For starters, I have a 2003 Maxima SE automatic with about 37k miles on it.

All right, so a couple months back, I started having this problem that my car would just randomly stop accelerating over 2k. The car would accelerate fine up to 2k and then just "bounce" from 2k to 3k and then stall out. I had no idea what to think. With no idea where to start, I decided to throw some dry gas in my tank and fill up the tank because it was so cold out. I also had a tranny flush done in case it was a slipping problem.

Both of these items seemed to help the car, but.....

Ever since then, regardless of the temperature, if I hit a *really* hard bump, usually at highway speeds, the car will simply SHUT OFF. It has done this to me several times now and it is quite a problem considering I'm on the highway and I need to pull off to the shoulder to shut the car off and try to restart it again.

Can anybody think of what this could be?? My local dealership couldn't find anything wrong and every friend I tell this problem to just looks at me like my car is possessed or something.

Any help would be appreciated!!

 

for the first part, it seems like you have a MAF (mass air flow) sensor problem. you can get the cheap 01s and mod it to your maf.
i dont know about the second one. try taking it to another dealer.

 

Just an idea , with the engine running gently check the ignition keylock for any play.Gently wiggle the key back and see if it duplicates the problem

I had a mustang that had a similar problem and it turned out to be the actual electrical switch that's connected to the keylock.

Also try using a different key. ( problem with chip?)

 

Sounds like a torque converter issue to me.

 

Thats Mass Air Flow sensor sir.

 

It actually stands for Mass Air Flow.


Maybe the tranny mounts?

 

He's barely out of his general warranty, he should go to a dealer immediately and ask them to take a look at it. But this should be covered under the drivetrain warranty which goes way beyond the 3/36 warranty.

 

I already paid my dealer $43 for them to tell me they couldn't find anything wrong with it. The problem is that the problem is not consistent. Sometimes I'll have a whole day of the car constantly dying and then I'll have a week of no problems.

You guys named off a lot of things I never even thought about. How do I go about eliminating them all as the potential problems?

 

I'm not sure what the problem is, but if you're on the highway and your car stalls, shift in into neutral, and then restart it and shift back into drive. I don't think its too good for the car, but it worked for me when I had an auto.

 

y would u pay anything if its still under warantee?

 

Could be faulty wiring somewhere on the MAF. If you have an intake installed, make sure your MAF sensor is attached. Also try disconnecting the MAF and clean the contacts.

 

SOunds like an electrical issue to me, maybe a loose connection in the ignition circuit or a bad ground. It is suspect to me that the car shuts down when you hit a bump. Check the wiring at the computer for starters. My .02

 

im leaning towards maf too, with that shutting down at 2kish. so, the dealer checked the codes and there were none? have you tried checking them?



holy sh** ladies and gentlemen, the roflcopter has landed...

 

My Max was doing something similiar to this... I checked everything known to man... What it turned out being... loose ECU... I know it sounds wierd but unplug the battery and just check to see if your ECU is sitting securely... Just my 14 cents!

 

Wow, haven't seen you post for quite a while BewstAdd1ct.
first symptoms sound similar to what my MAF caused when it went.
I've seen bad mafs react to impact causing to stall or able to restart on none Nissan vehicles. Sounds like a poor connection or corroded wire in GM land.

 

Maf.........

 

MAFx10 times another 25. But yeah, did we mention check the MAF? It actually could be the wire to the MAF if not the MAF itself. you'll get the same cutting off of the engine effect if you disconected the wire to the MAF. Like everyone said before me, definately check that out and the wiring.

 

I have a bid placed on a 3.5 V6 Altima MAF on ebay. Hopefully I'll get that in by the end of the week. I'll let you guys know what the outcome is of that. Thanks for all the ideas - keep them coming!

 

I say check your MAF

 

oops, my bad. mass air flow

 

yeh, im around... mostly in the SE regional forum from time to time.

 

I had a similar problem with my Honda a few years back. Does it happen when it rains or is wet out? I found that I had a "knicked" wire that was grounding out. Only happened when it rained (I an guessing the water getting in between the bare wire and the metal made the connection) or when I hit a big bump. I am hoping that you have a different problem.

 

nope, rain/wetness doesn't seem to affect it at all. i don't have money for a new MAF right now, so i hope it keeps working for a while.

 

I can't realy think of a reason why it should have problems from 2k RPM, but the problem you have about the car turning off on bumps sounds like a loose wire harness.

 

It may be some aftermarket wires u have running through ur car. I had the exact same problem one time. Everytime i would hit a bump making a right turn, my car would cut off. Turned out to be a simple wire that was causing the problem.

 

Crank Position Sensor???

 

Sounds like electrical wiring...bump should not effect the maf itself, the wires coming from it possibly, but not the maf itself.

 

Saw this although its on the 00, sounds like a similar issue.
Hope it helps.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....10#post1930410

 

Do the 5.5 gens have the same "crank position sensor" TSB that affects many other late model Nissans?