*NOOBIES* - The "I AM NEW HERE BUT HAVE A QUESTION" thread

[maxionchrome]

I own a 2000 maxima with the vq30 3.0l 5spd manual. i have restored the entire car to perfection but the engine/transmission has 190000kms and isnt fun to drive anymore. I am a mechanic and am capable of doing this swap but would like to have some advice / step by step guidance from someone who has done this before.

Basically i want to put the newest and best engine I can, in this car. So i figure go with the 3.5l 6spd

[maxionchrome]

from what i have heard the stock downpipe or ypipe on the vq30 engines are very restricting. when i put my header back exhaust i noticed a nice increase in hp

[maxionchrome]

I have a 2000 maxima with the vq30 3.0l with 5spd manual.
I want to swap a 3.5l with the 6spd manual. can somone reffer me to a swap guide

[VQP0WER]

Originally Posted by phillymd00

That's exactly what it does... Shizzle. I'm about to get hosed by the stealership. Any suggestions?

It's a pretty involved job. Are you mechanically inclined and have tools?

[maxionchrome]

Originally Posted by VQP0WER

It's a pretty involved job. Are you mechanically inclined and have tools?

yes im a mechanic by trade. i work on hd trucks right now. but i worked on cars my whole life. i have a full tool box down to an ob2 scanner. air tools everything. I would just like an opinion/ideas. basically i want to know what engine i should swap in. I want to have the baddest 00' maxi in town. i could get a brand new 03' vq35 off ebay for 1300

[squiggy2469]

2000 I30 190,000 miles. I noticed some grease inside wheel well and took off wheel, grease was everywhere. I figured torn boot but checked all around and no tears anywhere. Most of it is on outside of lower strut mount and can't figure out where it is coming from...any suggestions? (it's definitely grease, not oil)

[maxionchrome]

Originally Posted by squiggy2469

2000 I30 190,000 miles. I noticed some grease inside wheel well and took off wheel, grease was everywhere. I figured torn boot but checked all around and no tears anywhere. Most of it is on outside of lower strut mount and can't figure out where it is coming from...any suggestions? (it's definitely grease, not oil)

The only thing that contains grease in that area that would do that is the grease from your cv boot. it may not appear ripped but there is a metal clamp around the boot to seal in the grease. i would check that. if it is missing get a new one for 5 bux and fill er back with grease. I have blown many axles and every time i get a mess in my wheel well.

[VQP0WER]

Originally Posted by maxionchrome

yes im a mechanic by trade. i work on hd trucks right now. but i worked on cars my whole life. i have a full tool box down to an ob2 scanner. air tools everything. I would just like an opinion/ideas. basically i want to know what engine i should swap in. I want to have the baddest 00' maxi in town. i could get a brand new 03' vq35 off ebay for 1300

I was replying to the other poster about his timing chain replacement. I would check in the All Motor section about full swaps.

[squiggy2469]

Originally Posted by maxionchrome

The only thing that contains grease in that area that would do that is the grease from your cv boot. it may not appear ripped but there is a metal clamp around the boot to seal in the grease. i would check that. if it is missing get a new one for 5 bux and fill er back with grease. I have blown many axles and every time i get a mess in my wheel well.

I swear I checked both ends of the boot but I'll check again, thanks Maxion for the quick reply!

[phillymd00]

Originally Posted by VQP0WER

It's a pretty involved job. Are you mechanically inclined and have tools?

Ha! I can change my own oil. Replace a Battery. That's about it. No Tools either. How much is this gonna run me? Ballpark figure?

[nystateofmind308]

Got a few questions about HIDs. I just bought a 2k maxima and I wanna get HIDs on the car. I've been researching for some time now and I've read all kinds of tutorials and whatnot, but I've come the conclusion that its not as simple as it seems. I see people talking about 4300k and 5000k, and 35w ballasts, but still can't really grasp the idea. I read somewhere that 2k maximas use h4 hid kits but not too sure about what wattage i need or if i should get a PnP or relay harness. Maybe someone who has done the conversion can help me out? I would also like to know about the foglight portion of HIDs. Any help is appretiated. Thanks

[axima24]

Originally Posted by phenryiv1

Credit to SEmy2K2go & phenryiv1:

This thread is for the new members so that they are able to post a question. It can be ANYTHING that is 5th generation related. If we think it is important, we will either answer or make it into its own thread. If not, we will delete it.

