I have recently had the priviledge of working on the 2000 Nissan Maxima Se 3.0V6. This is a great car, with some common issues reported from other Nissan Maxima owners. One common problem is the intermittent rough idle and the SES light coming on. There are a lot of mechanics telling tall tales about the root cause of these problems, so I thought I would investigate it further.
The first thing we will look at is the SES trouble codes. If the SES light trouble codes show “Primary Ignition Failure”, this is generally pointing to the ignition coils. The code may designate a cylinder, or it may say “Multiple Ignition Failure.” Obviously, if you are lucky enough to get a code telling which cylinder it is, replace the ignition coil for that cylinder. Pay close attention to the location of the cylinder when ordering the part, as the front and rear cylinders have different ignition coils. They are easy to replace in the front. Simply remove the plastic engine cover using the appropriate hex head screwdriver and then remove the 10mm bolt holding the coil in place. Un-clip the plug from the coil and remove it. Pop the new plug in place and clip the wiring plug back in. Now put the 10mm screw back in, and tighten it down. Replace the cover and that’s it. Experienced mechanics can get this done in less than 10 minutes. If you are a novice, prepare for a half hour.
The rear cylinders are also easy, but will require a long extension. i would recommend 6-12 inches for the extension. Locate the 10mm bolt holding it in place and remove it. Unplug the wiring plug, and replace it. Bolt it back in and that’s finished. Be careful not to drop the bolt down in the engine though.
What if you get the multiple ignition failure code? Do you replace them all? You can, but the coils run about $70.00 each. Multiply that by 6 and you have a fairly expensive bill. If you have someone else do the work, you can expect to pay over $500.00 for the coil replacements. There is a very simple way to find the bad coils. Remove the engine cover from the front of the engine. Now remove all the 10mm bolts securing the ignition coils in place. Place the ignition coil bolts and the engine cover screws in a ziplock bag and put them in the glove box. Drive the car for a few days until it starts running rough again. leave the car running, and using a pair of channel locks or large plyers (preferably ones that are insulated), pull each coil out one at a time. If the engine DOES NOT change its idle when an ignition coil is removed, you know you have found the bad coil. Replace that coil. Leave them unsecured and drive it some more. Repeat the process until the car returns to normal. In my experience, I have never replaced more than 2 coils. This will end up saving hundred of dollars in diagnostic fees, parts and service.
Good luck, and stay TUNED!
The 2010 Nissan 370z is getting ready to hit the markets along with 2010 Nissan Maxima by the end of year 2010. It will be released as a replacement to the 350Z sports car, and the prime competitors to the 2010 370z will be BMW 1-series, Mitsubishi Evos and Audi TT.
According to the sources of Car and Driver, it is expected that the next generation Nissan 370Z will use wider and lighter platform. It will be powered by the new 3.7 liter V6 engine that can produce power levels of up to 330 hp and will be included with 7-speed dual clutch transmission from GT-R.
The 2010 Nissan 370z is expected to be debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which is going to be held few months later. The base trim of the vehicle will be mated to the 6-speed manual, while 7-speed automatic transmission will be offered at higher costs. The price of the base model will be around $29,930, while the coupe version will be priced a little higher around the $32k mark. The variant with 7-speed dual clutch transmission will cost around $31,230.
The touring package will be mated with the 6-speed manual and the cost of this will be around $34,460. The automatic version of the same model will cost around $35,760. The new features that are expected to be included in the Touring model are heather leather appointed power seats, universal transceiver, home Link, Bluetooth hands free phone system, aluminum pedals, 8-speaker Bose audio system, cargo cover and XM Satellite radio. The other paints like Chicane yellow and premium paint color will be offered optionally.
Nissan Maxima will also be coming your way along with the new 370Z; so keep an eye on both these amazing speedsters.
Once again, Nissan is putting into practice with its all new Sentra model something that has succeeded for them in the past: push the model up market. As it first did with the Maxima and later with the Altima, Nissan has now promoted the Sentra to make room for the pending introduction of the subcompact Versa. With the all new model, Sentra fans will find a better equipped, more polished model then any other car that has ever worn the Sentra nameplate. Intrigued? You should be: the car simply goes where no Sentra has gone before: up market.
Over the years, plenty of automakers have taken a popular selling model and elevated it one notch. Why? For a few reasons: to capitalize on demand for the model a more luxurious version typically carries more profits with it then the base model. Instead of losing customers to another model [or worse, another make] when they are ready to trade up, why not move up the model instead? Another reason: the introduction of a newer, but smaller model in the line up. For Nissan, the latter reason holds especially true as the subcompact Versa, a car built to compete against the likes of Scion enters the Nissan line up at about the same time.
The new Sentra is much more roomier than the previous model. In fact, it could be mistaken for a midsize car as it packs in an additional 10 cubic feet of interior space. Other surprises found with the 2007 Sentra include a center consoleshifter and dual folding high back rear seats to maximize carrying potential. Importantly, front and side impact air bags are now standard and a whole host of options not previously available with the model can now be had. These options include: smart key accessibility, Bluetooth wireless, a sound system to die for.
Best of all, fuel mileage is exceptionally good. Mating a 2.0L I4 to a six speed manny tranny yields EPA estimated fuel results of 29 city36 highway. These figures are likely to be at or near the top for any car in its category.
Yes, the Nissan Sentra is a pleasant surprise, one that the Nissan company hopes that you will notice. For people looking for a bargain basement model, the Sentra no longer qualifies. Instead, the tiny Versa takes over and it will deliver two things that Nissan knows you will love: exceptionally high gas mileage and an affordable price starting around 12,000. Look for well equipped Sentras to retail for around 18,000.
During the late 1990s, Nissan rolled out a new version of its Maxima to the critical acclaim of automobile experts as well as to consumers who snapped up the snazzy car in record numbers. Nissan carried the momentum forward until when the 2004 model was released; it was perceived by many as a step backward and sales dropped accordingly. Now, Nissan is poised to release a new Maxima and the company has the Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon in its crosshairs!
Make no mistake about it: when consumers are disappointed with a particular model they will look elsewhere; not even brand loyalty can keep consumers in the fold. Nissan found this out painfully in 2003 as the first Maximas were released as 2004 models. Sales dropped as potential buyers complained about the cheap looking interior as well as the uninspiring exterior.
Nissans loss was Chryslers and Toyotas gain as the full sized, rear wheel drive Chrysler 300 has performed very well and the all-new-for-2006 Toyota Avalon is evoking favorable comparisons with current Lexus models. Nissan, realizing that lost sales was lost income hurried the Maximas redesign and has pushed the new car up market. This means that the all new Maxima will probably more resemble a vehicle from Nissans luxury car division Infiniti than any Nissan has to date.
So, what are the major changes? They will include the following: a redesigned exterior that takes its styling cues from Infiniti; a much more luxurious and refined interior; and more optional equipment made standard.
Sure, you will pay more for the new Maxima, but in the end you are certain to drive away with a car that competes effectively with Chrysler and Toyota for sales in the all important large car segment. This is good news for Nissan and for you, the potential buyer.
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