92 se misfire/clatter

[92maximase]

whats up.
i recently bought a 92 se pretty cheap.

she was a victim of a hit and run.

besides that.

other than that she rides good quick, quiet, i could go on.

what concerns me is the engine sometimes it makes a clatter noise...as if the lifters is starved for oil...but oil is getting up there.

sometimes it comes from the front or rear or both.

and after you drive for awhile it geos away.
there's no metal particals in the oil, the oil light is'nt on either.

also she has a misfire.
and there seems to be a rich mixture about 70% of the time.

the check engine is'nt on.

and when you accelerate...man does'nt feel like a engine with mechanical problems.

btw, i searched and there seem to be nothing simular to my issue.

[NIGHTMAREuki]

introduction would be nice
http://www.chicagomaximaclub.net/forumdisplay.php?f=3

some people that know plenty about 3rd gens will help you out, i'm not one of them .... FTL

[HILDE]

clacking is most likely the VTC... Do a search on the ORG abut this. discussed MANY times.

[walec05]

u bought the wrong car man....................

and yeah, an intro would help.

[Brian]

ok, so it needs an injector and the VTCs rebuilt
nothing terribly unusual
however unless you are mechanically inclined I'd suggest selling it and getting something a bit less advanced so that it will be easier to get it fixed.
VTC repair takes time to do right.


oh and :worthless:

[DasTeknoViking]

VTC sprockets are a ticking, eventually they can fail and engine will stop running.

VG30E motor is the way to go in the 89-91 SEs and all 89-94 GXEs.

[Brian]

eh, the VE30DE can go a LOOOONNGGGGGGG time, but you need to be knowledgeable on it or it's toast.

[92maximase]

sorry done that.

and as for pics...she's not pretty looking.

as for vtc i did a search but you said the org version.

i tested that this afternoon...the missfire.
i removed the connector for the injector off and the idle went down a lil' bit and the misfire worsened a lil' also.
plugged it in. went back to normal misfire.

removed the connector to the coil and noting idle was the same and still misfiring.

then i removed the next coil and it got worse.
so i guess it's the coil even though it looked like he got it from the j/y.

as for the vtc...
ehh i don't like that but after about 5minutes of driving it goes away.

so ground the solenoids gotcha.
i dunno why poeple saying i bought the wrong car.

it could be worse i could own a ford, or chrysler.
which i had...

[Brian]

it's not the coil, it's the injector.
The VTC will get worse.

[92maximase]

okay i don't mean to doubt you...but why the injector when i remove the connector the idle and misfire worsened?

and at times i could smell the rich fuel mixture or raw fuel.

and i was reading on the toyota filter...they say the part number but which car?
toyota 98+ corolla?

i could use castrol gtx 5w30, with engine restore(that works really), and the toyota filter, with the grounded vtc...

[Brian]

if either the coil or injector is disconnected that cylinder will no longer fire.
so you can't disconnect the coil find it doesn't change anything and say the coil is bad. if you move that coil to another cylinder and the miss moves to the same cylinder then the coil is bad otherwise it's more than likely the injector.
Don't worry about the filter, just get the Wix filter and you will achieve the same thing without confusing people
if you are using engine restore and it helps, then someone really beat the crap out of your car and you have ALOT of work ahead of you.

[DasTeknoViking]

VE30DEs do have coil pack problems Brian, so its possible that the coil is bad. They usually crack....

[92maximase]

like i said, i don't mean to doubt you.
your an admin and you have way more post than me.
plus i belive the previous owner had kids...daughters at that.
so i doubt that he/she beat on it. (looks like a girls name).

i've replaced the filter with a mixima one.
basically still the same (thats the first thing i did when i forst got her).
and it's a car quest/wix

and i read the links and most people said when they replaced it toyo type most of it went away.

and whats even more weird is when i seen the sign "premium fuel is recondmended". the second day she was running better.
it was either that or the fact she's been driven.

but braini'll move the coil and see what happens, if it chnges that was my problem.

again don't mean to doubt you.

i'll post an update tomarrow.

[Brian]

VE30DEs do have coil pack problems Brian, so its possible that the coil is bad. They usually crack....
24 coil packs and none have been bad yet. :gotme:
otoh I've had bad injectors on both my grey ones.

[92maximase]

i seen the link on how to rewire the vtc, but they don't say which wire to use or splice into...

[Brian]

I forget which, because one is the ground (which you ground out) and the other is hot (which if you ground out blows a fuse and causes other issues).
take a test light to find the hot one, and ground the other one.
I never grounded mine so I'm not sure on which to ground.

[92maximase]

okay i switched the coils this morning...nothing.
i seen that two of em has a little bit of stress cracks, but they worked.

the same thing i remove the injector connector and a few seconds later the idle gets rough.

plug it back in and right away it resumes it's "normal" phase.

the front cylinder that is misfiring is the one on the driver side (facing car).
this one had a ngk with two tips on it.

while the other two in front had what looked to be iridium....the twin tip was black.
the iridium was a little black.
i switched em and the idle seems a bit better.
low end take off is better too.

do you think this cylinder (driv. side front ), is dead.

or do you think it's the transistor power for the coil (that flat thing by the cam sensor)

[Brian]

I'd probably toss in a fresh set of NGK plugs first and see how much that helps.
you can run copper plugs even though OE was a laser platinum.
just check what the part # is of the plug you have in there is, it may also be the wrong plug in there.

