2000 i30 Stalling/Engine hiccup

The club for Nissan Maxima and Infiniti I30 / I35 owners, and the official home of Maxima Club of America!
hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

I recently bought an infiniti i30 with 158k miles on it.

The previous owner casually told me the car needs to heat up in cold mornings after I had paid him. It didn't strike me as a red flag back then.
The Car needs to be heated up until the temp gauge is in the middle, otherwise the car stalls. Heating up takes about 5-10mins of revving.
Anyway, I took it to a local mechanic for service - brake pads etc. Left it overnight so he could experience the problem first hand. When I met him in the evening, he said no problem. Everything ok. I thought maybe he had fixed it.
But the next morning I found out I still had the issue. A week later I took it to a Nissan mechanic who works at the showroom and does off the job work on weekends. He said he'd have to do a check up first. He said the problem might be bcoz of the battery (it was a 450CCA instead of 550) or the sparkplugs (non-nissan). The thermostat as open too. But I think thermostat problem is unrelated.
I left car overnight so he could see the problem. He said he did.
Anyway, he fixed the spark plugs, thermostat, cleaned EGR, intake. The car runs smoother than before bcoz of the sparkplugs. But I found out I still have the problem today morning :mad:
wtf is wrong with my car. I just hate starting the car and just wasting fuel to heat up the engine.


User avatar
Q451990
Moderator
Posts: 11030
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 8:21 am
Car: 1990 Q45 - 118K, 2022 Toyota 4 Runner, 2004 Frontier M/T - 108K, 2012 Xterra (Mom's), 2023 Rogue (Inlaws)
Location: Columbia, SC
Contact:

Post

Any ECU codes?

I would pay particular attention to your Idle Air Control Valve (AAC Valve). Do you notice the idle speed go up a bit or at least hold steady when you turn accessories on (like the defroster, air conditioning, power steering load, etc)?

Check out your factory service manual at http://www.infinitiservicemanual.com

There's some discussion about it starting on page EC-458.

Heath

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

Q451990 wrote:Any ECU codes?

I would pay particular attention to your Idle Air Control Valve (AAC Valve). Do you notice the idle speed go up a bit or at least hold steady when you turn accessories on (like the defroster, air conditioning, power steering load, etc)?

Check out your factory service manual at http://www.infinitiservicemanual.com

There's some discussion about it starting on page EC-458.

Heath
No ECU codes.
I do notice the idle speed go up a bit when I turn on accessories (AC).

Why is it the ACC valve. It idles great once its warmed up.

User avatar
Q451990
Moderator
Posts: 11030
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 8:21 am
Car: 1990 Q45 - 118K, 2022 Toyota 4 Runner, 2004 Frontier M/T - 108K, 2012 Xterra (Mom's), 2023 Rogue (Inlaws)
Location: Columbia, SC
Contact:

Post

That's just a place to check, I have no idea if that's actually the problem.

Do you have to have your foot on the gas just to keep the car running when you first start it - or does it just choke down when you put it in gear? If it idles while cold, what's the idle speed?

Heath

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

Q451990 wrote:That's just a place to check, I have no idea if that's actually the problem.

Do you have to have your foot on the gas just to keep the car running when you first start it - or does it just choke down when you put it in gear? If it idles while cold, what's the idle speed?

Heath
When I start, it starts great. It has never failed to start the first time. No need to keep my foot on the gas pedal.
Once it starts, the Engine revs at idle revs at 1500RPM and then it drops to 500rpm and it tries to rev up back to 1500rpm and then back down towards 500rpm and the engine dies.
I think the ECU is trying to rev up, but maybe some sensor is faulty or giving faulty signal.

User avatar
Q451990
Moderator
Posts: 11030
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 8:21 am
Car: 1990 Q45 - 118K, 2022 Toyota 4 Runner, 2004 Frontier M/T - 108K, 2012 Xterra (Mom's), 2023 Rogue (Inlaws)
Location: Columbia, SC
Contact:

Post

I agree... I'm guessing the IAC is functioning if it's able to rev up and down like that.

