Car shuts off when idle ! :(

[DeusEx]

so i saw this problem today for the first time. Im standing at the stop light and the engine shuts off out of nowhere. I thought it was a one time thing but it started doing that every time im standing still in neutral gear. ( i have a manual). Here is what happens

1. I stop, the engine is still working in neutral gear.2. the engine rpms are at about 1,0003. Engine rpms start to drop slowly to about 500 rpms4. engine rpms drop quickly from 500-0 and the engine shuts off.

What could be causing this?

[NutriaforBreakfast]

My wild guess is the Mass Airflow Sensor

[snwbrdr435]

or the icvcheck that stuff you can clean them out

[DeusEx]

i took my car to my mechanic , he said it probably has to do with the amount of gas the engine takes in. He used a computer to take a look at it and the car seems to compensate in great amounts if its idling. For example it might take in -25% or +25% gas when the normal allowed limit is plus or minus 3%.

i will add that no error codes were present O_o.

[rxm6]

Is it only while you are driving? Or when you start the car and leave it sitting there?

What about when it's warming up? Does it stall out then?

[DeusEx]

the car would stall when it idles out regardless if its warm or cold and if i have been driving or not. I think my dad fixed whatever was causing the problem for now. He revved the engine to almost 8000 rpms a couple of times (sparingly of course), and since then it hasnt stalled. He said he did it to clean out the system, and apparently it worked. Ill keep my fingers crossed that the problem doesnt repeat. For now its all good , thanks for the help. :P

[MattB]

It would probably still be worth having the IAC valve cleaned. A dirty IAC valve is the cause of a common and well-known stalling problem on the Infiniti G20 and could definately cause a similar problem on a Maxima.

[DeusEx]

how do i go about cleaning this valve? any instructions i can find anywhere ? i would love to go and do this if i knew how.

[shortdahri]

Anyone know where the IACV is on a 2002 Infiniti I35? I'm currently having the same problem.

[danielekfuj]

Here's instructions on how to clean the 4th gen:

zerothread/215404

I'm not sure how different the 5th gen's are, but maybe a 5th gen owner will chime in. Good luck!

[the converted]

Anyone know where the IACV is on a 2002 Infiniti I35? I'm currently having the same problem.

There's no IACV in a 5.5. There's a idle volume learn procedure that may help you but I don't know it off the top of my head. Are you throwing any codes?

[Sentientbydesign]

It's a 2000 Max. I don't think that they fall under 5.5 gen.

Have you cleaned your injectors at all recently? How about oil changes?

Also, that engine should be idling around 650RPMs. Hovering around 1000 means they engine is trying to compensate for something (lack of fuel or some load).

Is the transmission in good working condition? Something could be amiss there causing load.

[the converted]

Sorry was responding to shortdahri's q about an 02 I35

[CCrunner]

The engine in my 2000 Max just started shutting off as well at low idle. No engine codes. Mechanic has just replaced the positive cable clamp to the battery and took it on a test drive. Had no problem previously. They charged the battery, but did not clear the problem. Anybody have any thoughts????

[MTZI30]

My 2000 would stall when I would visit my mother. I would come to a stop on a slight down hill slant, and it would just die. No codes, my buddy the infiniti tech correctly took an educated guess it was the IAV and was correct. Something cheap you could start with is running seafoam through the motor. My I was running really rough in the morning and almost stalled, ran some seafoam through the brake's vacuum line and now it idles perfect.

Edit I just noticed this topic is yearrrrrrrrrs old lol...

The engine in my 2000 Max just started shutting off as well at low idle. No engine codes. Mechanic has just replaced the positive cable clamp to the battery and took it on a test drive. Had no problem previously. They charged the battery, but did not clear the problem. Anybody have any thoughts????

So why did he replace the clamp in the first place? Not sure if that would cause a stall, a bad connection would probably seem like you have a weak battery.