[92maximase]

okay...so platinum right?
of course it says it on the air box.

thanks for the advice.

btw, i found the link on the vtc rewire.

and i really paid attention to em this morning.
this morning when i strted her up...no clatter.
on the way to dropping my sister off at school, no clatter.
on the way back 1/2 way some clatter.
when i got home no clatter.

and her school is'nt far from our house.

also i had the engine idling for awhile trying to figure out the miss.

nothing so i can REALLY rule out low oil pressure and it's the vtc's.

[Brian]

just get plain old coppers.
let's do some cheap maintenance before throwing money at it.
just make sure they are NGK only!!!
do not get Bosch under any circumstances

on your cracked coil wrap it in electrical tape tightly and that should help until you buy new ones.

[92maximase]

well i have some bad news.
one of the guys i know had a compression tester.

tested that cylinder.. it barely registered.

he said i could drive it for awhile....

it just did'nt seem like it...damn $200!!!!!!!

oh btw, the oil change solved about 89% of the vtc's.

when cold it does'nt do it...it's in btween when it does it.

and it last for about a minute...then after that no more.

so can i drive her like this...if so i'ma keep her till next year.

[walec05]

you could only drive it so far....its going to burn through a **** load of gas, and it sounds like **** too.

[92maximase]

SEE THATS WHAT GETS ME!

i put in $20 a few days back...and i have'nt been easy on her.

and the low fuel light has'nt came on and it's in between e and the line above it.

and power when you take off about 1500rpms it does'nt feel like a miss or does'nt sound like that either.

except at idle and below 1500rpms.
oh i heard a 3rd gen se with the vtc's yesterday, man mine's sound better than his.

eh and i guess to prevent that cylinder from flooding i dissconnect the injector...even though she ran better with it in.

[92maximase]

is there a way to kinda raise the idle?

[Mr Grey]

is there a way to kinda raise the idle?


Advance the timing a little by messing with the distibutor cap...I believe.

[92maximase]

i have coil on plug

[92maximase]

i got the plugs.
but i have'nt put em in yet.

i got ngk-v power...are those fine?
i know you told me copper but tis was all they had.

oh and i have some good news THE VTC CLATTER IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
changed the oil and a couple days later no vtc clatter.

i know i keep saying this though.
it's to hard to belive that, that cylinder has low compression.
i think 25 came up on it?

plus i tried to drive it with the fuel injector disconnected ( i know stupid), but she had a hard time accerlerating.

and she struggeled to keep her idle up when in drive.

but with it in...you get the picture.

[Brian]

ngk V-powers are a copper plug so you're fine

the low compression sucks, but with the injector connected you are at least making some power and the cylinder isn't totally dead.
there is a way to adjust the idle speed from the computer that is detailed in the FSM. I just don't feel like pulling out my copy of it right now.
if you are interested in selling the car, let me know :naughty:

[92maximase]

your in illinois??
i found a way to adjust the idle.
by useing the a/c and disconnecting the plug to the compressor.

okay so your sayin gi'm making some power?
and yea i can tell.
so is it possible that the valves on that cylinder has jumped?

becuase if the rings were no good would'nt i see smoke or smell oil from the exhuast and would'nt my oil smell like gas??

[Brian]

1. yes, I live in chicago by Cubs Field
2. ok, that's a back door way to do it
3. yes
4. possible if the chain is recently replaced
5. nope, you wouldn't necessarily smell anything

[92maximase]

i think the chain was recently replaced...no i think the vtc assembly was rebuilt and they did'nt mark it or put it right.

today i drove her HARD.
she kept running, her take off's are slow but above 2-25k rpms oh she kicks in.

i might as well spring for the platniums so she can make her full power.

lol. your kidding about buying her though right?
she needs some work....

[walec05]

dude, brian will buy anything under $500. he will fix it in his garage, spray paint it to make it look like a custom paint job, and sell it back to you for $2000......trust me.......hes good. really good, but im better.

but hey, ive got 9 kids to support, including two lucious big boodied mochican chicks that have twins....boy, do i have my hands full.

[92maximase]

lol.

i dunno i just put in a pioneer cd player (was in my pontiac).
and i thought the amp in the bose system was bad.
nope they all work.
and they have pretty good sound.
and damn good bass.

[Brian]

i think the chain was recently replaced...no i think the vtc assembly was rebuilt and they did'nt mark it or put it right.

today i drove her HARD.
she kept running, her take off's are slow but above 2-25k rpms oh she kicks in.

i might as well spring for the platniums so she can make her full power.

lol. your kidding about buying her though right?
she needs some work....
if the VTCs were rebuilt, then they played with the chain. you have to take off the chains to do it.

