dragon-dude

I have a 99 max se with over 120K on it, and have replaced number two ignition coil(right - aka firewall side).

Recently, I need to replace number 1 and am afraid the rest needs change also. Why cant these coils just perform forever!?
80-100 bucks a pop.


The symptoms are hesitation upon hard acceleration just over 3.5-4K RPM. Sometimes the 'check engine' light comes on, but goes off after a few seconds because there are no engine misses anymore.

All 6 cylinder's compression is per spec.

BlueC

iTrader: (5)

Yup, I changed one a month ago, now ive been getting a slight hesitation in 3rd gear around 3100rpm....

But Ive had good luck with getting used ones, last replacement costed me like $30 or so.

99 coils blow, thats just how it is, make sure you test each one to see which ones are working and which ones arent, and replace them with 95-98 coils, dont use 99s again.

Happy to see another maxima owner from the Twin Cities...

Chickan

iTrader: (12)

I didn't vote b/c I've only had my max ~10K miles, but I have yet to have to replace any of them. On my last car, 1990 300ZX, which uses a similar ignition system, I had to replace 2 of them, seems they just wear out

Pearl99GXE

Mine has 163,000 miles and I had to change two. But I also changed the third on the back row just for piece of mind.

Brudaddy

iTrader: (2)

I have not had to change mine yet, but I think I will soon.
I had that same kind of hesitation at the same rpms that you are having.
I didn't think it would work, but I changed my fuel filter and started using Premium gas, and after about 3 tanks, the hesitation went away.
I don't know how to explaine it, but you might want to give it a try.

BlueC

iTrader: (5)

Yea fuel filter might be my problem too, i dont know, ill wait it out and see how bad it gets.

Megaman

Yeah, I'm in the Twin Cities too. Unfortunately, I don't own a Max yet so I can't reply. However, I am looking hard for a 5 speed to replace my old car. I've already test-drove a total of FOUR maxima's and every single one drives different. Two autos and two 5sp. I find it amazing how one can be really fast while the next one is stupidly slow, regardless of what tranny is used. Anyway, I love how these cars drive and plan to buy one any day now.

ScarfaceTHX

No.

Pretty glad I bought a '97 after reading 10,000 OH NO3S MY C0ILS r FUX043D threads.

dragon-dude

Thanks BlueC.

Is the red max yours? Thats nice! I got a green one. Perhaps we'll pass each other in the twin cities one day.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep some probes out for cheap and used 95-98 coils.

I bought my one replacement coil at bumper-to-bumper on 2565 Kasota Ave St Paul, MN for $100. Dunno if they spec it specifically for '99 max or not, but it definitely made the difference! Only 3 month warranty :-(

Thanks everyone for playing with the polls, I know now I'm not alone. :-) (I have not heard of others complaints about the coils until now ;-)

-Dan

BOSS

Well I don't mean to brag or anything, but I have a 99 SE-L and I am one of the leaders here - that is, I'll be going through a 3rd coil soon within a 1.5 year period.

Sucks to be me

Mikesburn

I have 95 GXE. And I already changed one and the other one is almost due.

We need to let nissan know so they do the recall.

izzydig

heh...replaced all six coils in the past 6 months. After the first 3, I purchased the last 3 from a junkyard. The first two were from a dealer, and the last 4 were from a junkyard.

You know the worst thing about all this? When some mustang car passes you when you're in your "new rumbling" V-5 (after a cylinder won't fire at all anymore).

-95 w/ 237K...gonna prolly swap the tranny and motor this summer...maybe not.

dragon-dude

Man!

Maybe I should go design a coil that's better! :-)
Or... convert a coil from a different car manufacturer.

These maxima engines are nice! Especially gen4 onwards, cause they're lighter. But this coil thing has got to go.

