I have a '99 GXE and sometimes when the car is stopped, but in gear, (like at a stoplight, stop sign, in traffic, etc), the whole front end of the car shakes and the rpms rapidly flutter between about 600-1200. Occassionally, it's possible to feel a little shaking during acceleration in first gear too and sometimes there's a small jerk shifting from 3rd-4th.

I've taken it in to several mechanics, who have given me a variety of possible explanations, most of which haven't made sense. Since I can't get a consensus, I figured I'd throw the question out there for any of y'all that might know.

Thanks for any input.

 

Have you changed fuel types like from regular to high grade?

 

It sounds like one of your coil packs are bad.. You don't have the CEL on?

 

I actually have changed from 89 to 93 and that hasn't fixed the problem.

I should also mention that the shaking problem goes away if I take the car off of overdrive (which I've heard isn't good to do all the time) or if it's in neutral.

Cystum, I'm not so good with cars... what's the CEL?

Thanks!

 

CEL = Check Engine Light

The 99 Maximas have a coil pack problem and I'm guessing that's your problem. How many miles do you have and did you change the plugs yet?

 

Nope, no CEL on. Haven't changed the plugs yet. So what should I do about the coil pack?

 

Well if you had a bad Coil pack you would have the CEL on. When your car is in the Park do you feel any shake?

 

Occassionally (but not too often), it will shake in park, particularly if I've been driving it for a little while. I just made about a 200 mile trip last weekend and when I put it in park waiting for someone to run into the store, I definitely felt it shaking some.

However, the shaking occurs much more frequently (but not all the time), when the car is idling in gear.

 

Give the car a couple of tanks of 93 octane so the computer gets used to it. Because it may still think its using 89 octane. did the problem start when you switched gas types?

 

CEL does not always come on - but the codes are there for the coils. Pull the codes - find bad coil - replace.

 

Mine does that also. Let me ask you something, its not really a bad shake? its just noticble shake? Do you feel that you lost any performance?

I recommend you buy this product from your local auto part store. its only 5.00 dollar. it works better then anything i have used in the pass.

Just get the small bottle, its 4.99 at auto zone.

http://www.anythingtruck.com/Merchan..._Code=LTA-PERF

 

Thanks for all the advice and info y'all. Actually, I noticed the problem about a year ago. I didn't switch to 93 until probably last June or July, so this shaking thing definitely predates the gas switch.

Cyrum, I wouldn't say I've noticed a decline in the performance much at all and the shake isn't all that big of a deal, but almost everyone who's been in the car has noticed it some point. Most of the time it's not a big deal, gives the same sensation as if I pressed hard on the brakes, but sometimes it will give a pretty hard vibration. The car's been running fine with this problem since I noticed it--I'm just concerned that if it's something I don't get fixed, it'll come back to bite me in the ***.

 

I would recommend you go to auto zone if you can. And have them check your Car for Codes. Codes indicate that what could be the problem with the engine. You might have bad knock sensor, or a coil pack that has to be replace.
If you don't want to go to the autozone you can pull the code your self.
Most Auto Zone store will do it for free.
here is the link on how to do it.

http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html
Note on the 99 Maxima the Screw is very small. it almost like it does not exist. It is there. but you have look very carefully. You need a small screw driver....

 

my car also vibrates when i come to a full stop, the rpm bar stays above 1200, and then slowly decreases like in a minute to like 1000, i dont notice it whe i have my stereo on but when its off it gets annoying, it doesnt happen all the time but like 70% of the time, when it doesnt vibrate the rpm stick is a little above 500, when your at a full stop, what is the rpm stick supposed to be on?

 

Thanks a lot.... I'll definitely do this.

 

I spend a lots of money to find out what could be the problem. I took the car to Jeff, from maixmum tunning, he told me the 99 Maxima has Electronic Engine mounts. which elevate the engine shakes and vibrationt. He had a good feeling that one of the electronic engine mounts are bad. It cost a lots of money to replace it. so i just deal with it. My car is in good shape, good pick up and I am happy. But that shake and vibration is still there. but everything else is fine.

 

seems to me that u have Polyurathane mounts , jk...yea i think it would be one of ur coilpacks if ur cel is not on, i have the samething happening to me but my cel is on and its one of my sensors.

 

Cleaning the throttle body helps too. But don't know if it will solve your problem, it seems more servere.

 

it won't solve his problems it will help out ur performance a little.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=286287

 

Just got back from AutoZone... they checked for codes and.... Nothing! What the hell is going on?? What's causing this shaking? Should I just take it to the dealership and ask them to check the coil packs, O2 sensor, and knock sensor? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

I had a problem that when I would come to a stop it would give a jerk/shudder. It wouldnt do it all the time and if I put it in park or drive it would go away. I spent lots of money trying to fix this and no codes would come up. This was about a year/year 1/2 ago and it ended up being a coil. It has started to do the same thing but it is very light. I'm pretty sure that it is a coil once again.

 

Awesome... thanks for the tip. I'll probably just get a new one.