Just got my car...disapointed??
12-09-2004, 05:55 AM
#1
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Just got my car...disapointed??
Hey guys, I realize that I am new to the Maxima clic but I have loved them for a long time and I got really lucky purchasing my 00 SE S/C. I picked it up Monday night in New York and drove it back here to Iowa. It has a Stillen S/C kit on it with the FMU and S/C, custom exhaust, K&N intake and a Level 10 Race tranny and torque converter. I just don't feel that it is running right. I have a real good friend who is a Nissan tech, I had him drive it and he even said that it doesn't feel any faster than a stock Maxima 
. So we started to do some more research and found that the SES light was not coming on during the start up process. So on Friday he is going to run some diag on the car and see what it pulls up for codes. The guy at Stillen an Andrew Johnson said that the S/C on an all stock Max should run 322 WHP and about 400 crank HP. Well there is no way that this car is running that, I know for sure that my old SHO taurus at only 220hp stock would smoke this car. Anyways, we saw that the cam sensor was smushed(prolly happened during the install) and were thinking that the knock sensor had prolly bumped the timing back and that is why the car is running like that. And while the car is at idle the S/C pulley or belt squeeks? I have also noticed that during full acceleration the car falls on its face at about 6100-6200 RPM and stays there till it shifts at 6600? I was wondering if anyone else has any ideas or has had this happen. Sorry this is so long I just wanted to tell the whole story for everyone who might have anymore questions. 
Thanks
Fratzke7
. So we started to do some more research and found that the SES light was not coming on during the start up process. So on Friday he is going to run some diag on the car and see what it pulls up for codes. The guy at Stillen an Andrew Johnson said that the S/C on an all stock Max should run 322 WHP and about 400 crank HP. Well there is no way that this car is running that, I know for sure that my old SHO taurus at only 220hp stock would smoke this car. Anyways, we saw that the cam sensor was smushed(prolly happened during the install) and were thinking that the knock sensor had prolly bumped the timing back and that is why the car is running like that. And while the car is at idle the S/C pulley or belt squeeks? I have also noticed that during full acceleration the car falls on its face at about 6100-6200 RPM and stays there till it shifts at 6600? I was wondering if anyone else has any ideas or has had this happen. Sorry this is so long I just wanted to tell the whole story for everyone who might have anymore questions. Thanks
Fratzke7
12-09-2004, 06:01 AM
#2
I do not know what your problem is. But if every thing is stock on the S/C then Stillen is not being truthful to you. There is no way in hell you are going to put down 320 to the wheels.....and you are also auto so that never helps. Goodluck solving your problem/s.
-Carson
-Carson
12-09-2004, 06:07 AM
#3
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But if every thing is stock on the S/C then Stillen is not being truthful to you. There is no way in hell you are going to put down 320 to the wheels.....and you are also auto so that never helps.
-Carson[/QUOTE]
I am not sure on the actual numbers, I was just stating what he said. His exact words were that "Our stock 00 Max, with the same kit that you have put down 322 on the dyno, so you should have a very fast car" But thanks for looking.
-Carson[/QUOTE]
I am not sure on the actual numbers, I was just stating what he said. His exact words were that "Our stock 00 Max, with the same kit that you have put down 322 on the dyno, so you should have a very fast car" But thanks for looking.
12-09-2004, 07:55 AM
#4
Originally Posted by fratzke7
But if every thing is stock on the S/C then Stillen is not being truthful to you. There is no way in hell you are going to put down 320 to the wheels.....and you are also auto so that never helps.
-Carson
-Carson
we would need more info about the kit, CAI setup, what size pulley, what size exhaust. Even with the smallest pulley normally used (2.87), people are barely getting 330 WHP and thats with heavy upgrades done. If you do have all the essentials on the kit to make it run such high power, then i would check codes such as knock sensor which makes a huge difference wit timing, especially if you are boosted. Also, maybe the belt is loose? i hear that weakens power. I dont blame you for being angry, thats a long trip back (NY to IOWA) and if u paid this shop good money, they should have test drove and checked for issues before making u take the long trip back. Go to your nearest autozone, let them plug u in and see what codes come up. As far as the SC itself, check belt, make sure you have the proper specs for the power you are supposed to be pushing and even check teh blower itself, maybe something is wrong with it? what size exhaust are u running? what type of injectors, etc.
The reason why its so hard to see u pushing such power is because there are heavy fuel, electronic and other upgrades needed to safely run that power. (bigger injectors, spark plugs, stronger MAF, fuel pump, emanage or whatever) plus u havent been tuned yet, that could be another thing too. I'm not the best person to talk to about this by all means but there are a lot of raised questions you may need to answer to make sure you are where u want to be.
12-09-2004, 08:18 AM
#5
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Yup, I know what you are saying, I thought the same thing when the guy from Stillen told me that?? But who was I to argue with him, so that is why I came here to ask the experts....... 
I am pretty sure the pulley is the one that comes with it because it still has the in line fuel pump and prolly the stock injectors?? I really need someone who is close by to come and look at it that knows what they are doing 
I am pretty sure the pulley is the one that comes with it because it still has the in line fuel pump and prolly the stock injectors?? I really need someone who is close by to come and look at it that knows what they are doing
12-09-2004, 09:22 AM
#6
hey-the first thing, it sound that you're belt is loose. If you look at the boost gauge, it will go up to about 8psi and then it will just go back down before the next shift. Thats because its slipping.
Also, check for any boost leaks. a reason why you might not be getting as much power is because metered air is being leaked out and you are running really rich.
did you dyno?
I can take a look at it probably next friday if you want to meet me halfway.
