I am curious, does the Maxima cut off all fuel or all air on decel?

I realized, my Maxima has quite possibly the poorest engine braking of any car I have ever driven. I mean, if I let off the gas in first gear it definitely will slow the car down even if going down a hill, but it isn't that great.

I was always under the impression that the larger the engine, in general, the more engine braking you get as well.

I am just wondering if this is just a Nissan thing or what, because I used to own a b12 Sentra and it had the same touchy throttle like the Max, and the same poor engine braking.

As far as everything else I have driven though, my old 1.8 golf 5 speed would decelerate tremendously when lifting off the gas. I had a 2005 Ford Focus 2.0 rental car that was pretty bad, but I figured that was due to the fact that it was an auto and not a 5speed. I have driven two Subaru's with 5 speeds, one a 99 legacy 2.2 which weighs about as much as the Max, and a 2000 outback 2.5 which weighs about 500 lbs more than the Max. Both slowed down much better off the gas in the lower gears. The Outback had lower gear ratios, but the 99 legacy was fairly similar to the Maxima. My previous car, a 96 Taurus wagon with a 3.0 DOHC an engine extremely similar to the VQ in the max slowed down MUCH MUCH better foot off the throttle. Even with much taller gear ratios, about 600 lbs more weight (it was a wagon), an automatic transmission, it still had more engine braking even in second gear (which was good for about 80mph) vs. my Maxima 5sp in FIRST gear.


So what I am wondering, are all Maximas like this or does mine have some sort of a compression issue or something relating to the engine not shutting off the fuel injectors all the way?

I gotta get this compression tested soon because I am getting a bit worried. If I park it on my driveway in first gear with the engine off and parking brake off, I can push the car down the driveway....never been able to do that with any of my other cars.

 

The A32 ECU cuts virtually all fuel on decel (not all, but the IPW drops very low).

If I downshift, I'll decel pretty quickly as you'd expect, and the same when it was an auto.

Definitely worth getting a compression test, you really shouldn't be able to push it that easily with it parked in 1st. For the time being, might want to make sure your parking brake will hold it well, or one day it may roll away on you.

 

I think it's your particular car, to be honest. My old auto would slow down pretty well in 2nd and 1st, and my current 5-speed I hardly have to use my brakes with at all

 

2nd gear at 20 gives a smooth braking push on my 5-speed. You might want to get your compression checked.

 

Somethings wrong there cause my '96 decels quickly and it's an auto. Definitely look into that.

 

I have a 99 maxima, auto transmission, and the engine braking works fine for me. There is a noticeable difference in my car when i'm in 2nd gear, braking and slowing down, compared to being in 3rd or 4th gear.

 

can a problem llike this cuz high pedal effort as well? and when u do a compression test wat exactly does it show results for?

 

my car in partricular does have high engine braking i notice it moe some days than others

 

Shows the results for the compression of each cylinder you test...

High pedal effort for what? For the accelerator pedal? You mean it's hard to push the gas pedal? No.

 

Uhhh...what?

 

wat i mean by that is that when i let go of my gas pedal i notice that my car slow down rapidly sometimes and other times it takes its time. I posted a thread very- particular brake and gas pedal problem. I have a really hard time pressing on my pedals lately. so i though it could relate to engine braking hope i made it clear

 

i have a 96 and mine engine brakes fine. might be the compression

 

Have you tried downshifting or turning off the overdrive button if you have an auto? Mine just kind of coasts if I let off the pedal when in drive - like yours. There's plenty of braking though if I force it down a gear. (make sure you don't overrev if obviously)

 

Yea, it is a 5 speed. I drove my mom's 08 Forester the other day. Being an SUV and about 200 lbs more than the maxima, it is a 2.5 four cylinder with an automatic.

Even being heavier and automatic, it slows down a heckuva lot more. Damnit, I fear it may be the compression. I am pretty sure my ECU is cutting fuel cause I can definitely hear the change in exhaust tone when I let off the gas.

I almost wonder if it is a specific cylinder because the car will roll backwards easilly then kinda stop, then roll easilly then stop when I push it down the hill, as if a particular cylinder or two is letting go.