I had the same thing when I had a dead cylinder or 2 or 3 :wall:

I'm serious about being willing to buy it. I'm currently without a car of my own (firebird excluded)
I've bought 4 so far that all needed work. I made the mistake of selling my last one, which I should have kept considering how much fun it was and how much I had put into it.

as paul said, I consider cars that are $500 all the time to resell.
I've got a non-running 240sx up for sale now that I'd take $500 on
oh yeah, paul I need you to cut me a key I'll PM the code later
I've got a supra in the wings along with a civic (no details on either one yet)

buying and selling cars is a hobby of mine, but right now I need a car for myself, I screwed up my last deal so I'm spending other people's money to do it.

[walec05]

yeah, just shoot me a pm...ill see what i can do....as long as i have the blanks, and know what model and year we should be good.


ive got that same hobby brian, but the cars i purchase are a little more pricey, and they are only a year or so old....i dont like dealing with older ****.

[92maximase]

hmm okay so it's posible that only those set of valves are wrong.
tomarrow i'ma go back to the auto shop and put a lil bit of oil into that cylinder...if the compression goes up.
thats not good!

if it stays the same...the valve train system has to be serviced.

or i could just remove the timing cover and take a look see if the timing's right??

[Brian]

it's all easier said than done.
I'd recommend getting the FSM if you even considering dealing with the timing

[92maximase]

okay i think those ngk v-power are weak.

this morning i was driving went to merge and floored it and she acted as if she was flooding or something.

on the way home she kept hesistating.

i looked at the plugs, the "bad" cylinder is the same as the other cylinders.
so somewhere in there she's firing.

and i seen the cam sensor looked a little loose.
and it also looked like it's adjustable.

anyway i tighted a little and it seemed fine.

the misfire is still there but i kept flooring her over and over...and no bogging.

also i hear like a hiss sound on that cylinder it seems like when it fires you can hear a hiss sound.

[DasTeknoViking]

probably an exhaust leak.

Ohm out your injectors. They are the ****ty injectors Nissan used in all cars from like 89 till 99. 00+ cars do not have injector problems.

My 91 Max has all new parts on the top end of the motor, she runs like a new car. My mom has been driving it as her 00 Altima broke an axle. She likes the 3rd gen alot, excellent power, good gas mileage and with 5th gen wheels it looks sharp.

[Brian]

the plugs aren't weak.
the cam sensor is adjustable, so that being loose would cause timing to be problematic.
the hiss sound is from the pressure of compression exiting where it shouldn't normally past the rings.

[walec05]

wrong mike....the L30 altima seems to be having injector problems at high mileage....especially the 00-01.

[Brian]

mike, the exhaust leak (bad exhaust studs, or gasket) is normally a putt putt sound on the 3rd gen.

[92maximase]

colombianmax sent me the fsm on the max.

there was a section on the "pwer balance" you could do with a "scanner" or alley mechanic way.

which involed removing injector harness.
it asked it the rpms drop. which they do.

and i belive that it was brian who replied that the cylinder is still making power...to a certain point.

i dunno even though she looks like s*** i don't wanna give up on her.

[92maximase]

the plugs aren't weak.
the cam sensor is adjustable, so that being loose would cause timing to be problematic.
the hiss sound is from the pressure of compression exiting where it shouldn't normally past the rings.

damn thats what that is?
thats pretty noticeable.

someone must've really dogged this car!

[DasTeknoViking]

wrong mike....the L30 altima seems to be having injector problems at high mileage....especially the 00-01.

I got a 00 Altima, forgot bout that car. I do not know why we still got that thing. I wouldn't buy a Nissan from 95-99, cost cutting like a MOFO.

My exhaust manifold studs are broken on my 3rd gen, and there is a hissing type noise when runing.... only when you accelerate the engine the his goes towards puttt putt kinda noise. Its not that loud, and I got new studs. Too lazy to do it :P

[92maximase]

okay what does it mean if it still make that noise, when i dissconnect the injector and coil.

if it's a compression thing it should go away right?

[Brian]

compression exists as long as the motor is turning.

[Mr Grey]

With all the trouble you're having you should get rid of it, and buy my car. I keep forgetting to take post pics, but I have a 94 5sp VE with 142,xxx miles. Only 'problems' are slight clack of VTC, and small power steering leak from a hose. Car runs fine.

[walec05]

yeah dude, if you would have spent some more money, you would have gotten a better looking and driving car.......so sad, too bad.

[92maximase]

yea i'm starting to reliaze that now.

today this morning it cut off on me at home. and was acting as if it can't find the idle.

today on the way to work it was fine.
during lunch fine.
before i left from work i was letting it warm up.
and it was idleing all crazy.

all the way home i had to hold down the gas pedal.

opened the hood and removed the injector in the middle front cylinder and no rpm change?!!!!!!!!!!

i don't think the injector was even clicking the bad cylinder was still "firing" and the injector was clicking.

just f**king great!!!!!!!!
i gotta replace an injector!
and it has those crappy import screws that easily strips!!!!!!

[Brian]

what area do you live in?

[92maximase]

i live by pulaski and potomac(pulaski/grand)...why do you ask?