-Dan

Dave B

For the most part, it's pretty rare that people have to replace coils on their 4th+ gens. My 96 has 106K miles and the car is 8 years old now and I recently had to replace a coil (#2) with a friend's spare used coil. The hestitation from 2600-2900rpms disappeared. I tested all my coils with a volt/ohm meter and coil #2 was ever so slightly out of spec compared to the others.

There is definitely a problem with the 99 coil packs, but if you own an earlier 4th gen, it should be expected that these things will fail over time. The 4th gen is getting old therefore things will wear out. Coil pack failures are common among all brands. VW, GM, Toyota, Ford, etc have all had episodes of bad coil packs in certain models. A coil pack is under extreme voltage and heat. Cars with spark plug wires and coils have to replace those items ~60K miles so it's pretty stupid for us to assume that a coil pack will last any more than 60K mile or 5 years. Coil packs are expensive, but you can get them from internet Nissan dealers for ~$55, not $80-90. I plan on replacing all my coil packs within the year.


Dave

MDeezy

iTrader: (27)

Man all this talk about them going bad, I should check mine just to make sure there giving the reading they should.

I have a '96 102,xxx and havent changed one yet, I bought it at 98,xxx dont know if the previous owner changed them but I havent had to so far, changed my spakrs couple weeks ago, no hesitation or nothing.

*knocking on wood, like a mad man*

maximomo

iTrader: (2)

You might want to run some GOOD injection cleaner through the system before you pop another $100 coil in there. Also, check the 2 ground lugs connected to the intake manifold. Those get corroded and screw with your coils and injectors and make it look like you have a bad part when it's just a bad ground!

nick778

There are 2 types of coils listed in the Nisssan Parts CD for the '99. One is Hansen and the other is Mitsubishi. The later is a few dollars more expensive. Which is the preferred replacement?

maximomo

iTrader: (2)

Which is in your max now? I'd replace with the same brand that is in there now.

dragon-dude

Just want to thank everyone for thier inputs and suggestions.

Thanks for the info, Dave. You are correct, I shouldn't assume that the coils would last forever, but I wonder if other makers are having the same problem or not?
I have a max '99 with about 120K on it. :-)
Looooong distance travler...

Maximoto, I'll double check the grounds. I've run a few feul injector cleaners (5-7 buck ones from walmart :-) over the last year, it helps but slight hesitation reoccurs after the next fuel up w/o the fuel injector cleaner.

Recently I've been using standard 87 octane, but I do notice that the hesitation happens even with 92 octane.

Again I'll look for the 95-98 replacement coils around the web. Any initial suggestions on where to order online?

nick778

What I'm trying to do is *not* replace them with the same as what's in there are the ones that everyone is having problems with. I'll take a look. Both brand coils will work but the Mitsubitshi coils have the more current part number so I'm assuming these are the better replacement coils. I'm also assuming the Hansen are the ones that came with the car but will double check. This '99 Max Se used to be my car but sold it to a friend and I maintain it for him. My current Max is a 2k3 SE.

Brudaddy

iTrader: (2)

No!
Do not replace the coils with the Hanshin ones.
Replace with the Mitsibushi ones.
There was a problems with the Hanshin ones, and I don't know that it was every totally fixed. That is why ours have all been failing.

maxburst

Use Mitsubishi coils !!!!
If you don't, better enjoy driving a 4-banger !!

dual

I had all mine replaced at 80k...I have a 99 SE.

The dealer messed up a service call very badly and when I saw the bad coil I flipped out. They replaced all 6 for free under the super secret RTF procedure.

I really have a hard time believing that a piece of rubber and some electrical contacts should go bad that soon.