I think I gotta do a compression test. Will do it once I get back home next week and post up the results.

 

So engine braking is a GOOD thing?

Damn...and all this time I thought something was possibly up with my car cause when I let off the gas I felt a slight (VERY slight) nudge and then it would decelerate and not coast as if I was in N on a 5spd car. I'm an 99 auto.

 

Is this in Drive with OD on, or OD off/other gear selected? If you're in 4th, it should coast at higher speeds, generally engine braking will only take effect on the auto if you're in manual 1st/2nd/Drive (OD off).

 

I thought the autos will shift into the highest gear when you let off the gas? I'll hafta open the FSM to verify. I've never noticed a 4th gen auto downshifting when off the gas.

As for the rest of you 5sp people, are you rev-matching when you downshift for engine braking?

BTW, I spent about $500 on replacing my 5sp tranny. I spent more on replacing brakes throughout the time of ownership. I'm an advocate of engine braking down to 2nd gear, but not 1st. Dbl-cltch hl-toe ftw. j/k.

Dr J

 

Depending on the speed and shift lever position/OD switch it may or may not upshift when you let off the throttle.

I rev match on downshifts, if you don't you're either shocking the trans (dumping clutch after downshift) or burning up the clutch (slipping after downshift.)

 

good stuff

 

im afraid my car wont engine brake as well now tat im going to put on a fidnza flywheel

 

will the new flywheel ruin your downshift?

 

well its lighter then stock so it will engine brake worse....it will coast longer

 

wow...

 

yeah, but its going to give me better milage, and i barely used engine break before. so its all good.....and welcome to the fourm

 

Agreed, I always heel and toe or rev match to avoid this.



As for the other posts, the flywheel should have no effect on engine braking. If anything it would perhaps slightly improve it as it is slightly less mass the engine has to decelerate.

That said, it should match revs much more easilly and quickly though due to the less weight.

 

Question, I do a lot of engine braking with my auto (manu-matic, lol). i'm still wondering whether or not it is safe for the tranny? i try to keep engine braking within safe rpm ranges for each gear, but since it's an automatic, should i just let it do its job?

Do those maximas with auto tranmission who do engine braking a lot secretly want 5 speed? Tranny swap FTW?

 

It's generally regarded as 'tough' on the trans to be dropping gears via the shift lever. There were a few manumatic boxes released for the A32 that allowed downshifting via the TCM, which is no problem at all.
The difference is

• the TCM telling the trans to drop a gear, allowing it to downshift as it likes (just as it would if you go WOT)
• manually dropping gears via the shift lever, which forces it to downshift (unless it would overrev, in which case it won't) giving no notice to the trans and possibly causing more wear

FWIW I manually downshifted all the time, and I went through 3 autos. If you absolutely can't control it, then I'd at least suggest getting the TCM to downshift on it's own, then moving the shift lever to that position.

That's what I did, best choice I've made for my car yet.

 

Sweet, I didn't know our car's had engine brakes

 

every car has it

 

 

Mine max, has a switch to turn it on and off...yours doesnt?

Yeah have you ever driven through a town that had a sign like this?

For those who engine brake..a word of caution...dont get caught...
1000 bucks can buy at least 3 stillen ypipes!

 

I do hope you're being sarcastic there... It's worded differently than most signs, but it's meant for jake brakes on trucks. Very noisy, most residential and semi-commercial areas prohibit the use of them.

 

um yess...

 

Shyt! now I'm gonna have to be very consious of that.

I'm just being ****, inaccurate to call a gas engine on decel an 'engine brake'.

 

Well you wouldn't call it an 'engine brake', or say that it had one, but it is engine braking.

 

Exactly. Like I said, just being ****.

 

Don't mean to threadjack, I just couldn't find a definite answer in the search and I don't want to inadvertently start yet another MPG thread, just one simple question...

Do our 5 speeds have a specific engine speed at which the decel fuel cutoff engages, or is it just whenever coasting in gear?

 

4AT and 5MT both, whenever you decel in gear. The ECM shuts off fuel very quickly after you go 0% throttle.

 

Basically 0 load, right?

 

Good to know, thank you.