[Brian]

I asked, because if you were up around my way I'd offer to take a look at it.
you're actually closer to john, but his experience is with VGs not VEs

[92maximase]

yea i know john.
i replaced a tire for him at my job.

the injector has 26 ohms!!

i switched it with the bad cylinder.
apparanty that cylinder is not compleatly dead, becuase her idle is'nt as "smooth" as it used to be.

i went to the j/y today there was only one se!

so now i have to go to another one...

[Brian]

just grab an injector out of any 92-99 maxima with a DOHC they are the same.

[92maximase]

well thats the problem.
it seems people are quick to get rid of their sohc over their dohc.

wait? 92-99 whoa...what about the altima?
there was one with a damaged injector and it looked like mines

[Brian]

the SOHC gets junked because it's trans is crap, and the timing belt doesn't get done so the motor gets blown.

the DOHC got a stronger trans, and no timing belt

********* Above information applies to Maxima ONLY not other nissan products ***********

[ColombianMax]

well thats the problem.
it seems people are quick to get rid of their sohc over their dohc.

wait? 92-99 whoa...what about the altima?
there was one with a damaged injector and it looked like mines


Yo I think I may be able to get an injector or 2, go on AIM or PM me your number so we can further discuss this shizzle

[92maximase]

whoa...
thats some pretty good info right there.
that also makes it a bit harder to find parts for it.

oh and brian that hiss noise went away.

i don't know if thats a good thing or not.

[Brian]

the VE30DE (92-94 SE maxima ONLY) is a rare motor, but its very durable as long as the oil is changed regularly with a good filter. so if you had a well maintained example you are good to go, sadly most were beaten on pretty hard because they haul well when in good shape.

[92maximase]

well hopefuly summit will have an injector.

hey you heard of eric japan?

[ColombianMax]

well hopefuly summit will have an injector.

hey you heard of eric japan?

Yea they suck IMO. Got my "rebuilt" transmission from them and it was crappy, they didnt change some shifter crap they should've but still charged the same price. Tranny only lasted about a year or so. I'd stay away from them.

In case you need to know, work was done a 1988 Accord LXi

[92maximase]

wait they did the work on the accord?
not the max?

i had bought the engine from eric japan when i had my legend

this shop said they could do it.
but the engine was from a sterling (it's still a honda c27 engine but with 9 more hp) while the jdm version had about 16 more hp).

they put the sterling in.
but it was misfiring like crazy.
the next day it was fine but had oil problems.

so they said they was gonna replace it i told them well you get a "refund" from the other place and get the engine from eric japan.
they did; no problems.

if they sell the ve?(the engine i have) then thats striaght.

oh i went to the other j/y they had 95+ max there...i took two of em'.
oh and MAKE SURE U RELIEVE THE FUEL PRESSURE.
i learned the embarrasing way.lol.

[ColombianMax]

so is your **** running yet? or still havent tossed em in? did you check resistance on em?

[92maximase]

yea one was 10 ohms and the other 9 ohms
i was thinking about putting the other one in.

but they're fine.
so i left the other one for a spare.

looks like i'll be going there for the fender and bumper too.

[92maximase]

i told my dad about the whole situation.
and he said:
those guys could be ripping you off (the shop ) with the compression tester.

so he loaned me his vacuum gauge.
so i put it on; engine fully warmed.

now the gauge flickers no more than a inch at idle.
and it hovers between 17" and 18".

when you snap the throttle it goes to 0" then 22" then back down to 17".
when you rev and hold at 1500rpms: the needle still flickers.
but 2000rpms and up it stops but still keeps the reading.

[Brian]

vacuum gauge =/= compression tester

[92maximase]

okay.
what can you make of those readings

[Brian]

those readings are fairly normal.
you should lose vacuum when you got to WOT.
the more vacuum you have though the better the MPG
it is not an accurate indication of the engine's condition,

[92maximase]

hmm, not trying to bug ya.
sorry for the idiot questions...but with those readings those that could indicate that the rings are fine...that it's more than likely a valvetrain problem??

[Brian]

those readings indicate little more than that the engine is running, and you don't have a vacuum leak.
you need a compression tester to ascertain the condition of each cylinder.

[92maximase]

hmm i did a compression test.
the needle only moved 3 NOTCHES.
well on that cylinder.

but it's weird though.
the past couple days, her acceleration has been very good.

well not wot but regular take off is fine.

i put her up on a lift and looked at the suspension parts.
seeing if anything was bent since it was in a accident.

everything was fine.
and it seem the previous owners really took car off the car.
i cleaned her out man alot of reciepts for car washes.

brakes a few weeks old, couple abs sensor's replaced.
tranny fluid flushed/filled.

[Brian]

a compression test should be with a gauge that has #s on it and done on all cylinders.
they should read over 150 PSI on each cylinder.

[92maximase]

whoa!
that guy was way off.
he said it should have 90psi in all of em'.
lol. all i could remeber is that it never went above 25psi

[walec05]

wow, never went above 25....then you might have a leak in the guage, you might be doing it wrong, or your car is really ****ed up.

and yes it shoule be up near the 150-170psi range....

