subject: Nissan Maxima Common Problems and Solutions [print this page] There are some common issues among Nissan Maxima owners who've the 2000-2004 models. These have a tendency to vary from intermittent rough idle to reported transmission problems, with a drastic decrease in performance. We have been looking in to the real cause of the problems, and offering our advice on how to proceed, and what Not to do.
We looked at how you can troubleshoot the intermittent rough idle issue in the latest article. It could be caused by the ignition coils, which may have proven to go south in the initial few numerous years of ownership. Another issue we're going after could be the supposed transmission problems I have already been hearing about. This issue continues to be identified as a hesitation inside the shifting from 1st to 2nd, or 2nd to 3rd under half to full throttle. Additionally, it causes hard shifting, and the look of a "rev limiter" around 4000 rpms. The TSB (technical service bulletin) out with this says how the solenoid control assembly within the transmission is to blame. This assembly accounts for the right shift times for your transmission. Sounds like the right answer, right?
Maybe. These control assemblies will go bad, but it's only because of the build up of debris inside the transmission system. This debris originates from clutch material and burned transmission fluid. With this much clutch material worn out, you'd probably involve some slipping within the transmission occurring. If it's indeed slipping, i quickly would examine a transmission rebuild or replacement. Simply replacing the control assembly would certainly delay the inevitable, and set you back 500-750 dollars.
The issue I have described isn't the transmission. One more time. NOT the transmission. In my example, I haven't described any slipping in the transmission. In a huge number of cases, this "transmission" symptom is accompanied by a pinging engine and low performance. This is probably an energy related problem. The ping is from the lean fuel mixture (insufficient gas). The poor performance could possibly be in the same cause. If your knock sensor or perhaps the trans solenoids were bad, you'll end up a train engine trouble code from the ECU/TCU. Consumers to check on will be the fuel filter inside gas tank. There isn't an external filter on these cars, understanding that filter in the tank is SELDOM changed. The newest filter should fix the engine ping, the performance issues, as well as the "transmission" type symptoms. The "rev limiter" feel is from the engine lacking enough fuel to continue raising the rpms. Hard shift is from your transmission anticipating the faster shift needed at higher rpms, nevertheless the engine just isn't performing correctly, and so the acceleration isn't there to accomplish the smooth shift. Each one of these systems work intricately together. Lower the fuel pressure accessible to the injectors, and all of the above symptoms may appear.
Make sure you hold the codes checked. In a huge number of cases I've come across, these complaints appear and disappear with no check engine light. This is a good sign maybe it's the fuel filter. You may even have a very dirty throttle body, that i recommend cleaning once you replace the filter.
