problems with my '99 maxima - HELP!!

[dawggg]

the P1320 igintion control signal fault was showing. I have narrowed it down to one cylider and i have switched sparkplug & coil to a different cylider and in doing that, the problem still lies within the same cylinder. what should i try now?

[loystock]

Welcome to NICO.

If the coil and plug are good, then it could be the harness/connector, condenser, or the crnkshaft position sensor.

Please let us know if you have a multimeter and familiar with wiring diagram as the next step will include testing continuity and and other signals.

[dawggg]

thank you very much for the info. i have ordered a Haynes repair manual it should be in end of the week. I also have a multimeter but i am not sure how to use it. Where is the condensor actually located? I am not sure where to find it. Because i have also switched injectors for the same cylinder and it still reverts back to the problem cylinder. again, thank you for the information, if anything else comes to mind it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[loystock]

Multimeter is primarily used to measure voltage, current and resistance plus additional features like capacitance, continuity, etc. As for car, you will be mainly measuring DC voltage (0-12VDC), resistance (ohms) and continuity (wiring/connector point-to-point testing). In some cases, you have to use the Ammeter (current measurements in Amperes or mA) function as when looking for source of battery drain. Here's a YouTube tutorial on how to use a multimeter. There are other videos in YouTube on how to check ignition coils, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpq9Tk19DNo

Haynes is a useful manual with lots of pictures and illustrations but usually covers several model years. The Nissan Maxima FSM (Factory Service Manual) is the same manual used by technicians at the dealership and is model-year specific. In the link provided, refer to EC-14 (Engine Control System) for component location, EC-414 onwards for diagnosing Ignition problems (P1320 and EC-421 for condenser (capacitor) location and testing.

Get yourself familiarized with multimeter usage and how to read wiring diagram and wire color coding. Let me know if you need additional help.