[Mr Grey]

Just buy my freaking car. It doesn't have any of these crack head issues. Only slight clacking from the VTC but what else is new?!?!?! It hasn't stranded me even after a long trip to WI in which the car was driven almost non stop. I'll post pics when I get home tonight for sure.

[Brian]

I found another VE5 for $500.

[Mr Grey]

IBsomeoneisthinkingabouthowthe$500carisporbablyinw orsemechanicalshapethanmine.

[Brian]

IBsomeoneisthinkingabouthowthe$500carisporbablyinw orsemechanicalshapethanmine.
IWsayingitneedsaclutchortranssoididntbuyit :bolt:

[92maximase]

ha ha.
mr grey i'm pretty sure your car is in twice the better shape than my car and you'll probably be selling it for a pretty penny.

it depends.
i would like to buy another max.
it's pretty spacy on the inside, trunk, and engine bay.

but it does'nt feel big when i'm driving her, or parking.
and for a car with this issue+lead foot = pretty good gas milege.

[DasTeknoViking]

VEs aint worth **** jiggaz ! VG is where its at. VTCs, bad HGs etc.... man VG might be just a hair slower, but that old lump is rock solid reliable. wooot woot jigga jigga yeeeeah.

[Brian]

VE with a timing chain FTW!!
VG interference motor with a snapping belt and glass tranny FTL!!
The VE just required to be maintained decently when new, and it will run for 300k+ no problem.
the VG needs constant maintenance every 60k or you lose the motor.

[92maximase]

uh yea.
there's was about 3 vg's in.

and let me say all of em' had the missfire and one of em' had like a knocking noise to it. lol.

oh and the had less than 100k miles....

[92maximase]

okay i ran a search i even looked in the service manual.
does anyone know how to remove the rear mount on a ve?
what whould be the procedures?

[Brian]

Jack up the motor and unbolt it.

[DasTeknoViking]

Put a jack under the tranny - right in the middle of the bell housing. Remove the front engine mount 17mm bolt, remove splash shields from the cross member area. Remove the rear bolts that go through the rear engine mount- drop the cross member bolts down and remove the whole cross member. Its a 20 min job on a lift.

You have to remove the cross member in order to get the mount out. If you don't, well then good luck getting at the bolts. Might as well replace the front engine mount too, they go bad all the time. I gotta do one on my VG monsta.

[92maximase]

lol. i just read what i wrote and what you wrote blackbird.lol.

the vq (i'm assuming 95-99) is the one that had those problems.

there was one vg (89-94) that came in. engine was quite.
had a tranny problem though.

[DasTeknoViking]

VG trannies are weak, but they can be built up to be strong. As long as they are maintained right they will last for a life of the car.

VQ- very rarely does a 3.0L have all kinds of noise in the engine, thats not to say it won't happen. If you do not maintain it, it won't live 4 ever.

[92maximase]

yea...
i think i have a good news update.
the guy that had the compression gauge told me his was screwd up. i in a way did'nt belive him.

but he showed me.

he said it's possible it could be the coil...
what he did was removed that one put a spark plug on started her up.
it did'nt spark then he put it near the block...still nothing.
one he start to rev it...it was kind of a weak spark. (which probably explains why when she revved at higher rpms it smoothes out).

then he removed #2 coil and did the same. nothing but when he put near the block then it started sparking.

he thinks it the coil on #6 becuase it started arcing around the coil area...nowhere near the plug area.

but i'm leaning towards the transistor thingy and coil.

[92maximase]

i have a quick question:
how much does a 3rd gen se auto weights?
i looked at the metal card thingy, where it has the vin etc.etc.
and it said it weight over 4,000lbs?

i though thses cars weight at least 3200lbs?

[Mr Grey]

4,000 lbs is too much. I don't know the exact weight, but it doesn't go anything past 3400lbs. if that

[92maximase]

yea i thought so.
'cause i remember the vq weights 100lbs less than the ve.

and i know the ve is power sexy machine...but i don'ty think it could handle to haul about 4200lbs....

[Brian]

that's the maximum Gross Vehicle Weight
true weight is in the 3200lb area without driver

[92maximase]

okay tonight columbianmax/blootoof came to my job.
i did a couple things.
he took my car for a spin and said my car had balls 3k and up.
i noticed when he did floor her i seen some smoke (rich).

but he said it's gotta be the timing (valve timing) or the injector.
when he got his it ran twice as worst and he had some guy do the t/b and water pump.
and it was doing the same thing.
the guy told him it was normal.
come to find out it was his timing way off.

i took the plug out from #6 ("bad" cylinder) and was able to look into the hole.
which looked to have carbon build up....

so tommarrow seafoam!!!

oh and i got a code 35??

i belive i read it right.
the long flashes indicates the 10 digits while the quick flashes indicate the single digits.

