I'm going to try telling the cliff notes version of whats is going on and what I tried to do to fix the problem. I have done a lot of research of people having the same problem. I replaced the recommended parts and I am still having problems. It all started in the beginning of June when the car would be Ok for about 10 to 15 minutes of driving but the the car would hesitate and then the car would shut off when I get to low speeds. I would have to wait a few minutes before I could get the car running again. but then it would stall and shut off within a few minutes of driving. I took it to a mechanic to get it check out, they said the cat converter was plugged and the muffler was f@#$ed. they quoted me $1,900 to replace the exhaust system. I was bummed at first but I saw it as a opportunity to save a lot of money to do it myself and install performance parts. So about $1000 later I bought Greddy SP2 exhaust system, new y-pipe, cat converter, headers and Bomz short-ram intake. With the help of some of my friends, we installed the parts. Car sounded great, but the problem was still there. I've taken the car to two other mechanics and they said the my battery was half dead, I needed a new knock sensor and a new MAF sensor.

I finally was able to replace the MAF sensor and the battery last Friday. I drove my car a lot over the weekend with no problems. I thought "great, I have my car back!" My maxima was running great until I replaced my knock sensor on Monday. On my way to work on tuesday the car shuts off on me when I'm on the freeway during rush hour. I'd try to turn the car on but it would turn on then die immediately. After a few tries, I waited for a couple of minutes the tried again. Luckily it turned on and I was able to drive the car to the side.

The check engine light came back on and I got the codes said that it has an MAF circuit malfunction. I checked the alternator and starter and the are both good. I don't know what else to do. I've already invested about $1,800 on replacing parts and paying mechanics to tell me what I already knew was wrong. here is a list of what I've done so far:

Installed/replaced;

Greddy SP2 exhaust system
Y-pipe/hearders
Cat Converter
battery
fuel filter
short ram intake
MAF sensor
Knock sensor
Positive terminal plug (was corroded from previous battery)
Added Fuel system cleaner
cleaned throttle


Basically my maxima hesitates then shuts off within 5 to 10 minuted of driving. I would have to wait a minute or two before I could get the car running again. Any help or ideas would be great.


Sorry for the novel.

 

Sounds to me from what you've told me, its your MAF wiring. Do you know if any previous owner has had any AFC connected to it previously?? I'd be looking around the ECU wiring loom and checking the MAF wire. You'll find it on pin 54 on the diagram below and its a white wire.



Also check the wiring harness on the MAF.

My suspicion is that your car is doing exactly what a car does when its MAF is unplugged. It is also suspicious that once you replaced your MAF it ran well for a while, then some playing around with nearby cables made it faulty again.

Other than this, take it to an auto electrician.. not a mechanic.

 

Engine Coolant Temp Sensor

 

After not having my car for the past two weeks, I finally decided to take out the MAF sensor and I did a warrenty exchange at Checkers. I installed it on tuesday nite and test drove the car for a bit, the problem seems fixed for now. I unplugged the negative for the battery for that nite and replugged it in yesterday after i got home from work. the check engine light went off. that was a good sign. I drove the heck out of it yesterday, man it has some *****. it was quick! so, so far, changing the MAF sensor, again, has fixed the problem. but the check engine came back on. so i gonna get it checked out after work to see what codes came up this time. thanx again for the replies. I'll keep ya posted with updats.