91 maxima stumbles below 2500 RPM and acts like a diesel tractor

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rsha0@attg.net - 28 Feb 2004 22:11 GMT

After a few raining days sitting outside, my otherwise smoothly running
maxima stumbles on acceleration and makes tractor-like vibration and sound
while driving. Driving is smooth at highway speed but if picking up speed
or driving around local, it just has unusual and excessive engine vibration.

I checked the spark plugs and they are in good condition. Timing was checked
correct. I suspect intake air leak but did not see any loose/broken hoses.
What other reasons could cause this?

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Chris H - 29 Feb 2004 05:44 GMT

If you haven't done so as a matter of normal maintenance, check for cracks
in your distributor cap, replace the rotor, check the resistance in your
plug wires and replace your fuel filter. Also, someone here can elaborate on
proper plug wire resistance and wires that are grounding out. Sounds like
you're misfiring when the engine is under acceleration. I'm not sure what
fuel system problems would be causing this besides maybe a bad O2 sensor,
fouled injector tips or poor fuel pressure. The manual says to check codes
in the ECU for a bad O2 sensor and air flow sensor.

Chris
90 & 94 GXE's

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rsha0@attg.net - 29 Feb 2004 04:42 GMT

Thank Chris for your thoughts. You may have hit it right on about the
misfiring - I never had misfiring problem before as I follow the typical
maintenance schedule and the maxima has been trouble free with new car like
emission test results. The maxima engine is showing more vibration when
climbing steep uphills. The distributor cap and rotor were replaced four
years ago but they may possibly go bad now. I will check out these items
tomorrow. However, I have never worked on O2 sensor - How should I tell and
test it?

> If you haven't done so as a matter of normal maintenance, check for cracks
> in your distributor cap, replace the rotor, check the resistance in your
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Chris
> 90 & 94 GXE's

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Chris H - 29 Feb 2004 19:31 GMT

The O2 sensor is down in the Y pipe near the catalytic converter. I think
you can put the ECU into diagnostic mode and count the flashes to see if it
has stored a code for a bad sensor. You'll need a shop manual with the
procedures to do this. Nisstech and Steve T know more how to do this as
they are real mechanics that lurk around in this group. The more reliable
way to do this is to take it to a shop that has the scanning tools and
ocsilliscopes to check the integrity of all the sensors. Also, if it's fuel
injector related, they may have to do a flow and pattern test to see if any
injectors are "spitting".

Definitely check your distributor cap as I found small hairline cracks in
both my 90 & 94 and when I power washed the engine compartment, they had a
hard time starting due to moisture getting into the dist and shorting out
the spark.
Rotsaruck!
Chris
90 & 94 GXE's

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