[Brian]

sounds like a dead knock sensor. 3k is roughly when the KS gets ignored by the ECU on a VE.
A bad KS is pretty common, you can test it by bypassing it temporarily with a 470k resistor.
carbon build up is probably a byproduct of the cylinder not working right

[92maximase]

thanks for helping me out on this.

i checked for codes and ended up with a code 35 (the long flashes indicates the 10 digits while the quick flashes indicate the single digits).

egr temp sensor?
i tried looking for it but did'nt see one.
so now i'm thinking they also replaced the ecu with a different type.

the seafoam somewhat helped.
the idle is a bit smoother...still misses.
but it seemed to lessend.

[ColombianMax]

my bet is on injector or knock sensor and possibly a slight timing retardation. but I'm no ****in mechanic so I'll just keep thinking that

[Brian]

knowing these cars, it's probably both.
didyou move the coil on the bad cylinder to a different one to see if the miss moves with it?

[92maximase]

yea i did today.
and it seem to somewhat helped.
hey bloo, remember when we seen all of that build up on #6?
well it (seafoam) seemed to clean out some of it.

so i seafoam it somemore.
and i removed the 1st resonator.

took her on the highway she only missfires under 1500rpms.
before she whould do it @2000rpms or lower.
she still misses.
not as hard either.

she still a little slow on take off's now.
does'nt feel like she's choking when i floor her.
just...takes off slow then kicks in like a bat outta hell!lol!
and her rev's (1500rpms and up) they're smoother.

oh and brian according to bloo it was'nt a hiss sound. more like a tick...which seemed to move when i moved the coil?!

i still can't find the egr temp sensor...for the life of me why whould they have something like that!

so tomarrow i'll advanced the timing tomarrow.
and check that piston out.

[Brian]

if it was a tick and it moved with the coil, then I'd be suspicious of the coil being cracked

[92maximase]

yea i'm gonna check it out tomarrow.

there's another guy i know who's a maxima expert, he claims the rings are fine.
he said if they were worn she'll be burning oil.

so he saying what you guys are saying.

also my model does'nt come with a egr temp sensor, so a wrong ecm to be suspected too.

[DasTeknoViking]

EGR temp sensor comes on Cali Spec cars.

Find a new mechanic who knows something bout cars, not thrown ideas at the car. This car would be fixed and runing fine if someone with some common sense looked at it.

Not disrespecting here or anything, but I see this sh!t day in and day out at work also.... pisses me off that these "so called mechanics" with years of experience can't fix a friggn ham sandwich to save their life.

[Brian]

typical phantom code crapola.

[ColombianMax]

EGR temp sensor comes on Cali Spec cars.

Find a new mechanic who knows something bout cars, not thrown ideas at the car. This car would be fixed and runing fine if someone with some common sense looked at it.

Not disrespecting here or anything, but I see this sh!t day in and day out at work also.... pisses me off that these "so called mechanics" with years of experience can't fix a friggn ham sandwich to save their life.

What do you think the problem is Mike? I know you havent seen the car or anything but based on what you've read so far. I know you know your **** and you can help this guy somehow. He's my lil buddy.

[DasTeknoViking]

I didn't read this whole thread here, but from what I remember I said- COIL PACKS. VEs go through them, and I would move them from one cylinder to another to make sure it IS the coil pack. I said this before if you go through the thread and skimp through it..... if not then ohm out the injectors on a WARM engine. These injectors tend to show their age more when the car is hot.

[ColombianMax]

I didn't read this whole thread here, but from what I remember I said- COIL PACKS. VEs go through them, and I would move them from one cylinder to another to make sure it IS the coil pack. I said this before if you go through the thread and skimp through it..... if not then ohm out the injectors on a WARM engine. These injectors tend to show their age more when the car is hot.

Thank you sir, I learned something from your post. For the warm injectors... its best as soon as you turn off the car after its been running and reached normal temperature?

[92maximase]

aww shucks.lol...thanks bloo!
i did the coil situation.
did'nt work.
the coils are fine.
in fact on that cylinder when you removed the injector harness the idle gets rougher.
but does'nt change for the coil.

it stays the same.

the miss now ranges from idle to 1500rpms...or so it feels.
the timing was pretty much advance already now i have it advance all the way.

[Brian]

so you swapped the coil to another cylinder but the problem stayed on the same cylinder as it originally was?
that would rule out the coil and point to it likely being the injector.

[92maximase]

okay...uh i'm sorry.
this is gonna sound stupid.
but why when i dissconnect the injector the idle gets rougher.
but when i put in back on it goes back to normal?
could it be becuase it sprays very little or something?

[ColombianMax]

okay...uh i'm sorry.
this is gonna sound stupid.
but why when i dissconnect the injector the idle gets rougher.
but when i put in back on it goes back to normal?
could it be becuase it sprays very little or something?

When you disconnect one injector you car will be using 5 total instead of 6 so it causes it to not be smooth. Once you plug the injector back, it starts functioning again therefore you have all 6 cylinders working. So if thats the cause....and all injectors when disconnected one by one cause a stumble or crappy idle that should rule out the injectors for the most part as well.

Assuming that is correct, that leaves you with the knock sensor to diagnose.

