96 Max Starting, and check engine light Problems

Hello all, I Have a 1996 Nissan Maxima SE 5 spd. with 154,000 on it. Recently I have been having some problems.

First problem: Car won't start in the morning, It just turns over and over until I press the gas pedal down a little then it runs rough and idles.

Second Problem: When going doen the road and I get on the car at wide open throttle the car pulses then it feels like it got a big shot of gas and takes off then pulses again. It does this in all gears.

Third Problem: After running the car for a while the tach jumps around. It only does it after the needle has passed 2,000 and won't do it after the needle goes past 3,000. Just in that area is when it jumps. The car is not missing so I haven't a clue what up.

Fourth Problem: Check engine light came on and won't shut off. I took it in to a local mechanic and he ran a scan tool. Four items came back as possible problems. 1. Knock sensor 2. Speedo cluster 3. Speedo wiring and 4. Speed sensor on the trans.

I don't really want to take it to Nissan because they will charge an arm and a leg.

Also I have changed the plugs, fuel filter and air filter.

I also have a 96 Maxima with the check engine light... I got it tested and it came back with the knock sensor and the intake temperature sensor problem...

I have no idea why the knock sensor would be bad, but I do know why the intake temp. sensor is being reported. It is because I removed the actual sensor and bought a mod from some company that makes the car think the air is much colder than what it actually is...thus more HP. But what's up with this knock sensor... Only engine mod I have right now is a cold-sir intake and the temp. sensor mod...could they be related?

The knock sensor can go bad all by itself. Mine went out at about 130,000 miles or so. Expensive little booger too. The part itself was around $500.00. The knock sensor is a pretty important piece. It detects any knocking and pinging in the engine. If it goes out then you have to be the knock sensor by listening. Not a real good suggestion. I dont think they are too hard to replace. Some where on the intake side of the engine I believe.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to fix my problems with my car. ????

I have a 95 Nissan Maxima GXE
I have the same problem with the cold start and tach jumping around, sometimes It jumps all the way past 8000 RPM and just stays there but usually just stays in the 1000 to 3000 range, also I have a bad knock sensor which Im going to replace really soon. Ive heard that when the knock sensor goes out the ecu will put your car in safe mode giving you less performance, like from 190 HP to 160 HP (dont know if thats true) but people that have replaced them say its a definate difference in performance. My car knocks at idle alot and during driving too.

My guess is that your knock sensor isnt totally dead like mine (I checked the ohmes and get an open circut which means its crap or the the harness is) and your knock sensor is retarding the engine when you accelerate maybe.

hello there, i have 95 GLE 199,000 miles on,engine light came on 130,000 with three codes one of those was knock sensor which i have replaced then, the other 2 codes po136 o2 sensor and po400 (EGR) which i cleaned last nite, after i was done i rest the ecu and drove over 60 mile so i can read the codes, again i get both codes po400, po136 iam planing on replacing the o2 sensor tommorrow hopfuly, what can i do with the EGR ?

here is a link for replacing the knock sensor
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/507
thanx