HELP !.. Engine power surges, stalls when at low RPM's, not constant but annoying

[aidan2474]

OK, This is driving me nutts...

it started about 2 -3 weeks ago, the engine would stall at low RPM's, this happened for about a week and a half but it was not constant it was occasional. The Cel finally came on and it was 0303 Front Left Heated O2 sensor. I had Pep boys change it and it seemd ok for a day, but like I said it wasn't constant. Then it started doing it again the next day. It's more like after the car warms up.
It will happen on the highway, really bad surging, then when I get off the highway it really wants to just stall out, so I have to put it in neutral and keep pumping the gas, it feels like its running on about half the cylinders, and it smells really bad. It also happens just driving down the road I can feel the surging then when the RPM's drop it wants to stall.
When it does stall I turn the key and it will start right back up , but if it is in this mode where it wants to stall, after I start it up it will stall out after I start it. So I have to keep pumping the gas till I throw it in Drive and can hit the gas to keep it going.
It hasn't thrown another code yet, its been about another week and a half, but I can't deal with this anymore as it is happening more, I'm about to take it to a shop but I am wondering if anyone has some similar experience.
Its not the octane of the gas and I have within the last three months changed the fuel filter, cleaned the throttle body, plugs are about 6 months old, new knock sensor, and the new O2 sensor last week, removed the old air box and put on a K&N air filter. Its a 96 I30 with about 122,000 miles....... I've had it since it had about 46k miles and never had a problem until now HELP !!!!

[semhoz]

I have similar problem on my Maxima SE 99,
and I am start working on this problem.
If you find something ,
please let me know.

[Magneto]

I'm having the exact same thing bud, cept I've had it for about 2 months now. First time it happened it went away for about a week, its been pretty consistent ever since hten but like you said, it doesnt ahppen all the time and its ANNOYING. So far I've changed the fuel filter, cleaned the throttle body, new plugs and wires, and taken it to two different mechanics. Neither of them could reproduce the problem (cause its not on all the time), and its not giving any codes. I've talked to other maxima owners forums about it and the most common guesses I've got are O2 sensor, MAF, fuel pump, leaking vacuum tube. It's driving me nuts that this nver seems to happen when I want to show someone. It seems to have a tendency to happen only after I've been driving for a while, but I can't really even say for sure because there are a couple instances when its happened more quickly.

[aidan2474]

Well, at least I'm not alone,.. I have already replaced the front heated O2 sensor, and it still does it, ... I have gotten some other advice about checking the MAF and the Coils.
But right now its in the shop and well see what my mechanic can come up with. I'll keep updates as to what they can find, if anything !!!

[JimmiZ]

I had a pretty similar problem. For me cleaning the throttle body helped out a lot. After five or six months it started to come back and a couple of weeks ago I cleaned it again. I did a better job the second time - got some carb/choke cleaner and an old toothbrush way down in there and all around the throttle plate. It has been running great since.

I just wonder what is causing it to get dirty so fast. I also seem to be getting slightly better mileage now that things are a little cleaner in there. Does anyone know what might be getting things so dirty in there? The air filter is clean. Could a fuel filter help?

[aidan2474]

not to be ignorant JimmiZ but this problem is clearly not related to cleaning the throttlebody, especially since i cleaned it a couple of months ago...

Well the shop has my car, and they have had it for the last 3 days, still trying to figure out what the problem is !!!

[i3o2Matt]

as to what magneto said...it couldn't be a leaking vacuum tube because it wouldn't do it driving down the road and be inconsistent...a leaking vacuum tube will make the car want to stall when ur sittin at a red light and it will do it constantly...i kno because my dad's explorer sport used 2 have that problem...i went to touch the hose n it broke in two...thats how bad it was...n it would be fine while the truck was moving...it was just when he stopped that it wanted to stall

[JimmiZ]

It's cool aidan. I just thought if someone with a similar problem is reading this in the future they might want to try the throttle body quick-fix before other things. Good luck with yours...hope you're back on the road soon.

[nemo168]

I have a 95 maxima ,two days ago my car had a similar problem.The car
surge when it close to stop sign and the engine surge between
200- 1000 rpm then it stall and it does not happen all the time.
After gone through a lot of checking (no check engine lite or code),
I found that the tubing conneting between the EGR valve and the
BPT valve was very loose ( do not know how ) and that create a
air leak . After I tighten the nut ,the problem solve. Now my car is
running find. I hope this help!

[aidan2474]

Well,.. after being in suspense for sooo long, Finally the Infiniti dealer told me that it was my Air flow meter and engine temperature sensor,.. which are both connected to each other,.... a $100 diagnostic and $600 in parts, came to roughly $750,... for an extra $150 they would have put it on,.. no thank you,.. I did it my self,.... I told him to go ahead and order it, but I tried to call back and tell him to cancel it so I could find it cheaper somewhere, but it was too late. The Local shop was wrong when they told me it was not my mass air flow sensor, .. and pep boys are idiots when it comes to diagnosing problems as well.
My ride to work today was once again a smooth one, with no stalling. Thank god I only have 6 more payments on my car.

[slade2625]

Aidan,

I have a 2000 Infiniti I30 that I believe will need the mass air flow sensor replaced. My trusty mechanic says he can get the part for a low-low price of $488. Do you have any recommendations on where to go to get the part cheaper?

BTW, I am scheduled to turn my car in next Friday for service to give you an idea of my timetable.


Thanks!

Slade