[92maximase]

okay...
where's the knock sensor.
i searched and i looked in the manual.

something weird happened today though.
my car accidently went into first gear and i was unawhare.
so i was turning and trying to make the light.
and i floored it expecting for her to shift she went all they way up to 7500rpms.
i let go of the gas put it into drive.
few seconds later i come up to a stop and she shuts off.
i figure okay normal.
this time though she did'nt start up i had to hold down on the gas.

and in the process it was knocking BAD.
but it did'nt fade in and out.
it came in and out rapidly.
and every so often when i step on the brake the pedal would feel hard...as if it loss vacuum.

but within a few minutes the noise went away, the pedal was fully normal.
the power was always there.

hey john you told me i should adjust my iac valve, again i looked in the manual...but see no screw

[walec05]

man, sounds like an internal engine probelm...just get rid of the junker.

[Mr Grey]

Should have bought my car :o

[walec05]

werd.........so hector, now your without a car???

[Mr Grey]

No sir....not exactly.

[92maximase]

yea i should've.
there's this thing called money, which i don't have.

it would've been nice to own a 5spd ve.
as for that noise it was the vtc's it's been so long since my car had that loud ass noise.

i don't think it's a internal problem.
because:
a dead cylinder don't gain any power 1500rpms and up; this one does.
when you dissconnect a injector the rpms should'nt go down or the idle/rpms gets rougher across the powerband.

thats what happens on this car.

oh and beside you guys helping me out, that cylinder is still firing.
it looks like it.
and feels like it.

[92maximase]

okay i checked the front injectors (could find the harness for the rears?)
but they measure 12.4 ohms.
should'nt they be lower??

oh and i back off the timing a bit, and for some reason the throttle response is better, and the idle is somewhat higher and smoother.

i found the idle screw and that thing is rusted out, so i might have to replace the whole iac unit or no?

t.i.a!

[Brian]

12.4 is totally within the ballpark (10-14) for resistance.
get your timing back to 17 degrees which is stock. and make everything back to stock specs. that way your baseline will be correct and good to go.

[ColombianMax]

12.4 is totally within the ballpark (10-14) for resistance.
get your timing back to 17 degrees which is stock. and make everything back to stock specs. that way your baseline will be correct and good to go.


17 is stock for VEs?

[Brian]

IIRC yes

[92maximase]

okay.

okay well that'll get done.

another thing i'm gonna have to do is get another ecu.
yall might not think that's not important but that service manual shows differences between the cali specs and regular models.

[92maximase]

i think i found one of the problems.
i scanned again and i found the coolant temp sensor.

i guess the corrision build back up.
but i cleaned it, now no bouncy idle.

[92maximase]

and this also just hit me!

if the injectors are fine and the coild that i switch is working, 'cept for #6...could'nt it be that the coil is not getting a signal to fire??

[walec05]

the first thing you should have checked is the wiring. you should have done a resistance check and a voltage check.....

[Brian]

and this also just hit me!

if the injectors are fine and the coild that i switch is working, 'cept for #6...could'nt it be that the coil is not getting a signal to fire??
very well could be.

[92maximase]

i did check the coils.
they were fine.
and brian stated for me to move the coils to see if the misfire follows.
and it did'nt.

so i'll see how that pans out tomarrow

[DasTeknoViking]

If the misfire doesn't follow than its a bad injector. I said this like 10 pages back, switch the coils around, see if the misfire moves with coil- if it stays on that one cylinder regardless of which coil you have.... You got a bad injector.

6 new injectors, couple new vacuum hoses, gaskets and the car will run normal again. Clean off all the grounds on the intake manifold while you are at it.

This thread could have ended like 10 pages ago if you actually followed some directions and not used a crystal ball to figure out WTF is going on with your car.

[92maximase]

well i was'nt leaning towards the injector 'cause:
when i removed the connector the idle whould get rough.
i check the ohms while the engine was hot 12ohms, btw.

i checked the coil the ghetto way.
i removed it while the car was running and put in another plug and was about 1/2 inch away from the exhaust manafold it started sparking.

the plug that was in #6 was black.

i have an injector i could install tomarrow before i leave for work.

[Brian]

if the plug was black then you have a problem, your injector may be dumping fuel.

[92maximase]

hmm...
well i also removed the valve cover to see if the cam lobes are straight.
man those suckers are clean.
and i did'nt know they had hyd. roller lifters!!!

gm came out with that on the 3100's in the late 90's!

but when i removed the plug the piston kinda looked wet.
no carbon build up! oil level was the same!

so the injector could be dumping too much fuel even though it clicks normally.

[Brian]

hmm...
well i also removed the valve cover to see if the cam lobes are straight.
man those suckers are clean.
and i did'nt know they had hyd. roller lifters!!!

gm came out with that on the 3100's in the late 90's!

GM started using them by 86 at the latest on the small block

but when i removed the plug the piston kinda looked wet.
no carbon build up! oil level was the same!

so the injector could be dumping too much fuel even though it clicks normally.
yes.

[92maximase]

i was'nt for sure on other engines they made ,but i knox for sure did'nt have em' on the 3.1 mpfi or sfi till 96.

well i just kicked myself in the ass today.
i had an injector which i thought was the "free" one.
but turns out i threw that one away!
and the one i kept was the screwed up one!

so either tomarrow or wednesday i'll get it.