This is only for LEGIT 5th Gen questions that may be specific to one user.

This is for noobs only and will be open only as long as we feel like maintaining it. SPAM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

This idea was brought to my attention by phenryiv1 in the I30(35) section

ALL MEMBER RESPONSES MUST BA A QUOTE OF THE ORIGINAL QUESTION! New questions, obviously, need not have any quotes.

____________________________________________


5th gen FAQs (READ ME! PLEASE! READ ME!):
2k Max Se Headlights Conversion To 2k1 Ae Headlights

Modification and other HOW-Tos (tells you how to do common things done to 5th Gens):
Car died...........????

ECU Fault codes or Check Engine light diagnostics (5th Gen):
FS: 99 SE 5-Speed Sterling Mist


THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SEARCH!!!
How do I search? How to inspect Swaybar endlinks ?

Even if you are new and have no search privileges, you can read the Stickies (which we are working on to update), use the Google search method, or scan through the forum pages using the Find function on the browser (what I did when I first joined), or any other methods of research you may prefer, prior to just blurting out a question that has probably been asked before.

Please refrain from postwhoring in this thread. Since this thread is meant to help those who still cannot start their own threads, postwhoring just to reach 15 posts is inexcusable.

is there anyway i can get walkthroughs for a 5th gen

[axima24]

check your powersteering hose. i had the same experice

[VQP0WER]

Originally Posted by phillymd00

Ha! I can change my own oil. Replace a Battery. That's about it. No Tools either. How much is this gonna run me? Ballpark figure?

I would say close to $1k, but I've never had it done before. After reading the ESM, there is alot to remove. Maybe someone who has gotten one replaced can chime in.

[9999]

Originally Posted by VQP0WER

If you are getting power to the amp, then either your control wire is not connected properly, or you have not turned on the sub output in your HU.

Turning on/off the sub output on my HU doesnt do anything for some reason. It actually shows the subs being turned on when the stereo is restarted, not that it makes a difference since theyre not coming on...

[benm_130]

Originally Posted by benm_130

Ok, here's an update. Thursday I went to try to start the car again and when I opened the door, there were several clicks and then nothing. So I put the key in the ignition and the battery was completely dead. I took it off and charged it for 24 hrs., cleaned off all the contact surfaces on the leads and terminal posts and tried again. SAME THING. All the dash lights and interior lights come on, but the ignition system only clicks repeatedly when I turn the key to start. I go back out the next day and the car had drained the battery again. I'm starting to think the car is somehow locked in a 'run' state where the electrical system has never turned off. That would explain why it won't let the starter engage. The car thinks that it is still running somehow. Anyone think this is anything other than crazy talk?

Thanks.

Well, it was the battery. $100 at AutoZone and the max is purring like a kitten. Thanks to all you guys for your help.

[VQP0WER]

Originally Posted by 9999

Turning on/off the sub output on my HU doesnt do anything for some reason. It actually shows the subs being turned on when the stereo is restarted, not that it makes a difference since theyre not coming on...

Ok.

Does the amp turn on when you turn the radio on? If not, the either the amp is dead OR you don't have the signal wire hooked up properly.

If the amp does turn on, but no sound from sub, your signal wires are not connected properly, or your sub/amp is dead....

Pretty easy stuff to diagnose.

[9999]

Originally Posted by VQP0WER

Ok.

Does the amp turn on when you turn the radio on? If not, the either the amp is dead OR you don't have the signal wire hooked up properly.

If the amp does turn on, but no sound from sub, your signal wires are not connected properly, or your sub/amp is dead....

Pretty easy stuff to diagnose.

Yeah the amp turns on along with the radio. The amp has been hooked up to the subs since it was in my old car, and it hasnt been messed with since I took it out of my old car and into my new one, so theres really no reason my subs or amp would just die on me, especially considering the amp is almost brand new and it was all working fine before.

