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91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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boppolis
New User
Feb 10, 2016, 5:04 PM
Post #1 of 8
(1437 views)
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91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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So first and foremost, hiii!
So i joined this forum to troubleshoot my 91 max. its the 4dsc model.
the car will randomly shut down with no real warning. No bucking, no sputtering, just pfft dead. if i am driving and it does this, i can sometimes save her by either stomping or tapping the gas. regardless of whether i bring her back or not, she WILL shut down eventually.
She seems to just shut down whenever. i can be accelerating, slowing down, shifting into drive, or even sitting still in park. its the damndest thing, but i wont give up on my baby, it was my grandmas car and i bought it from her a month before she passed unexpectedly.
I have done some basic troubleshooting as follows:
I have ran with the MAF unplugged, and plugged in, same thing happens regardless.
I have Removed the IACV and cleaned the thing thouroughly, it was fairly dirty, but no real difference except i was able to get her to idle smoother.
I have replaced the ignition control module, no difference
I have checked the knock sensor, it had came unplugged and been unplugged for a while. repaired connector, reattached, made a difference for a day, then came unplugged again (my fault) and started acting up again. limped home, it would act strange at 2k+ rpms and then straightened out and smooth sailing, til i pulled in the drive and she started acting funny again. at this point, she threw a MAF code and a Knock Sensor code. Properly fixed the knock sensor connector this time, both codes went away, still shuts down randomly as before.
Checked o2 sensor by unplugging, still randomly shuts down with or without.
removed the only ground i could find (passenger side engine bay near headlight) cleaned, reconnected, no difference.
Tested fuel pressure. Starts at 30, when running wiggles at 39-40 mark, when she shuts down drops back to 30 and holds. changed fuel filter as well.
Cleaned MAF with cleaner, no difference.
Have wiggled and jiggled all connections and harnesses, as well as ran with battery dc'ed, no difference.
Someone please give me some guidance on the tests and checks that i should perform. im pretty mechanically inclined, so no ideas will be too extreme! just help me resurrect my baby i hate driving my camaro all over hell and back!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 10, 2016, 5:16 PM
Post #2 of 8
(1431 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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Does it immediately restart after it dies?
Have you checked the computer for codes?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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boppolis
New User
Feb 10, 2016, 5:37 PM
Post #3 of 8
(1426 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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it will normally restart right after it dies, sometimes hard to restart but not normally ( maybe 5% of the time she wants to be a cow, the other it will start right up) problem is the shutting down is fairly regular, making it a nightmare to drive. and as in my post, it HAD thrown a knock sensor and MAF code when the knock sensor wasnt connected properly, but once that problem was corrected both codes went away
i should mention that the very first time this happened, it was a definite pain in the ass to restart. but it hasnt acted as bad as that first time since. thats the day i replaced the fuel filter.
(This post was edited by boppolis on Feb 10, 2016, 5:39 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 10, 2016, 5:40 PM
Post #4 of 8
(1419 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.
Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.
These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.
1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.
2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.
3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.
Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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boppolis
New User
Feb 10, 2016, 5:59 PM
Post #5 of 8
(1413 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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its cranking fine, it will run for a little while and die, seems at random, with no warning. fuel pressure holds at thirty, rises to 39 ish when running, then when it dies drops down to 30 again in about 5 seconds. im sure its getting fire while its running, disconnecting any plug causes a very rough idle, as well as having a charmingly smooth idle. when it dies its almost like someone has switched off the key (the old tap on the ignition switch method yeilded no results, so im im pretty sure the switch is ok)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 10, 2016, 6:03 PM
Post #6 of 8
(1410 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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If you actually read what I posted, you have to test it when it ISN"T starting.
The fuel pressure spec on this is 36 to 43 so there is one issue already.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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boppolis
New User
Feb 10, 2016, 8:15 PM
Post #7 of 8
(1399 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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if you "actually read" what i wrote, you would see that she's never NOT starting. thats the second time youve missed facts that are pretty clearly surmised from my statements (earlier when you asked if its throwing codes), check yourself before getting cocky. i came here for help to be pointed in a specific direction, im ALREADY in the process of the hit or miss check everything method which youve told me to do, but being a full time student/manager my time is limited. i did not come here to deal with a know it all. being a moderator one would think you would set an example of this community as a whole. i dont like the example youve set. after i report you i will be promptly removing myself from this forum alltogether.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 11, 2016, 2:57 AM
Post #8 of 8
(1388 views)
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Re: 91 Maxima Randomly dies with no warning
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OK, I guess you can get your free help elsewhere then.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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