hey, the past few days i've been noticing this problem whenever i start my car. it takes a couple seconds when i turn the key for it to start. when i just turn the key for a second and stop, it dies which is kinda embarrassing in a new car...i had my friend listen to it today and he thinks i need new spark plugs and wiring...i don't think i should since it is a new car...got it in jan., never had any problems like this. i am thinking it could be my alternator...my system (power 800a2 powering 2 jl 12w3s hitting 146dB) might be taking too much battery power but this should have happened months ago when i first got it. apparently with my amp, i cannot get a farad cap because it is setup differently than an amp that would accept one. a farad cap is said to hurt the battery and not help it. i really don't want to get rid of my system but on the other hand, i really don't want to spend $800 for a second battery and a new alternator. i will be checking my spark plugs in a week or so to see if that is the problem...if it is, i will be replacing those w/ msd 8.5 wiring...

on a somewhat related side note...has anyone put a new ignition (MSD or something else) in their maxima? i've heard different things from different people about this...i've heard our ignitions are made differently and we cannot get an msd or something like that...let me know

 

I had a similar problem (to a lesser extent), when I filled up on Shell gas... Thankfully, It went away as soon as I added some other brand (either Exxon, Texaco, or Amoco, i think)..

Even tho your problem sounds severe, I would recommend trying a different brand of gas.. It turns out my Max is very picky..

 

damn...that sounds odd...i've always heard that the brand doesn't really matter, it is the octane rating...i have recently started using 92 octane but i try to find the cheapest 92 octane price...right now i am going to aarco which has it for 1.82.9...since i'm in scottsdale, arizona, the gas prices are really high...we don't have a lot of the same gas stations you do...mobil is the main gas station around here so maybe i'll give that a try...it shouldn't be because of the octane switch should it? i used to use the lowest (87) grade and now i am using the highest around (92)...what octane do you use? should i go back down? i've heard the higher the better and the max is supposed to get premium (92 here)...i guess i'll try to go really low on this tank of gas and give mobil a try...should i stick w/ highest octane or should i go back down to 87? (maybe go in between and try 89 (super unleaded)?

one more thing...i have had 3 oil changes and am due for another one in about 1500 miles...i was thinking of changing to full synthetic...can anyone reccomend or de-reccomend this? i'm thinking of 5w30 mobil 1 full synthetic...i also noticed that k&n now makes oil filters...do they add anything or do they just last longer? (i don't really care if they last longer because i replace the filter every oil change)

 

Do You happen to have a Mobil Speedpass on the same keychain?? If you do, remove IMMEDIATELY!!!

The chip inside the speedpass will interfere with the chip inside our so called "smart key" and you will not be able to start your car when it acts up.


Jason
00 Maxima SE A/T with 2% secret sauce

 

well i used to have that and never had a problem...come to think of it...i took it off a few days ago and thats when i started having problems...i doubt that is to blame but just a thought...any other ideas?

 

K... Nissan OFICIALLY wants you to use 91 octane... I WOULD NOT put anything less than that in the Maxima. (lower octanes can trigger the knock sensor, and are just plain evil...) I end up (like most people on the East Coast), using 93 Octane (because we only have 87/89/93 available..) If I weren't as lazy, I would mix equal amounts of 93 and 89 to obtain 91..

On the other hand, anything over 91 is just wasted $$$. (and some even claim that it unecessarily causes increased carbon build up)

As for the brand name, I find that my Maxima does NOT tolerate Shell, and Sunoco... Mobil is better, but not as good as Exxon, Amoco, or Texaco.... (How do I know?? While I have no hard data, I employ a simple test).. As I leave school I pass ALL of these gas stations before getting onto the highway. When I first got the max I would fill up at a different gas station each time (premium), once I get on the highway, there is a rather sizeable hill, 3 lanes, and light traffic. It's easy to get 75-85mph going uphill [after the burn-in period of course], and simply turning down the radio, and listening to your engine will tell ALL.. (the shell in particular made my "pearl harbor" engine sound worse than my '85 buick, and the pedal was almost floored (ie.. my 220 bhp car was struggling uphill!!!).. NOT ACCEPTABLE.. The next morning, it sputtered a bit before starting (which is what lead me to post in reply to this thread in the first place).. Similar story with Sunoco, and Mobil simply wasn't bad, but not up to par with the others...

So to summarize, brand DOES matter to MY MAX.. can't explain why, but i'm totally convinced...

 

yeah, i haven't seen 91 octane anywhere...here we have 87, 89, and 92...next time i get gas (just got some last night so won't be for a week or so) i'll let everyone know what the verdict is...i'll try to find an exxon, amoco or texaco around here...i'll go looking for other gas stations and let you know what they are (let me know if you have tried any of them)...i'm too lazy to mix 89 w/ 92 (since we don't have 93 here i would have to do 2 parts 89 w/ 1 part 92...waaaaaaay too much work)

 

Oh... one more thing... I would advise you take a video camera with you when you go start your car [to tape it NOT starting]..

cuz chances are that if you take it down to your Nissan dealer, your gonna get the dreaded "COULD NOT REPLICATE CUSTOMER'S CONCERN" deal... Video tape evidence may take some stress out of that situation...