Update... so did fuel filter and pump. Solved most of issues for sputtering and extremely rough idling. Ran obd2 scanner. Pulled up misfire cylinder 2. Put new plug and coil. Problem solved. Thanks for responses. That's what fixed mine. Anyone with similar issues. If like mine check engine light does not come on. Make sure you use obd2 scanner as it will read with out check engine light.


Have 2000 maxima. Starting sputtering about 1 week ago. Over the days it has gotten worse. I'm about to change fuel filter and pump which is original parts in car right now. It could be cold, warm but it was intermediate for about a week. Now it's entire time. Has anyone else had this issue and it could be something else? Or another idea? Waiting on the filter to come in and will be replacing pump and filter. Will let you know if solved problem. But open to other suggestions to as if this does not fit it. Thank you

 

Hi and welcome to the Maxima forums!

Remove 1-2 sparkplugs from each bank and check their condition. The MAF sensor could be going bad as well, make sure that the MAF sensor harness is intact. Are your ignition coils original and OEM? Those engines do not respond well to incorrect spark plugs and cheap MAF's and ignition coils. Recommend using Hitachi sensors from RockAuto.

 

We had a similar problem with my daughters 2003 Maxima. What we ended up doing is:
1) Changed all 6 plugs to new quality plugs (don't remember which ones but didn't cheap out).
2) Changed out all 6 coils. Didn't get the most expensive but didn't get the cheapest.
3) Changed out all 6 fuel injectors. Also didn't get the most expensive but didn't get the cheapest.

We got everything from RockAuto and it cost us about $500. Since we were taking the intake off we figured it would be easiest to replace all of these and not worry about problems with these in the future. The car ran terrific, like new (I bought it used in 2005 and brought said daughter home from the hospital as a new born) for about another 8000 miles after which the battery started dying. We just replaced the alternator (miserable job) and it is back to running great. We figure taking it to a mechanic would have cost more for them to diagnose it and change out the one injector / coil causing problems + a much needed plug change.

Was it the plugs, coils or fuel injectors that were causing the rough running? We don't know and we don't care. At 206K miles we figured it was just a matter of time before these parts needed replacing anyway. P.S. It was still on its original plugs.

Next will be new shocks all the way around.

Good luck with your Maxima!

P,.S. Taking the intake off was MUCH more intimidating than it actually ended up being. My 20yo daughter and I did the work together. We took it slow, took plenty of pictures and everything went back together easily. Not only does she have a great running car but she also has bragging rights of fixing it herself.