http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/...ges/42432.html

Instead of trying to re-post what has already been posted elsewhere, please check out the above link with particular attention to my posts. Thanks.

 

oh man thats messed up, have you done a carfax? if theyre saying the wiring harness is brittle, maybe its a flood car? did you try putting on your factory intake? maybe intake temp. sensor or the maf sensor? man thats crazy. welcome to the .org though

 

Sorry to hear that. If I rememer correctly, I think there is a potential problem with the Maximas that results from the main wire harness running into the engine bay. If you look at the engine, head-on, you'll see a big, 1" diameter wire harness that that runs across the front of the engine, along the timing chain side and then elsewhere - that harness has a 90 bend in it that can cause wires to break. If no broken wires are easily detected then I would take it to the dealer and let them diagnose it. First tell them a price that they must stay under and that, if it should exceed that price, you need to give authorization.

 

Since this all started out with hard starts, get your starter replaced and take it to a different shop.

Same type of thing (minus white smoke) was happening to me. Intermittent hard starts, then more frequent all the way to completely dead in 8-9 months. Nissan tried to sell me the "ECU" bit after difficulty troubleshooting (and a new ignition switch and cleaning fuel injectors) ... I told them to replace the starter. The car has been fine since.

And ... I'll say it again ... take it to another shop.

 

Toolrocks - yes, you are correct. Nissan issued a Service Bulletin in 1996 (I believe) regarding wires breaking at that bend. My issue here is - if Nissan issued a Service Bulletin about it, why the heck did it take me having to print the Bulletin (from this site, by the way) and give it to the mechanics at the dealership for them to know what the problem is - and that's after they charged me over $1000 for labor trying to figure out the problem - a bunch of B.S. if you ask me. Actually, everything that seems to be wrong with the car there has been a Service Bulletin posted about the problem - but yet they still don't seem to know exactly what's wrong with it.

Peruzzi Nissan in Langhorne, PA - not a big fan!!!!

 

It's your aftermarket alarm. It's a documented fact that these cars do not respond well to aftermarket alarms and hard starting and no starting are commonplace. Remove the alarm and see what happens.

 

The alarm is EXACTLY what I initially thought and was told by at least 2 places. However, the dealer is swearing that's not the case and ALLEGEDLY has disconnected the alarm, which apparently has not helped.

BTW - I did read the stickies...

 

Dave ... don't you agree this could very well be the starter? I feel like there's too much concentration on fuel delivery/electrical system.

 

Without knowing more, it could be the starter. Most places don't replace it if the car appears to crank over strong enough. I would check the old ECU for trouble codes for clues about another problem. If you don't turn anything up and you have an accurate tach (not the factory dash one) make sure that the car is cranking at, at least, 350 rpms when you're trying to start it. If it isn't it's likely that the starter is bad. Good luck.

 

Could you direct me to such "documentation"? That would be most appreciated!!

 

I've got an appointment with the Municipal District Court (Small Claims) in Philly tomorrow to file a Complaint and I'm suing the PANTS off of this dealership!!!!!

 

Let's update, shall we... 4 trips to the dealer and over $2,000 later, the check engine light is still on, the car still misfires, still smells like gas when it FINALLY starts. So far they (and by "they" I mean the dealer) have replaced a camshaft position sensor, an O2 sensor, 1 fuel injector (and it was one of the ones I just had replaced in May - actually, I'm not even sure if they replaced it - I really think they just took it out, took a black magic marker - drew some lines on it, and put it back in) repaired several wires, put the stock intake back on the car and I think that's about it. They tried telling me I needed a new battery (which was/is a bunch of horse poop since the battery in the car is a six month old Energizer) and the last thing they said was the starter was "loose" and will have to be replaced - funny how that never came up the previous 3 trips to them - I told them not to touch it. AND, they SWEAR it has NOTHING to do with the aftermarket alarm????? I am in the process of suing the dealership - I mean after them having it for almost three months and paying them almost $2,000 along with their incredibly rude/ignorant attitude and their REFUSAL to give a "loaner" car (which was only asked for after the THIRD trip back to them), I figure they have it coming!!!! I am going to replace the starter - MYSELF - and see what happens...

 

D@mn, sorry to hear that. Good luck!

 

Dusty,

WHat dealership did you take it to? Sloane/Peruzzi?

 

I'm sorry to hear this. What a nightmare! $2k and it's not fixed. Goodluck with it.

