I recently raced my friend on the highway, and it seems that once it hits 118-120, it does not go any further. I have a 99 SE therefore no speed limiter. Maybe I should have kept pushing the gas longer? Any other Maxima drivers know about this? I'm just a little worried.

 

I assume you have an automatic?

If so, you need to switch "O/D Off" until you reach redline in theird gear at about 128mph, like this:


Then hit OD back on. You should get into the mid-130s easily.

 

I have the same problem too, i have a gxe automagic on 19's. i recently would top out at about 117 mph, then when i did the cpu mod, i now top out at about 119-120 tops. i dont know if i go back to the stock 15 steelies, or if i go on 17's then will i go up about maybe to 125-30??? the car runs strong otherwise, it has homemade intake, dropped about 3-4 inches cut springs. anyone else having these woes please help btw, when i get up to the that speed, and i have it in 3rd it just wont go any faster, then i press OD, and i still dont go anywhere? it feels as if I am still limited.

 

The cut springs are slowing you down.

 

w3rd

 

I've got no problems with 130 (in 3rd), but O/D has no sac. Who really needs to go this fast anyway....(I could kill myself at 5mph, but still love to say my car car can travel that fast).

 

141 indicated 97 SE 5spd

 

pushing 150mph... i say this b/c i'm guessing my slightly oversized tires make up the inaccuracy of the speedo

 

how much gas was in your tank when you guys did these runs?

 

just curious but how do the cut springs slow him down?

 

interesting...SE with speed limiter. Sounds like a speed limiter...my 97 gxe 5sp cuts out at 118...it's as if gas has been shut off and I hit a wall. car instantly slows down to 110. Then accellerates and starts over

Jae

 

You sure you got a SE???

 

Like Keith97gxe asked -- if this was a straight away, how do cut springs slow someone down?

 

Read this in conjunction with the speedometer photo posted previously (FYI: this info is in the FAQ's, you know!):

What does the "O/D off" button do? quote:

For some reason the function of the "O/D OFF" button on the shifter of
automatic equipped 4th gen Maximas is always the subject of heated debate.

The button functions exactly as it is labeled. The button disables 4th gear in the transmission. This is it's only function. It has no effect on engine output. It has no effect on transmission shift firmness. It has no effect on transmission shift points.

Well, if it doesn't do any of that, why is it there?

Good question.

One instance where turning overdrive off can help is heavy traffic. If you are in "stop-and-go" traffic, and not exceeding about 50mph, switching O/D off may help driveability. Locking out 4th gear reduces hunting and shifting in traffic. This makes it easier to drive smoothly.

Another instance is when driving at very high speeds. When left alone, the transmission will shift from 3rd to 4th gear at about 6000 RPM at WOT. This is about 122 MPH. When this happens, the engine drops down too low in it's power band to continue accelerating very well. This is why people complain about not being able to exceed about 125 MPH. If O/D is switched off and the car redlines in 3rd gear, it reaches 130 MPH. Switching O/D on at this point will put the engine into 4th gear at a more powerful RPM. This will allow the car to continue accelerating to the 140 MPH range.

 

Does anyone know where the speed Limiter located? is it in the cluster? or the ECU. How does the ECU know the speed of the Car? I asume it knows the speed of the car from the RPM gauge right? I have changed my RPM gauge to 98 SE. I wonder if that would make different? I don't anything about speed limiter and stuff like that...

 

I have a 5-spd 99 SE-L and I raced a 5-spd WRX on Wednesday coming home from work. This was the fastest I have ever driven in my Max. We raced from like 50 and up. I hit about 132-135 before I "exited" the WOT mode. My max is all stock. I could have gone more! This was unbelievable! Although I kept up with the WRX (was no more than 4, maybe 5 carlengths ahead at 130) but I am currently undergoing misfires and other problems on my ignition which slow me down a lot! My friend had a 5-spd 95 SE and his Max turned off at exactly 120.

 

There's a wire going to the ECU that tells engine speed. Cut it. You'll get a check engine light, but you won't be limited.
Jae