More problems with the Q.

[louiegz]

For the longest time, I’ve been having a problem with going uphill at highway speeds. About 50-60mph. It would happen sporadically, my Q would sputter, and I’d have to downshift to 3rd. That would work sometimes. Then it goes away after a minuet or so and it runs fine. There’s this one piece of road that it would always happen at all the time. The route 46 approach to the George Washington Bridge. It’s a long uphill that you’re doing between 45-65mph depending on the traffic. Usually all I’ve been getting is sputtering but lately it’s been getting worse. A few weeks ago, I was getting a loss of power and the engine did two big sputters and there was a burning smell coming from the car. Once I got over the hill I was fine. Yesterday was the worst. I was losing power and I punched the gas and the engine turned off and I got the burning smell again. My trip odo gave a low bat charge warning. Lucky for me, I had enough speed to roll into a gas station and I was able to restart the car. After that I had no problem the rest of the night except a little sputter crossing back to Jersey on the GW, which that happens sometimes. I at my last straw with that problem. I don’t know what to do anymore. Does anyone have an idea what’s going on?

[96Qowner]

A few other have noticed this, louie, but as far as I know, it's considered a quirk in the way the Q is tuned. Something in the power band and the TCU shift point will give you a dead spot going uphill for a long time at that speed.

The advice has been to clean out the intake path and/or manually downshift in those conditions. A perfectly tuned engine may not do it, but maxnix always advises that you manually downshift anyway. You're essentially lugging the motor at that speed and ratio.

[elwesso]

just leave it in 3rd! you probably have bad KS too.

[96Qowner]

Heck, treat it to a BG intake cleaning, louie. Not even $200 - well worth it.

[louiegz]

just leave it in 3rd! you probably have bad KS too.

Even when I leave it in 3rd I still have a loss of power. Your probably right on the KS. I don't think they've ever been changed but when the car has been at the dealer, they never said they where bad. Been like 2 years since I've been at the dealer. Since I'm thinking of getting a new car, I just might leave it alone for the next owner. I can find another way to go to the GW until I get a new car.

[Jesda]

Couldnt the transmission be at fault too?

Either way, leave the problem alone and trade it in.

[superuber]

I wonder if your smell is cat odor from misfiring? Maybe bad coilunder load? What is a typical life span of a ks?

[xerexabante]

The only thing that would it make backfire is timing (as to what i believe you are saying). Nissans have a bad thing about ground. Check your alternator and your batt poles.