 

Nupe - took it to friggin Peruzzi - THE WORST!!!!!!!! Although, I've had issues with Sloane as well - they've got a pretty poor reputation - from what I understand, O'Neill in Warminster is pretty darn good - information I wish I had about 4-5 months ago.

 

Listen Dusty,

I bought my 97 from Peruzzi and those ****** tried to **** me royally...they have a sh!ty reputation bastards...document everything and if you need anything...let me know...bastards...when I bought my car, I had the 90 day warranty, they on the 91st day the tranny went (3rd gear-manual tranny) and they weren't gonna fix it...luckily I had documented the times I had brought it back while under warranty...told them if they didn't fix it my lawyer and Fox undercover would be calling them...needless to say, they fixed it...I only payed for a new clutch.

Sloane is not much better, never had any experience with O'Neil

best of luck

 

Nupe - good lookin out!!! That's very interesting - bought my 97 from those "explatives" too... had a 100,000 mile warranty (had 65,000 on it when I bought it)... of course at about 102,500 the trans went - took it to Sloane (only because they are closer to me than Peruzzi) - Sloane said there were pieces of metal in the trans from an axle (???????) and the trans needed to be replaced to the tune of $3,800 - told them where they could stick it - took it to a trans place and had a rebuilt put in for $1,200 - not a problem since (as far as the trans is concerned that is...) Back to Peruzzi - ya know I did the whole "lawyer threat" to and it apparently didn't work (probably 'cause they hear that EVERY day) - maybe they'll be singing a different tune when they actually get served with legal papers, which should be any day now - oh and believe me I've got enough documentation to fill a filing cabinet - I'm thinking I should give Fox Undercover a call - brilliant idea!!!

Thanks for all the well wishes and I'll continue to keep you posted...

 

FOX UNDERCOVER! FOX UNDERCOVER!

Call Cops too!! I wanna see them body slammed!! I could watch it on TV ... if you do call Fox Undercover, lemme know and I'll pay you to tape it n send it to me.
If they are anything like the redneck bast-A R D s here, they will set themselves up beautifully. LOL

Good luck with the lawsuit ... I hope you win!

 

so does the aftermarket alarm mess up out cars? or is it it the 97 model? Bc im about to get my viper 791XV installed on my 95 in a few weeks.. Just wanted to make sure im not opening a can of worms.

 

I honestly can't say - I will say that if it is the alarm, I don't think it's the actual alarm itself - I think whoever installed it f'd things up royally!!!! So just make sure whoever installs your alarm knows the the heck they're doing - I would even try to get a referal to someone - ya know, someone people know that has a good reputation and and is trusted/respected.... Good luck though and I truly hope you dont' have any problems!!

 

haha yea i got a guy that knows what he is doing. Awesome. Kinda gave me a scare! Good luck with your maxima, I hope you get everything sorted out without having to lose all your money.

 

Going to AutoZone tonight to diags and get codes - can't WAIT to see what STILL comes up - went through my invoices last night AGAIN - and realized that most of the codes on the first invoice came up on the second, third AND fourth invoice - OH REALLY????!!!!!! My favorite was the CPS (camshaft position sensor) - I think it's P0304 (or P0340) - that was on the first invoice, they "allegedly" replaced the CPS and what do you know - the same code is on invoice 2 and 4 (not 3 though, which I don't understand)..... I think I'd have better luck with Colonel Mustard, in the Dining Room, with the Candle Stick than with Mr. Sevice Guy, at the Dealership, without a Clue!!!!

 

How about these apples - just found out yesterday from my mechanic/friend that now in PA if your check engine light is on, you automatically fail inspection - WHAT???llll

 

Dusty,

that is correct and what sucks even more is that if your car was a 95/96 they would not hook it up to the computer but rather dyno it...cause 95/96s are OBD I and 97 and up is OBD II. You should find someone you know to take the car to.

 

Yeah, I was talking to my mechanic/friend about it and I thought I would just clear the light before I took it for inspection, but he said that apparently they're supposed to drive the car for like 2 hours before they inspect it, so the light would come back on in that time anyway - what mechanic is gonna spend 2 hours driving per car they inspect??? AND what is that gonna cost for inspection now - like $300???

 

i cleared my CEL prior to the state inspection and passed it

 

Oooooo, I'm gonna just sit back and watch the fireworks

 

The fireworks were in 2004, see the post date.

 

2004? 5 years isn't that long

And besides I was just about to post here too, saying good luck with sueing those INFIDELS!

 

are you for real? BOO THIS MAN!!!



and ban him...