[92maximase]

okay update...still was'nt able to get the injector seems like evryone and their momma wants 2 keep their ve!

but i did get a car fax from a good friend of mines...
and man not only i'm the 2nd owner.
and DAMN! they took care of her when they had her.
everytime they took her to mid city nissan/subaru.

everytime she went in for inspection and emissions she passed!
she had major service done june 16 06 @ 145k miles and feb 1 99
@ 79k miles on her.

i'm assuming the one in june was for the tranny.

so at least we know the owners were'nt lacking on maintinace(msp).

[Brian]

if you are looking for a used injector in the junkyard just look for a 4th gen. there are plenty of them in the yards and they use the same injector as the VE

[92maximase]

yea i went to the one on north ave...all vg's.
then went to summit there was 1 ve and vq (thats the engine name for 95-99?)

all the other's....vg's!

last time i went to summit they had a freaking hand full...now one?
and those injectors was gone.

[ColombianMax]

yea i went to the one on north ave...all vg's.
then went to summit there was 1 ve and vq (thats the engine name for 95-99?)

all the other's....vg's!

last time i went to summit they had a freaking hand full...now one?
and those injectors was gone.


If you need VE/VQ injectors you already know my buddy's got em ready to install in rail and all off a VQ

[92maximase]

yea i might have to get em'.
u said $60?

[ColombianMax]

yea i might have to get em'.
u said $60?

Nope, I PMed you the price a while ago. Its still the same price. And for the record thats his price, I'm not making anything off it.

Although if you dont lowball you can probably get a discount, he's gonna be with us at the JY

[92maximase]

i just seen it...yea i was way off!
hopefully i can get it by the end of this month!

[92maximase]

okay i got 2 injectos off a vq.
the ohms is like aorund 10.
put it in and it still misses.

the acceleration is better though.
now i need a maf sensor....

[Brian]

okay i got 2 injectos off a vq.
the ohms is like aorund 10.
put it in and it still misses.

the acceleration is better though.
now i need a maf sensor....
so when is you/john coming for it?

[ColombianMax]

so when is you/john coming for it?
we tried but you and your wife never picked up the phone so we already got it, thanks though

[92maximase]

yea i got it from 92gxeCG2 from the org.
dude i did'nt get home till about 330am this morning.lol.

but i put it on i could rev "normal" but would still shut off.

so i was looking for my visegrips and found the last ngk copperv plug i was looking for.

the old plug that was in there was fouled up bad and was wet with fuel,and she had a leaky fuel line so i tightend it up.

started her up.
still has the misfire at idle but man she has some BALLS!!! when you take off!

everytime you floored her...the power was there EACH AND EVERY TIME!
no missfire throughout the rpm range.

i still have to get the iac assembly i was able to turn the screw a little bit but stripped it a little, so i gave up.

[walec05]

man just sell that already.....more problems than what its worth

[92maximase]

i might right now she looks worth selling.
by income tax time and the money i get from the car i'll get another ve.
but i've replaced an engine before on a car 3/4 times worse condition.
then the trans mission goes out.

the tranny beens replaced/rebuilt on my max already.

all i need to do is raise the idle i know i could get probably another year or two driving the way i do.

[DasTeknoViking]

I got a perfectly fine runing 91 Max for sale thats uber reliable.

[Brian]

man just sell that already.....more problems than what its worth
he's still on the same basic problems.
but parts are now being thrown at it.

[92maximase]

Parts are'nt being thrown at it!
These parts were bad!

the injector that was bad, and the plug i had put in was the old one becuase i could fine one of the ngk plugs.

THAT took care of my mis at revs.
the maf sensor would make my ecm go loopy replaced that.
if any thing that damn carran better when i first got it.

and i'm not lossing any money over it..why?
because i got the fender/bumper cheap for doing a favor for someone.

[ColombianMax]

man just sell that already.....more problems than what its worth


Always so pesimistic...we're not talking about needing a new trans or anthing of that sort. Whatever is it he needs is most likely a DIY cheap part thats obvious and has been overlooked. One day when we've got time we'll go over thing by thing and find the culprit.

I still stand firm on the injector problem. He's got hesitation all the way to 3k rpms then VTEC kicks in... that sounds like bad KS or Injector.

[92maximase]

john i don't have that no more.

i replaced the bad plug.
now she just has lo-rpm miss.
man what you and kevin drove yesterday and what i drove this morning was nothing.

[92maximase]

okay finally got a bad knock sensor code.
went and got a 470 ohm resistor i did'nt put em in.

my ect was bad too. the new one rarely turns on the fans.

[MyGreenMax94]

Oh hi there..:)

[92maximase]

umm right back at ya?

[MyGreenMax94]

umm right back at ya?


Fix it yet?

[92maximase]

well i replaced the injector, did the knock sensor "mod", and set the timing...man her low end is pretty good for a missfire ve.
yes she still missfiring.

i need to adjust my tps and replace the iac assembly (which i have) and nope that won't stop the missfire