01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

Hey All - Just purchased my 5th Maxima (yes I have a problem). This car is a 6 speed an lived an otherwise easy, highway mileage, great climate (West Coast) life.

The car has the Dreaded P0300 Code..... The idle is rough along with ticking at idle, and the power is a bit "lumpy" in the lower rev range... or 5th/6th gear at low RPMs

Check out these 2 videos:

First - Revving the car up to the 2K mark... Notice how the SES light starts blinking at 2K and goes to a solid light after a few seconds (and lower revs)


Sound is most prevalent under the car along with a little engine rocking... Almost sounds like it's coming from the Cat area... But a Cat wouldn't tick right?


The difference with my car and what I read in previous posts is:

- My car Runs like a bat out of hell. There is no lack of power - no rev limiter feeling at 4,000 RPM.. (I forgot how quick these 3.5's are)

- The car is not in Limp Home Mode

- Coils are 1 Year old.... They were replaced (6) by the P.O. (Aftermarket online crap.... Booooo)

- Checked the front 3 coils today (with new replacement) No change.... Did the "pull the plug check" on remaining Coils except #1.... My hands are too fat to pull that plug

- Throttle body wasn't terrible dirty... It wasn't however at a perfect 90 degree angle which had me curious... Sprayed a bit of cleaner in the unit

- MAF looks fairly clean

- Car has a fresh belly full of 92 Octane

C'mon Maxima Gawwwds. Please help a brother out!

Thanking you all in advance.

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

First thing I'd do is try swapping the MAF. A failing MAF can cause all sorts of weird issues and throw them all under the P0300 code.

A vacuum leak can cause the rough idle and P0300 but still run great at higher RPM.

How many miles on the car?
What do the plugs look like?

I couldn't hear the ticking but my speakers suck.
I would look at the ticking separately from the code/running issue.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

****ty coils will do that.

Ticking...they probably ran it low on oil. By this time every stock maxima engine is going to be trashed, yay precats and **** maintenance.

01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

So the car has about 152k. P.O. said that he always used Mobil One Full Synthetic. At Most he has added 1 quart between oil changes.

TBH I have not pulled the plugs. Think its a good time to check them out? Also - Where is the best place to buy a MAF these days besides the dealership?

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

Probably original plugs. Pull the easy ones and check the gap. Also, people have changed the front plugs and left the two hard ones in the rear before.

Rockauto.com for a Toshiba MAF or your local You-Pick-It yard if you have one near by. Grab two used ones if you can and see what they do. Even if one is bad it'll probably screw up in a different way.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

1 qt between changes on ****ty mobil 5w30....cmon. I wasn't born yesterday
That would be a unicorn if true.

01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

Same thing I thought when he told me lol..... Not my first rodeo nor VQ. My 3.5 Pathfinder drinks oil like a ***** on the first of the month

01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

UPDATE: Verified that the only code is P0300 (Before my long diatribe/list of parts I threw at the bloody car today)

I stayed up all night changing all plugs..... Yes....all 6 of the bloody things (Switched from BOSCH to NGK Iridium).

Also changed the PCV Valve (OEM Nissan) and cleaned the Throttle Body and Intake Manifold to high heaven. The old PCV valve was aftermarket and made minimal noise when "shaking it" as you all do.... Guess it paid its dues

Switched the coils from 1 and 3 to the front for obvious reasons.. I know these are good

Still shuddering/hesitation and rough from idle to 2700 RPM

Def. Not in Limp mode:

The shudder is lighter after the plugs.....and the engine feels a bit smoother; pulls to redline strong as pine-sol.

Time for a MAF (Rock Auto) and dare I say the beloved Throttle Body? This car is getting more attention than my side-piece or wifey

Cheers

01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

Because this thread is worthless without pics:

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

Nice looking car. I've always liked them in white.

Good choice on the plugs. I use those in all my cars. If it had Bosh then they're not the original plugs.

I hope you didn't screw the TB up. You're not supposed to manually operate the butterfly valve. Sometimes you can mess it up and sometimes you get lucky. If it's not acting up in any new ways you probably got lucky.

01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

So I've heard. I didn't touch the actual plate (if that makes any sense) as I've heard that will render the unit useless. Cleaned the inside and outside however. Could a bad Throttle Body be the culprit?

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

Good.
It could be the TB. I had a similar issue with my TB where it would stumble and stall at idle but run well at higher RPMs. It never threw a code for it.

My first guess would be MAF because it's known to throw the 300 code without any MAF codes. It's also cheaper and easier if we're just trying to rule things out.

01Bblack

iTrader: (1)

Whats the deal with MAFs these days. It looks like I should get a 2001 Unit and swap over this "resistor?"

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

I does look like the price jumped. I seem to remember the Toshiba being pretty cheap from RA.

You should really look in the salvage yard for a few just to try.