'98 Maxima Giving problems

[CoreyNguyen]

So the other day I traded cars with my mom and her maxima is having couple problems:

1) Difficult Starting (One time I did hear a loud clunk noise while trying to start)
2) Rough Idling (RPM jumps every now and then)
3) White Smoke comes out of the exhaust once a while (1 out of 10 times or so)
4) Every now and then accleration seems to lag.

Things done so far:
1) New Spark Plugs, gapped
2) replaced O2 Senors
3) New Fuel Injectors and Filter
4) Oil Change, Tranny and Coolant Flush.

So Friends and other people have been telling me a lot of things. Please add some advice?
1) Exhaust manifold and etc.
2) Coil Packs (although I have no clue how to check those haha )
3) Timing is off.

Thanks in advance! Car is 1998 Maxima with 139k Mileage. AND Check Light is on but code reader isn't reading anything...

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by CoreyNguyen

...
1) Difficult Starting (One time I did hear a loud clunk noise while trying to start)
2) Rough Idling (RPM jumps every now and then)
3) White Smoke comes out of the exhaust once a while (1 out of 10 times or so)
4) Every now and then accleration seems to lag.
....

1, 2, 4 all could fit with bad MAF, oxidized connectors
2 Could be also temp sensor, oxidized connectors

1 clunk: starter starting to die. Its good to replace/repair it before it goes, like alternator.

1-4 & Mileage fits also fully fried coilpacks.

[BeZerK2112]

You souldn't have to gap the spark plugs that go in this car. The engine is a proformance engine and needs good spark plugs. Make sure you used doubble platnum or iridum. If you didn't then replace them!

It could be your MAF sensor, but more likely your knock sensor if your car's timing feels off. These are chain driving and there is no way to mess that up.

Our cars have a self diegnostic mode for the ECU. Try pulling the codes that way. If you need help or need to know how to do it PM me and I'll give you the details.

Good luck!

[CoreyNguyen]

Is there anyway I can replace any of these things on my own, I'm not experienced and barelly know much. But I feel like the mechanics around me are trying to cheat me, not only that I spoke to other customer and they were happy either so ya....

P.S. What exactly is a Knock Sensor? When my friend was pulling codes a while back it did show up, but went away 2 days later.


And all the repairs/replacements I listed earlier were done by friends or mechanics.

[BeZerK2112]

These things are fairly easy to do. First off, did you get the cheap spark plugs? If you did you need to replace them You should have spent at least 6 bucks a plug if you got the right ones, and you shouldn't have to gap them at all. THey come pre gaped. If you need to do that fallow the link.

Spark Plug replacment

Check for codes again. If your check engine light is on you can do it yourself without a scanner. Use this site to figure out how to get the error code.

Error Code Mode

Then Use this site to translate the problem.

Translator

The knock sensor may not be your problem if it's not throwing the code right now. If you have problems with the car, the knock sensor code will be given reguardless, that and the O2 sensor. The process to do these things is simple. Figure out what the ECU is saying is wrong and we can go from there.

YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF ALMOST ANYTHING ON YOU OWN! I have a lot of resources and can show you how to do just about anything.

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by CoreyNguyen

- barelly know much.
- But I feel like the mechanics around me are trying to cheat me,
- P.S. What exactly is a Knock Sensor?
- When my friend was pulling codes a while back it did show up, but went away 2 days later.
- And all the repairs/replacements I listed earlier were done by friends or mechanics.

- educate uself. Start from the already given link
- true feeling. keep it...
- educate uself. Start from the already given link
- that is a feature. KS code may or may not be true. None of the depicted problems are related...
- good

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Iridium plugs lasts longer, dont buy bosch. If u now have Bosch plugs, all depicted problems may arise from there.

MAF and coilpacks are easy to change, you can do it if u know a screwdriver.

For KS u need help (DEFINITELY not your acute depicted problem). Swap is costly if u dont find the right shop havin special quick tools/methods. U may also use the 5c bypass, see limitations in the already given link ... yess the link is there, seek = educate uself.

[CoreyNguyen]

Originally Posted by Nahkapohjola

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Iridium plugs lasts longer, dont buy bosch. If u now have Bosch plugs, all depicted problems may arise from there.

MAF and coilpacks are easy to change, you can do it if u know a screwdriver.

Alright! Replaced the spark plugs, old ones were bosch, drove it around. Its much smoother but still had some problems.
Then I went to autozone to check my coilpacks, turns out the one in cyclinder 1 and 2 were busted. replaced and good.

THANKS GUYS! total cost = 200 bucks, Happy as Happy can be.

[Nahkapohjola]

Can u still lighten the plug&problem history. Problems started before/after gettin bosch plugs...?

Type of plugs used in each phase. I guess ppl are interested...

[BeZerK2112]

Let us know if you have any other problems. Lots of knoledge here.

[CoreyNguyen]

Well I wasn't sure if it was the spark plugs, so i decided to buy Denso Iridium Long Life Spark Plugs, and replaced it, the car started just fine, changed it back to the Bosch Platinum +4 Spark Plugs and it went back to the way it use to be. Wasn't sure what brand of spark plugs to buy, but from what I saw on forums, Bosch sucked? And my case seemed to prove it.

[rather_b_boatin]

The Bosch spark plugs suck, how are their O2 sensors? I think that is what comes factory in Maxima's, right?

[BeZerK2112]

Ya, they do a lot better when it comes to 02 sensors. Not a bad product there.

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by BeZerK2112

Ya, they do a lot better when it comes to 02 sensors. Not a bad product there.

Hmm. If my original -93 is from Bosch (?), haaaate to admit its served well...

All electrical bosch appliances I've had, have become lazy after the original bosch -smoke escaped... No no.

[CoreyNguyen]

Well that solve my mom's case.

On the other hand my car went nuts on me the other day. Oil gasket just blew up on me. Scary as hell. Lucky it was under warranty.. ugh. I'm not quite sure what it was but the dealership told me it was a faulty gasket...
So much for new safer cars huh?
BTW it was a Honda Accord 08 V6 Coupe.
I'm sooo going back to Nissans. (Don't really know why I got a Honda in the first place... Oh well.)

Thanks for helping guys! Pretty sure I'll be back once I decide what to get from Nissan.