[VQP0WER]

Originally Posted by 9999

Yeah the amp turns on along with the radio. The amp has been hooked up to the subs since it was in my old car, and it hasnt been messed with since I took it out of my old car and into my new one, so theres really no reason my subs or amp would just die on me, especially considering the amp is almost brand new and it was all working fine before.

Do you have your RCA plugs installed into the right jacks in the back of the HU? Make sure they are plugged into the "preamp output".

[ssantos]

Does anyone know how to permanently turn off or disable the "airbag check" light on the instrument panel of a 2001. Both my airbags blew up on a minor frontal collision and I didn't replace them; instead I got just the covers; everything looks ok, but the light on the instrument panel is allways on.

I don't plan on replacing the airbags again; tried so far to deactivate the light by pulling out the fuses for the airbag module and doesn't work. Any suggestions?

[Tee00Max]

ss santos..go to 5th gen how-to's and their is a how to on the Airbag reset..follow those instructions and you should be good.....

[schlmeil]

Ok, I'm not a big poster, mostly a reader. I'm looking into new suspension, my stock setup is worn out. I read through a ton of posts and I don't think I saw anyone running Tokico Blues with H&R springs. Why not?

The Blues with H&R is the setup that looks good to me (don't want to pay for the Illuminas just to get adjustability, my Max is my daily driver) because I want to keep a close to stock ride with slight increase in handling (don't want the fiance bitching about bumps, still want to take offramps fast when alone). I was considering GR2s with H&R springs, but I was told by TireRack / local auto parts store that KYB GR2's cannot run with H&R springs because the GR2s can't handle the lowering. Anyone else hear that?

Thanks for the input.

[richierich]

Hey fellow owners! I've been online for a while and browse through to help fix my little issues here and there. I searched this thread and many others to try to figure out 2 things but had no luck. Can anyone help me on the following?

My car is a 2000 SE:
1. The seat belt light comes on periodically and flashes continuously, even with the belt on. It does not happen every time I start the car.

2. For some reason, while going from LA to Vegas or LA to San Fran, when going up the mountain, I think the torque convertor unlocks and leaves the car out of overdrive. This happens probably around 2000 feet in elevation. It stays in 4th, so around 80mph and 4k rpm, killing my mpg. It doesn't go back to overdrive unless I come closer to sea level and shut the car off and wait a few minutes before driving off. DOes anyone have any idea what the heck is going on? I took it to the dealer and had the transmission flush and the dealer didn't know jack.....


I appreciate your help!

[richierich]

I forgot to mention that the owners manual states that the blinking light has something to do with the seat belt tensioner. But I have no idea why it would be turning on and off intermittently.

While I still have it at top of mind....a few more questions.
1. My e-brake gets stuck at the right rear wheel. Is this common? Car was in Michigan snow and salt for 6 years....boo. I have to crawl under car and use a metal pipe or something to free the spring/brake line area. For some reason when I brake and get the pedal past a certain point, I also hear a slight popping noise or something like that. Any thoughts?

2. Is it difficult to replace the hood cable? Has anyone done it and have pics to show me how to do it?

3. The headlights are getting dim since they are getting translucent on the inside. It seems like they just need to be polished. Has anyone cleaned the inside of the headlights and do they have pics or anything to tell me how to do it?

4. When the A/C is on, the fans behind the radiator kick on. However, they are somewhat noisy and vibrate slightly. Is that normal? The car was in a front end accident years ago. I believe these are OE replacement parts.

Thanks so much in advance!!!

[GigEmAgs07]

so last week i got a SES light and the code was p0155 or something like that... had to do with an o2 sensor. After driving up to dallas this past weekend, the light went off and has not come back on since. is this common? or is the o2 sensor still screwed?

[evalyn]

Think I'm gonna get tint this weekend. Suggestions on what looks good on a silver 01 SE?

[richierich]

I would say go with the 35% tint all around (except for the windshield). This is the same darkness as the SUV factory tint. It's dark enough at night but not too dark.

[schlmeil]

Originally Posted by richierich

I would say go with the 35% tint all around (except for the windshield). This is the same darkness as the SUV factory tint. It's dark enough at night but not too dark.

I have 35% on the side windows, slightly darker on the rear windshield to block out more headlights at night.