Well looks like the same problems are showing up on the 2005. I noticed when I would hit a bump it was really loud. Today I went and changed my oil so I told him about this problem and when I got it back he said he changed a strut(passenger side front.) About the other problem I had with the smell, he did nothing. He said he tryed it but he didn't smell anything.

 

eLMo - Two conclusions:

1 - Nissan is flirting with a major strut headache/flap if the '05s have the same problem as the '04s. Several Maxima owners here have gone thru multiple sets of struts.

2 - You say the dealer could not smell the smell, and the only thing different was that you were not in the car at that time? Someone call Sherlock Holmes and tell him he is not needed in this instance . . .

Seriously, refresh us on your odor . . . ummm, I mean your Maxima's odor. Was this the 'rotten egg' smell from the exhaust? I usually associate that with GM vehicles, especially those built in the early days of catalytic converters.

I have not yet encountered this odor from a 6th gen. I definitely would not want it coming from my Maxima. I know it is the smell of a sulfuric compound, but do not have a degree in chemistry, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, so will defer to someone who did. Or someone who is chemically astute.

If it continues, I would persist until the dealer was able to get a whiff.

 

do you know the part number? just to cross verify ..

 

light you are the best. WTF is nissan doing with these cars. Now I am worried about trying to move to a 2005 if Nissan accepts my lemon claim. This is not good news at all

I wish Nissan would come out and admit there is a problem that's all.

When do you have this odor? I know that during the first 5 min my car is on it smells similar to alcohol. It's a rather strong smell. During the first few min from a cold soak the catalytic converter needs to reach several hundred degrees to opperate correctly. During this time you may experience some strange exhaust smells. This is perfectly normal. If you car smells like rotten eggs after being pushed hard it means that you did not ignite all of the gas and this results in sulfur being pushed out the exhaust. This too is a common smell. However, if under normal driving conditions your car smells funny I would have to say it may be bad gas. Perhaps High in sulfur content. During the winter the sulfur contents are higher than in the summer due to EPA regulations. This may be the case.

Either way please describe this scent.

 

The smell smells like rotten eggs. The smell starts showing up when I go to work, this is what happens, I go up the hill and then half a mile down the road is a light. When I stop at the light the car starts smelling. Msosemax its funny that you mention that the fuel is not igniting. I was driving behind another 6th Gen and it looked like water was coming out of the exhaust, I am guessing that it was actually fuel. Then I was driving behind a Altima on the same hill and the same thing was happening. I forgot to mention to him about the exhaust being different heights.

Anyway for the person that wanted the part number it is

54302-7Y026 Strut Kit

Ugh, I am getting flashbacks of my 04

 

what you are smelling is what I described in my other post. It's unburned gas due to hard acceleration and/or engine under a lot of load. The sulfur is being pushed out the tail pipe. the liquid you see coming out of peoples cars is only condensation. It's water vapor...not gas. What you are smelling is normal if the hill is rather large and steep. If this is the only spot you notice it then I would not be worried at all. Try changing gas stations and filling up with premium at a BP or Mobil for a few tanks..see how the car smells.