check engine light and knocking

Hey guyz, if anybody could help. I have 96 Maxima and recently check engine light turned on and is not turning off. Also sometimes the car keeps knocking or miss fires, there is loss of power or the car shakes when pressing gas and also check engine light flashes. Feels like the engine is breaking down while pressing gas. Also at red light or stop sign, the car is shaking. Sometimes i dont have this problem and car runs fine.
Any suggestions.. I will try to reset the OCM but i am not sure this will help.

check your ECU codes (http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecudecoder.html)

Hello,
I have a 1995 Nissan Maxima and my car has the same problem. It started 3 days ago with the shaking and feeling like it was going to stall when stopped. I also have major loss of power and it continues to missfire as I accelerate. After three days of this my check engine light is now on and will not go off?
Where you able to solve your problem? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Check the codes, check/change you plugs, MAF, fuel filter, air filter. Good idea would be to do a service, also check/change your plug wires. Not sure if ignition timing has anything to do with it, but check it if you have a chance.

classic symptoms of a FUEL PUMP problem...that should be where you look first

Thanks for the advice. The ECU codes from the check engine light showed a 5th cylinder misfire and a knock sensor. I checked the spark plugs/wires and they look good. So does the air filter. I am wondering if I got a bad tank of gas? I filled up with the cheap 85 octane, but who knows if it was mostly water.
I will check out the other ideas you listed and let you know. Thanks!

You may have a restricted or faulty injector. This can cause a lean condition and pre-ignition (possibly) causing the knock sensor to do its job. But as the other posts suggest, I'd definately check fuel pressure as thrasher says first before guessing wrong. Goodluck.

I had this same problem. I made sure I filled the tank with super premium gasoline, the best injector cleaner you can get, it was back to normal within two days. Have to reset the check engine light though. Make sure your plugs aren't bad. If they are, replace.

Hello,
I have a 1995 Nissan Maxima and my car has the same problem. It started 3 days ago with the shaking and feeling like it was going to stall when stopped. I also have major loss of power and it continues to missfire as I accelerate. After three days of this my check engine light is now on and will not go off?
Where you able to solve your problem? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Thank you to everyone. After checking all of the above.... I filled my tank with supreme gas and some "Gumout" fuel injector cleaner additive and my car is now back to normal. I reset the check engine light and it hasn't come back on since. I guess I will start paying for the more expensive gas now....or at least every couple times I fill up.

In response to a few personal emails I received.... I did run all of the bad gas out before refilling with Supreme Gas. I mixed the fuel injector cleaner with the new tank of gas, and the knocking and shaking stopped after burning about 1/2 to 3/4 of the new tank. I used a fuel treatment with the next tank of gas, but not sure it was necessary and I have not added anything to the fuel the last two times I filled up. It has been over a month now and no new problems. Just a larger receipt when I fill up at the gas station....but I think it is worth it.

In response to a few personal emails I received.... I did run all of the bad gas out before refilling with Supreme Gas. I mixed the fuel injector cleaner with the new tank of gas, and the knocking and shaking stopped after burning about 1/2 to 3/4 of the new tank. I used a fuel treatment with the next tank of gas, but not sure it was necessary and I have not added anything to the fuel the last two times I filled up. It has been over a month now and no new problems. Just a larger receipt when I fill up at the gas station....but I think it is worth it.

You should never use anything less than 91 in your tank, it even says so in the owner's manual, also for the Nissan engine's it is not required for you to have to use any fuel additives.

I'm happy that you didn't have any major problems though because from your first post (thread starter) it seemed to be more than that.

Most commonly when you have a check engine light, it is usually oxygen sensors or worse, maybe even ignition coils or the worst a blinking light is worst than a solid check engine light<this usually indicates a major problem.

Others include: Engine Wiring harness, auto tranny failure or engine failure from a thrown rod.

I had a smiliar problem. my check engine light went on in my 95 GLE. After a long time I got it checked out and it was the timing chain and that cost 2000 to fix so I had to sell the car :(

Hi I have a similar problem with my 2000 Maxima, teh check engine light suddenly came on after some knocking and engine vibration. I suspected that it must have been teh fuel injector.

Could anyone please help me and let me know how to reset the Check engine light.

Well, I made it almost three months without problems. Now my engine is shaking at low rpms and the check engine light is back on. It doesn't shake at rpms >1500 that I can feel. It also tends to vary in intensity.
I haven't done anything different, so my hope of bad fuel is not as likely this time. Do you have any suggestions of where to look first? I have replaced my air filter, fuel filter, and plugs. Maybe the fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump? Hopefully not the timing belt?

>>>
For the above question - a good website for OCM and ECU codes is http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html and http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecudecoder.html

RESETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
To reset the engine light is a simple procedure.
1. Turn the selector screw clockwise to its stop.
2. Wait 2 seconds.
3. Return back by turning the screw counterclockwise to its stop.
4. IMMEDIATELY REPEAT steps 1 to 3.
The next time you start your engine, the check engine light should go away!

Found it!!! I had a bad #1 Fuel injector. Replaced the 3 fuel injectors on that side and now she is running good as new! My knock sensor went bad too, so I had to replace it as well. If you ever need one...you can find them on E-Bay brand new in the box - $90 including shipping. Hopefully the last time I have to post under the "check engine light and knocking forum"

My Check Engined Codes Say" Bank #2 Too Lean. What does that mean? The guy at autozone told me that it was the Fuel Injectors. Would I have to replace them or just get them cleaned?

i have some what of the same problem. i see the check engine light on but everything seems fine and my car don't shake. i replaced it with the most expensive gas and the light is still on. any ideas?

I just got a really good fuel injector cleaner like The Outlaw. Endorsed my Dale Jr. You may need to do this a couple times with Premium gas. You need to get any sludge out of the injectors. Also after doing that, you have to get the codes taken out of the computer. All this entails is a mechanic hooking a test computer up and deleating the codes. Takes about 5 minutes. My car was fine after following these steps.

Hey guyz, if anybody could help. I have 96 Maxima and recently check engine light turned on and is not turning off. Also sometimes the car keeps knocking or miss fires, there is loss of power or the car shakes when pressing gas and also check engine light flashes. Feels like the engine is breaking down while pressing gas. Also at red light or stop sign, the car is shaking. Sometimes i dont have this problem and car runs fine.
Any suggestions.. I will try to reset the OCM but i am not sure this will help.

I will bet money it is yor Ignition coils. Maxima's are notorius for this problem. All your symptoms sounds like that is your problem