay. She has be reserrected clogged catty all F@#*ed up in side that thing. I took it off and installed an brand new high flow catty. 😜