1993 nissan maxima idle problems

[chi42069]

I'm trying to help my brother out with his car. It idles rough, worse with the a/c on. He changed the spark plugs, distributor cap and still idles rough. Fuel filter and timing belt was changed within the last year to 2 years. He describes it as "misfiring". I'm not really sure what else it could be?

thanks for the help



chi

[MinisterofDOOM]

Is the check engine light on?

If not, my first thought is bad fuel injectors...especially if they've never been replaced before. They might not all be bad, though. You can sort of get a feel for which might be causing it if you remove the spark plug from each cylinder, one by one. If you get to one that doesn't worsen the idle issues when it's removed, you've probably found a cylinder that needs a new injector.

There are other potential causes (bad MAF or other sensors, for example) but this one can be the easiest to rule out with the plug removal procedure.

When you changed the fuel filter, did you change the pump as well? This seems a far more unlikely culprit, but, again, if it hasn't been replaced by now it may be contributing to the issues.

The 93 Maxima had two engine options, do you know what his has (or do you know if it's GXE or SE)? The GXE has an electronic keypad on the front door handles. The SE does not.

[chi42069]

I'll have to talk to my brother to get some more information. I thought his car was a SE but from what i remember, it does have that keypad on the outside of the door. He lives in Texas, so i can't really look at the car right now. How do you go about checking the spark plugs? Do you just let the engine run and pulled each plug out?

thanks for the help,

chi

[maxhopper]

You can pull the plug wire off each plug one at a time to see which one doesn't change how the engine runs. When pulling the plug wire off a functional plug, there should be a noticable difference in how the engine runs.

[93maxima]

I actually am having the same problem. I put a new distributor in, new injector put in and still i have full power but just a little sputter when i am in idle. Not sure what it is. If anyone can help that would be great. All ijectors were tested about a month ago. May need to change plugs haven't got that far. Any suggestions!!!!! 1993 nissan maxima. Engine light is not on either. Everything seems fine I have to put a new coil in for a/c other than that dont know what is causing the problems.

[MinisterofDOOM]

May need to change plugs haven't got that far.

What plugs are you using? If they're not NGK, that's most likely your problem. And if they are NGK, you might just have a plug that needs cleaning, gapping, or replacing.

[93maxima]

I have NGK plugs that need to go into it. Not sure what is in it now. I just know one injector was bad in it. He checked the rest of them and they were fine a month ago. So I am not sure. How do i tighten the plugs when i replace them in a nissan do they need to be torqued or should I just hand tighten them and then an extra turn. I dont lose any acceleration or anything so i wouldn't think it would be another injector. Not sure. If an injector was out would i lose acceleration or anything.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I don't know the torque specs for spark plugs off the top of my head, but I'll post them for you as soon as I get home in the morning. Your car's heads are aluminum, so you want to be careful when tightening the spark plugs.

Have you tried cleanin your MAF sensor? That could also cause a ssputtering idle.

[93maxima]

Ok, another thing i was wanting to ask you is i have a whining sound when i accelerate just started happening about a week ago. Does not seem like powering steering just when i accelerate it has a real loud whine toit.

[93maxima]

I know the maf sensor is easy to get 2. Can i just unscrew the clamp that is holding it in and just clean it out. Well let me know thanks a lot fo ryour help!

[maxhopper]

Be very gentle with the MAF. Use something like electrical contact cleaner spray to clean it. Do not use water, alcohol, or any harsh chemicals. Allow it to dry thoroughly before reinstalling.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Sorry I took so long getting back to you about the spark plug torque specs. Tighten to between 14 and 22 ft-lb.

[93maxima]

No problem thanks for getting back with me period! I put some power steering fluid in the car and the whining has gone away. Now i am having a sound when i accelerate it's a faint sound just when i start to accelerate like a rubbing sound but other than that just the putter. I bought ngk plugs for it just havent installed them yet. I was wanting to get the torque. Thanks for getting that for me. I think that the plugs should make the difference but i am going to check the maf sensor also. What kind of spray did you say to use. Can i find it anywhere. Let me know thanks scott!

Ron

[maxhopper]

Electrical contact cleaner. You should be able to find it at an automotive store (Autozone) or hardware store. Something like this.

[Beancooker]

Is it okay to spray that on the MAF element? I have always understood to clean the MAF body but not the element.

[maxhopper]

Yes, but this is the only type of product I would use on the element. It's designed to clean circuit boards, breakers, contacts, relays, transistors, etc (basically any kind of sensitive electrical device).

[93maxima]

I changed the spark plugs and now i have developed a ticking noise but the car seems to drive fine and not really getting the miss anymore. I know one plug was really tough to get in would be able to tell if a car was not firing right when you drove it. The tick comes and goes. Not real loud just cant figure out what it is. I know it has to be the 3rd plug i put in. What should i do!

[93maxima]

Would you be able to tell if it was not firing right or if a plug was bad by driving the car! I am kind of stumped on this now. Well let me know thanks man!

Ron

[maxhopper]

If you remove the plug wire from the plug, and the idle changes, it's something else.

[93maxima]

Yeah i hear the ticking noise when i start it, it goes away and comes back now. It has to be that plug i put in. Would the car idle real rough if it was the plug not firing. What do you think it could be i am going to try new plug wires but other than that i am stumped. Well thanks scott appreciate it. Let me know what you think i should do. I meant for those questions to be to you earlier. LOL Thanks

[maxhopper]

So did you try removing the wire from the plug while the motor was running? If so, did it get worse or stay the same?

[Beancooker]

You said it was hard to get the third plug in? Did it crossthread when you put it in? I could see it making a ticking noise if it crossthreaded because you may lose compression through the threads.

[93maxima]

I think i got it fixed now. I went ahead kept it in there and put a new plug wire on. The ticking is gone and teh car is driving fine. It only feels like it is missing just a bit when you first start the car but after it warms up theres is no miss. I have been getting fumes from the car like it's burning to much gas but it's been doing that for a while. Not smoking or anything. Just like the fuel is burning to rich it may be sensor not real sure. Well let me know if you may know what it is. Thanks

[brynm]

It only feels like it is missing just a bit when you first start the car but after it warms up theres is no miss. I have been getting fumes from the car like it's burning to much gas but it's been doing that for a while. Not smoking or anything. Just like the fuel is burning to rich it may be sensor not real sure. Well let me know if you may know what it is. Thanks

If anyone has tips on this I'd appreciate it too, I've got an 89 gxe that is doing the exact same thing.