2000 maxima problems

[simpytam]

I had already posted this on the general board also.


2000 MAXIMA PROBLEMS...HELP IF U CAN, PLEASE!

Ok Guys, Yes, I am a girl and I have been taking my max to 4 different garages and no mechanic can fix my max! First I took it too nissan. First let me say that the check engine light bulb doesn't come on, maybe it's burnt out?? The TCS, tracking control light comes on and off whenever it feels like it. The car was running crappy, wanting to stall, felt like it wasn't getting enought fuel when I stepped on the gas, hard to start. At a cost of $1200, nissan replace all 6 ignition coils and the maf. Everything was fine until 6 weeks later...same symptoms. Nissan replaced 1 bad ignition coil for free, and then told me the front CAT was bad and it would cost close to $1000. Well I took my car to a local foreign auto garage to have that done for $700. Still not running right...now the idle is way too high at 1.5 RPM's in park, when I put it in drive the RPM's go to 9. Took it to a different garage and they didn't know how to fix that problem, $152 charge for nothing. I now have it at another garage and he is in contact with a friend of his that is a nissan mechanic. The idle is too high, it spits when I am driving, it still seems like it is not gettin enough fuel when I press on the gas pedal, still not starting right away, sounds really loud when first starting in the am. The radiator support needs replaced, rusted out. I absolutely love my max and don't want to give it up...Plus, I cannot afford to buy another car right now. I lost my job and I am going to school. I had this car for 2 years before all of these symptoms started. Please help if you can!!!!! Thanks

The mechanic just called and he thinks it may be the ECU that needed replaced in the first place when nissan decided it was the 6 ignition coils, and then 6 weeks later ignition coil #1 went bad. They should have checked why the ignition coil #1 went bad after 6 weeks and not just replaced it. Shoddy work from nissan, they don't want to deal with the older cars because they are too much work. I don't know... we will see what the results are when the used ECU is put in. Does the idle control valve and the throttle position sensor have to be replaced before putting in the ECU?? I read that if they are not replaced, the ECU will be damaged.
Thanks again for your help, I really do appreciate it more than you know.

My mechanic suggested the I deal with nissan, because maybe they missed the call the first and second time I took the car to them. I don't like it when people feel that your car cannot be fixed just because it has 124,000 miles on it. Believe me, if I had the money for a new car, I would buy it in a second. If anyone has anything to add to fix my problem, please, I would appreciate it. Is it really my ECU? I have an appt with nissan on Tuesday 10/4.
I am dealing with the service manager on this and already caught him lying to me about who (the mechanic) worked on my car.

[maxhopper]

Either let your "mechanic" fix it or tell him to be quiet. Real mechanics have a flow chart that they follow for repairs. Test A, if A is bad replace, if not test B, if B is bad replace, is not bad test C, if C is bad replace, and so on. Some times you have to replace multiple parts. Stick with the people that know what they are talking about.

What is the problem with the car? Lack of power on acceleration? When was the last service performed? Do you use an injector cleaner? When was the air filter replaced last? Has the intake been cleaned? When was the PCV replaced...etc?

[simpytam]

Hi Scott, Thanks for your reply. The car idles high in park at 1500 RPMS, seems like it is not getting enough gas when I step on the gas pedal, runs loud, I could never hear my engine running before, it was so quiet, until now. it doesn't start right away, Car just isn't right. The last mechanic I have working on it, cleaned everything out including the MAF, he said, was real dirty. My air filer was change 2 months ago. My mechanic personally went to nissan to talk to the guy that worked on my car back in April, and he was not a master mechanic which is the lie I caught the service manager at nissan in. He told me that his two master mechanics worked on my car.(LIE) MY car runs better since it was all cleaned out, but my mech insists that it might have been the ecu in the first place and not the ingnition coils. What do you think Scott?

[maxhopper]

First check to see if the check engine light is working. Turn the key in the ignition but not all the way to engage the starter. Some of the warning lights in the dash should light up, including the check engine light. If it doesn't light up the bulb is bad, have it replaced. Also if it's not working, you can go by an Autozone and have them scan your car for codes. Tell them the check engine light is not working and the car is not running correctly.

Your car being loud. Did it start being loud after the catalytic converter was replaced? It could possibly be an exhaust leak.

The problem with the high idle and lack of power when accelerating sounds like it could be a problem with the idle air control valve and/or the MAF. It is very easy to ruin a MAF if it's not cleaned correctly.

Let us know what you find out.