Steve
Also, check for any boost leaks. a reason why you might not be getting as much power is because metered air is being leaked out and you are running really rich.
did you dyno?
I can take a look at it probably next friday if you want to meet me halfway.
Steve
12-09-2004, 12:41 PM
#8
I thought 2.6 was the smallest pulley.
Also - I'm pulling 339hp on a 2.87 and others that don't have the leanness up top issue I currently have are pulling 350+ on a 2.87.
But still - a 00 Max on a stock SC Pulley (3.6") only does about 250-265whp if tuned properly and running properly.
Stillen is full of ****.
IanS
Also - I'm pulling 339hp on a 2.87 and others that don't have the leanness up top issue I currently have are pulling 350+ on a 2.87.
But still - a 00 Max on a stock SC Pulley (3.6") only does about 250-265whp if tuned properly and running properly.
Stillen is full of ****.
IanS
12-10-2004, 10:55 AM
#14
Check for codes. Your MAF could be bad. I think the knock sensor isn't as much of a problem for 00s. A compression test would be a good idea. Definitely check the belts. That is very important for SC.
You may have that problem with the VIAS being worn away. I am not expert on this but you might want to look in the 5th gen forum or get someone who knows more about it to look at your car. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=341077
You may have that problem with the VIAS being worn away. I am not expert on this but you might want to look in the 5th gen forum or get someone who knows more about it to look at your car. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=341077
12-10-2004, 09:20 PM
#15
i talked with gabe on the phone today. it seems like its a vacuum leak.
his tuner downshifted from 3rd to 2nd and saw 7psi and it went down to around 3.5 psi immediately. this is after he tightened the belt a little.
his tuner downshifted from 3rd to 2nd and saw 7psi and it went down to around 3.5 psi immediately. this is after he tightened the belt a little.
12-11-2004, 07:40 AM
#17
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Hey guys, first off thanks for all of your help. Yesterday while my tuner was working on the car after talking to Slimmer we found a huge hole in the intake elbow where the IAT sensor was supposed to be. Well we put the IAT back in there and took it for a spin. The car is holding 6psi now, however we called Stillen to ask them what is was supposed to push for boost and they would not tell us? Not sure why.
Well after doing that we thought great its fixed, wrong! Again I was driving along about 35 and had to slow to about 20-25 for the guy ahead of me, after he moved I put it to the floor to make the next stop light, the car fell flat on its face like it had absolutely no power and the revs stayed right were they were about 2k, after about 3-4 sec of this the car finally realized what was happening and started to take off? I am still very confused and I still feel that something is seriously wrong?
Well after doing that we thought great its fixed, wrong! Again I was driving along about 35 and had to slow to about 20-25 for the guy ahead of me, after he moved I put it to the floor to make the next stop light, the car fell flat on its face like it had absolutely no power and the revs stayed right were they were about 2k, after about 3-4 sec of this the car finally realized what was happening and started to take off? I am still very confused and I still feel that something is seriously wrong?
12-11-2004, 08:03 AM
#18
I had kind of the same thing happen to my 99 SE-L. Say i'm going 35 and step on it.. It will stay in the current gear for 1 - 2 seconds and then downshift. But it only happend intermittenly (sp). Then I decided to change the ATF and it never happend again. Hope this kind of helps.
12-11-2004, 08:07 AM
#19
The car is holding 6psi now, however we called Stillen to ask them what is was supposed to push for boost and they would not tell us? Not sure why.
3.6 - 7 psi
3.33 - 9 psi
3.25 - 10 psi
3.125 - 11 psi
2.87 - 13 psi
V1 blower take away half to one psi.
12-11-2004, 08:38 AM
#20
Try unpluging the maf while ignition is on and not running. Then turn car off and plug maf back in. Turn car on and start. Just something that has worked for me in the passed. Maybe reset ecu. Feel for any sucking/leaking vaccume lines at connections. Is your aux pump turning on?
12-11-2004, 02:36 PM
#21
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How do I tell if my aux pump is turning on, it feels like the tranny is not downshifting, I had the fluid flushed but still not down shifting. I have the level 10 tranny do they do something to the tranny as far a valvebodies??
12-12-2004, 12:15 PM
#28
That makes sense now as to why his vaccum gauge wass showing normal and his boost was low and his car wass running like ****.
The hole was before the Throttle Body and after the MAF. So the MAF reads x air but x air never makes it to the throttle body. But vacuum looks normal when the TB is closed.
The hole was before the Throttle Body and after the MAF. So the MAF reads x air but x air never makes it to the throttle body. But vacuum looks normal when the TB is closed.
12-13-2004, 05:45 AM
#29
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Well guys, thanks to all of your help I think I got the downshifting part figured out. Saturday I had the tranny flushed, but that didn't help directly. Talked to a few people found out that they don't change the tranny filter when they flush it, so I changed the filter and all of the fluid again last night and inside that little filter there was a bunch of gray sealant pieces!!!!! One piece was about 8" long and then there were about 12-15 pieces that were 1/4" long in the FILTER!!! 
I did save it and will get some pics of it up today for you all to see. After changing the fluid and adding some Lucas transmission additive, the car seems to operate like it should downshifting at 30mph 35mph 50mph........you get the point! Thanks for all of your help especially Slimer he even gave me is cell number to help me out 
I am sure I will have many more questions because this spring the car will be getting an overhaul 
I did save it and will get some pics of it up today for you all to see. After changing the fluid and adding some Lucas transmission additive, the car seems to operate like it should downshifting at 30mph 35mph 50mph........you get the point! Thanks for all of your help especially Slimer he even gave me is cell number to help me out I am sure I will have many more questions because this spring the car will be getting an overhaul
