Sounds like a few people have had this intermittant driving problem. Gets worse when under 1/4 of a tank. Hesitation and stalling. Nissan says either a crank sensor or ECU. It is not storing any codes and shuts down the diagnostic tester when it stalls. I have searched but nothing definitive. Both parts are expensive and I would not want to spring for both.

Thanks

 

i wish someone would figure out a definite answer i would almost pay anything. thats the only thing left wrong with my car

 

I had my car tested on Friday and they believe mine is caused by my knock sensor. I order the part this morning. They hooked a computer up to the ECU and said the knock sensor was sending a code of hard failer or something like that when the car would shut off. Like the knock sensor was detecting so much knocking that it killed the car rather than the engine blowing up. Hopefully this will fix my problem if not the car has 156,000 miles, I need to replace the knock sensor anyway.

 

When the engine stalls does the computer work at all? I had the same problem and the computer itself was off every time it stalled. I figured it was the green fusebox relay. If this is the case, you can exchange it with the green relay from the trunk.

 

i dont think its the ks that causes it because i have a 470 ohm resister pretending to be the ks and my car still hasistates real bad but atleast no more heat soke that was one big problem before but one down one to go

 

Yeah, would be nice to have a definitive answer on this one, cause it's also the only engine related problem on my car. I think the only reason we don't have one is because it was fixed by so many different things for so many different people. I think I'm going to start looking at my wiring harnesses, see if something in there might be up....

The search continues...

 

Had the same probs last month. Idle was jumping around, stalling. Nissan said O2 sensor. Mechanic up street said fuel injectors clogged and needed throttle body cleaning. Had all work performed - no cure found. Until I replaced the friggin air filter! $9 dollar part. No stall, no rough idle, no BS.

Hope it helps.

 

This is such a problem with our Maxs...for me a new ignition coil and set of plugs fixed the prob...Nissan will always tell you SOMETHING is wrong or needs to be fixed-but not what is the REAL problem...I would say search these forums and find a good local shop. I found tons of info here and took my car to a local shop and asked them to look for some of the things I found on the forum--saved $$$! My local shop said that I had arcing between my coils and plugs...I guess this caused the hesitation and intermitent stalling. Luckily my friend has a Max and I was able to do some part swapping w/o buying a bunch of new stuff. GL, it took me six months to find the problem

 

whewre is the ecu located on our maximas?

 

I believe it is to the right of the gas pedal. Under the shift console. Correect me if I am wrong...

 

the one on the left, near the brake pedal isnt that the fuse box?

 

Yep. Fuse box is right by your left knee.

 

That's what I thought to. I usually get to it from the passenger side. Next to were the passengers left foot would be. If this an't the ECU I don't know what I've been messing with. It gives me codes.....

 

I've replaced ecu, no still doing it. new plugs still doing it. took to a nissan mechanic siad it could be crank angle censor but he did't think that was what doing it. and he said yes his computer did shut off when the car would stall so he couldn't get a reading. only thing that I know to do is to switch coils with someone and see if that does it

 

Is there any way it could be a problem with the fuel system? Perhaps a valve is clogged preventing it from getting the gas, then finally pushing through and reving the engine??? Don't know... I'm having the same problems... this is what someone suggested to me.

 

I don't think so cause it would have to happen to all the valves at the same time