99SEL4ME

I bought my 99 SE with 98k on it. The CEL light was on and had my friend John a Master Nissan Tech check the code. It was two of the coils and he suggested I replace them all because he said most of the time people just replace the one that's bad and an oil change later, another one goes bad. So I replaced them to be done with it. Just my .02.

vortechpower

iTrader: (1)

I have not thrown any codes for coils. I have been having some serious hesitation problems, when in first gear it bucks/jerks and when coasting in gear and excelerating my max feels sluggish. I have a 99 with 118k. I have never replaced any coil packs. Anyone ever get these symptoms? I didn't get hesitation under exceleration though. Only code I get is left bank running lean because at idle it drops to around 500 rpm's and bounces up and down then goes back to normal and so on..

nearthisbridge

iTrader: (19)

I had #1 go out at 90k, at 95k another went out so I just replaced the remaining 5.

crazy97

iTrader: (1)

Mine jerks in the first couple of gears. I'm trying out Chevron injection cleaner and have already swapped a coil in the back and front around and still no change in jerkiness and hesitation at rpms below 2000. Ks is new also. No codes ever either.

Armelius

I have the mitsubishi coils and haven't replaced them for over 100,000 miles. Don't know if they were replaced before but my car has 253,000 miles on it. I did notice one coil is stiffening up perhaps it will break next time I change the plugs. Maybe I will buy some when I get a chance because they might go.

ghdtpdna

btw
do i have to change the brake if
it makes the "sound" or wait till
it gets really horrible

Armelius

as soon as it makes the sound, if you wait too much longer you could damage your rotors and you will really hear it.

Mmmaxx

I replaced all 6 of my ignition coils at about 38,000 miles or so..it was a major fluke I guess. 3 of them were toast and the remaining 3 weren't far behind so I bit the bullet.

tweeter007

I replaced all 6 coils a year ago with the mitsus. Probably didn't have to do all six but I didn't want to mess around, kinda like only replacing one strut, you might as well do all of em!

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

I replaced all 6 several months ago per the advice of fellow org members. My car ran like crap right after I added the supercharger. N/A, my car ran great. Testing the bad coils vs the new coils yielded very inconclusive results. So, just because your coils "test" ok, doesn't mean they are.

BTW, I only paid $60 new for each of them. Contact Dave Petro and Garrands Nissan if you're interested. You'll get free shipping too when you spend more than $50 and mention you're an org member.

Northern Maxima

I haven't replaced mine yet...I've only got 60,000 miles so hopefully I'll be okay for a while still.

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

Lucky Bastard..... I wish I had 60,000 miles on the ODO.... lol

Northern Maxima

And I wouldn't mind a Lakeshore Blue 5 Speed! When I bought it I drove 1000 miles to bring it home cause I specifically wanted a low mileage car that would last me a long time.

jgrafe

I had hesitation and misfire symptoms. The code indicated a cylinder #1 misfire. I replaced the spark plugs with the NGK platinum plugs ($10 each) that are recommended for this car. I also ran some injector cleaner. I replaced the air filter. Had replaced the fuel filter last year. Car runs much better. The car has more horse power. However, I still notice a slight hesitation or misfire, but no codes. What do I check?

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

^^^ If you have a buddy with a Maxima, I suggest you swap coil packs and see if your problem goes away. It's free and easy to do.

s0nic2x

Does ignition coils also mean that the engine has trouble trying to start? I have a '97 Maxima SE with 108,xxx miles on it. When it's cold, the car turns over for about 3 seconds and doesn't start, but then when i stop it and start it again, it starts right up. Does this have anything to do with the coils or am I way off? Since everyone seems to be having this problem, maybe mine does too.

DaEnigma

I have 47k on my max and no trouble with the coils yet... But I am having a bit of trouble with cold start. The idle feels like it is stumbling until it warms up and the RPM at start and hit ~1.5k then drops down to ~1k. If I try to drive around when it is still cold I will get some hesitation then the car bogs and finally takes off... But like I said as soon as the car is warm no more stumbling and the only thing I notice is that under hard acceleration I can sometimes get that unburned nasty egg smell so my coil packs may be having trouble now


My brother also purchased a 99 SE-L and had two coils go bad in the first 5k covered under warranty.