I did some searching, and it looks like a fairly common problem. Lots of different solutions mentioned... upper intake gasket, new MAF, etc.

Then I found this TSB that I think describes what you're experiencing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-M9Hn ... sp=sharing

I would check the VIN to see if the TSB applies to your car. It's probably not a free repair since it's not a recall. But, the book time for the work is 1/2 hour, so hopefully they wouldn't hit you up for too much to flash the ECU.

Heath

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

The link is taking to my google drive.
What's a TSB? Is it an ECU software update. If so, the last Mechanic did it already for $100.

NutriaforBreakfast
Posts: 1316
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:41 pm
Car: Nissan Maxima 1995 VQDE engine

Post

Maybe the throttle position sensor has to go throught the "relearn"
procedure. I kind of think the Idle Air Control Valve needs to be
cleaned for carbon buildup.

User avatar
Q451990
Moderator
Posts: 11030
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 8:21 am
Car: 1990 Q45 - 118K, 2022 Toyota 4 Runner, 2004 Frontier M/T - 108K, 2012 Xterra (Mom's), 2023 Rogue (Inlaws)
Location: Columbia, SC
Contact:

Post

hithesh wrote:The link is taking to my google drive.
What's a TSB? Is it an ECU software update. If so, the last Mechanic did it already for $100.
I think I fixed the link... give it a try again.

TSB stands for "technical service bulletin" - there are tons of them that Nissan puts out to address known issues, parts changes, etc.

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

Q451990 wrote:
hithesh wrote:The link is taking to my google drive.
What's a TSB? Is it an ECU software update. If so, the last Mechanic did it already for $100.
I think I fixed the link... give it a try again.

TSB stands for "technical service bulletin" - there are tons of them that Nissan puts out to address known issues, parts changes, etc.
The TSB does state the issue I am experiencing. But my issue is slightly different and more aggravated -
I have problem even when I start in P
I have to heat up the engine for about 5mins (not 1min as mentioned in TSB)
The ECU software was upgraded last week. But the issue still remains.

I will try to get a mechanic to clean up the MAF and IACV.
Not sure how they react when I ask them to clean.
you can't tell them what to do usually.

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

Went to mechanic and got the MAF and IACV checked. The MAF was clean.
He initially cleaned the IACV pipe and then replaced it as it was old. I will know tomorrow morning if it made a difference.
I posted a video of cold start on youtube. This is from today morning -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC6N4VB ... load_owner
After warming up for 5mins and driving for 15mins I recorded another video. The idle behavior is different -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWRFiCA ... load_owner

I am not sure if you guys can hear the Engine sound. Headphones might help.
In both cases, I just start the car and did not touch anything. My foot was off the acc pedal.

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

Update: The IACV cleaning did not help. Still have the same problem.
The Mech said we have to replace the coolent sensor.

NutriaforBreakfast
Posts: 1316
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:41 pm
Car: Nissan Maxima 1995 VQDE engine

Post

I wonder how he knew it was the coolant temperature sensor
Did he use the ohmeter to check the resistance of the sensor?
Did he use the voltmeter to make sure the sensor was getting 12v to it?
Anybody can replace parts......
He replaced the IACV because it was old....that just doesn't make sense

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

He did not do any diagnostics. Just mentioned - we may have to replace coolant sensor and if that doesn't solve the problem, he said the IACV has to be replaced.

Anyway, I took it to the Nissan guy and left it overnight. He found out there was a Vacuum leak. Now the intake manifold seal has to be replaced. I guess 5-6hrs of work. I'd be out of 400-500$. :mad:
I don't know why he didn't figure this out first time.

hithesh
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:55 pm
Car: infiniti g20

Post

Update:
The intake manifold seal was replaced. The car has been running well now since the fix.
No heating up in cold mornings! yay! :gapteeth:


Return to “Maxima Forum & I30 / I35 Forum”