96Q the nightmare continues. Thoughts?

[wantingwing]

I bought my 96Q about 3 weeks ago and the day after in left the lot the nightmare began.

The place I bought the car from did little to help "fixing" what they thought was a wiring problem since then I have taken it to the Infiniti dealership.

Symptoms:Regular StallingLoss of PowerPloom of Black Smooke from the exhaustLights on ABS, Engine, TCS Off

What the Infiniti Tech did:

Changed both TPS sensors which doesnt seem to have done anything at all but that was the code he got.He sounds undecided on what he thinks about the MAF and the Knock Sensors but he said it may be either

Any thoughts?

[superuber]

The KS's are easy to test. The MAF connector can be a problem also.You need to talk to Q45tech (Dennis). He is the go to guy.You could also talk to Wes, but last I heard he was whining about being "busy" with school!!!!!

[superuber]

Oh yeah, Welcome to NICO.

If you do talk to Dennis it sounds like he swallowed a FSM! Just hang in there and print the answer out and take it to the InfinitiTech!

[elwesso]

Just because I gotta do my thing doesnt mean I dont make time for NICO. ME degrees are cakewalks anyway....

Its not the KS.. If anything it could be the MAF. I would try cleaning the connector first...

have you checked fuel pump?

[ScottJackson]

Yes, plumes of overly rich smoke don't happen with bad knock sensors. I'm HIIIIIGHLY suspect of the MAF. So much so, that I'd be willing to suggest you buy a new one (isn't it so easy to spend money when it's not yours?) if it isn't the connection at the MAF. Even if the ignition were cutting out, I don't think you'd see plumes of black smoke come out the exhaust. Of course, if you can get your hands on a known good MAF, try that first.

Oooh, oooh, one more thing, your battery connections are good and clean, right (including the two wires that connect inside the little plastic piece on the positive terminal)?

[wantingwing]

I have cleaned the maf and the connectors according to the guide in the tech help section. There is a place on the connector cable where the previous owner obvioulsy soldered the cable see photo.



The photo isnt super its 12:30 at night and not enough light. Should I replace the cable first? If so what all is involved in that I couldnt really see where it went.

[Q45tech]

99% of MAF fail from either bad external connectors OR bad internal solder joints..................7 to look at and resolder.

Easy to swap in your spare MAF as a diagnosis too.

Buying a used 90-96 Q always means you have to spend $3-10,000 on things not repaired or caused by previous owners /shops [defective mechanics or poorly trained and not experienced on model technicans]

[96Qowner]

Yeah, after seeing your picture of the solder repair, I'd suggest replacing that MAF. You have warning lights, you say, or am I confused about that?

"Lights on ABS, Engine, TCS Off"

The smoke isn't usually a reported MAF symptom, either.

But a bad MAF can really screw things up. Check out this long thread, including captainluigi's post about taking his MAF apart and finding bad connections inside:

zerothread?id=197342

[wantingwing]

Yeah I have all those lights on ABS TCS OFF and Engine

gonna order a new maf today i think.

On the Fuel Pump front should I hear anything at all when listening in the trunk or backseat? With my head in the back seat I can hear a faint noise I wouldnt describe it as angry bees but there is a light buzzing/whirring sound

[96Qowner]

Nah, faint noise is fine. Congrats, your fuel pump is good.

How 'bout your alternator? Those lights shouldn't be on.

First, check the relays under the battery:

zerothread?id=225399

Then get your alternator checked by someone with good equipment.

zerothread?id=188618

If the various sensors and computers aren't getting clean signals, all hell breaks loose. Also wouldn't hurt to take a good look at your battery connections, including the couple odd wires hanging off it. Be sure your alternator/battery is good before ordering the new MAF.

[maxnix]

Nah, faint noise is fine. Congrats, your fuel pump is good.

Probably is, but test to verify. FPCU could be bad, sometimes to the point of intermittant failure almost impossible for Q45tech to diagnose. No chance for us mere mortals.

[ScottJackson]

well in the case of Chopp's q that I bought last winter, it would barely start with the pedal all the way to the floor and then it'd be a bunch of black smoke coming out until it ignited and sent flames out the exhaust. New MAF and it purrs like a kitten and runs great. He even swapped in a used MAF before I bought it but that MAF was a dud too.

[96Qowner]

And if you want to try a used MAF, you can usually find one through http://www.car-part.com under Air Flow Meter. Quite a few of us have had success with used MAFs under $75. Either a 95 or 96 will work for you.

I'm adding your other threads here - it's a continuing problem.

zerothread?id=274124

zerothread?id=275726

I still don't like the sound of that melt job. No telling what got cooked. People have fried their ECU from that sort of thing - functioned, but odd problems. I remember a poster who cut the MAF wires with the ignition on - toasted the ECU.

zerothread?id=186824

Hm, I wonder how that affected the alternator diodes. You have to determine why those lights are on. And you really should put some time in with a multimeter - get with the FSM and check relays and continuity, etc.