icewake

iTrader: (1)

The past few nights the temps has been dropping very low for where I live and I keep having an idle problem. The issue only occurs below approximately 25 degress. When I start my car it will start jumping however the rpm's stay the same. This issue occurs in P, R, D. After the car has warmed up the issue goes away and the issue also does not happen above 25 deg. I changed the coils this time last year so that aspect of it should be eliminated. After some research I have boiled it down to IACV or the MAF. I have had no codes. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

For one, what year are you?

What do you mean by 'jumping'? Feels like it's misfiring? It doesn't happen in neutral, but it happens in park?

Any codes?

icewake

iTrader: (1)

2000, feels like misfire, no codes. Another note, when the idle issue happens the headlights dim

Blitzfist

iTrader: (2)

correct me if im wrong but the way im understanding it is that the car is idleing faster in the cold? if so then thats normal because the computer advances the timing so they engine can warm up quicker

jasonmax

iTrader: (2)

by jumping you mean the rpm goes up and down?
or just higher idle?
my car starts fine even when it's -8F

icewake

iTrader: (1)

the car idles fast when it is above 25 degress which i knew was correct. below 25 the idle is all over the place, it is a steady bounce in idle. however, the rpm gauge is reading constant

jasonmax

iTrader: (2)

idle high when cold is normal, the engine might be rough when cold cuz it's burning rich.
my idle stays at 1200-1300rpm no matter how cold it is.

icewake

iTrader: (1)

it is a really rough idle, my guess would be 700-800 rpms

jasonmax

iTrader: (2)

a sound clip would be nice.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

no offense but this post is kind of hard to follow. make a video and put it on youtube and attach the link.

the jumpy idle sounds like a misfire, if i were you i would take it to auto zone or an equivalent and see if there any pending codes being stored on your ecu

icewake

iTrader: (1)

i understand it is a little hard to follow. lets take the plysical rpm gauge not showing the rpm jumping out of the equation and say the car is jumping between 700 and 1400 rpm when it is engine cold and the car is sitting still in either the park or drive positions.

i will try my best to get a sound clip/video tomorrow morning

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

a jump that big wouldnt be a misfire, that would make me lean towards IACV

what year is your max? it concerns me that your tach doesnt show a 700 rpm change, does it not work at all or just when this is happening?

icewake

iTrader: (1)

the tach works, let me check in the morning to verify if the tach itself is physically jumping

BLUEMAX01SE

Icewake, I have a similar problem sometimes, when it is really really cold say 20 or colder. I have an 01 AE and it starts and fires up right away and gets up to about 1200 - 1300 RPM when first started and sometimes when it has been warming up for minute or two as the RPM's tend to come down, it kind of jumps as it is passing thru 1000 RPM range. It only does the jump for a few seconds to maybe 20-30 seconds the most. I was just assuming it was the engine trying to keep itself at a steady idle to warm up and searching for an RPM range. Who knows though as my Max idles at about 850-950 in P or N and around 750-900 in drive. Maybe I have an IACV problem too but I have only noticed this situation in colder weather 20 degrees F or colder. I have also changed plugs less than a month ago and no codes for misfire and no SES light either. Seems to run fine when warm though, although I think it's time for a new exhaust as I am getting some exhaust drone (sounds like a small hole in muffler/exhaust).

icewake

iTrader: (1)

here is the link to the video, you can see the car physically jumping by the motion of the camera and if you listen carefully you will be able to hear the engine jumping also. it was 3 deg(unseasonably cold) this morning and the car actually died as you can see at the end of the video. notice the rpm gauge stayed contanst. This problem does not occur in P, only R and D,2,1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYw2Q7BL-94

96sleepergle

iTrader: (6)

Could be a bad (maf )mass air flow sensor or the idle control valve, if the car is warm and it idles normal i wouldnt point to the idle control valve which is non adjustable on the 5 gens the ecu has a relearn process. Get a scan tool hook it up to your car (a scan tool that can data stream) drive the car around with it hooked up record the (maf data) and other OBD2 data or have somene with you, let them hold the scan tool go into wot throttle, the maf should show that particular amount of air coming in example 80mph (2lbs air) but its show 1lbs ect consult with your factory service manual, are your plugs in good shape?

icewake

iTrader: (1)

plugs are 2 years old and coils are 1 year. where would you recommend i get a scan tool from?

96sleepergle

iTrader: (6)

you can look on ebay but its good to have one though the laptop like elm interface,autoenginuity or you can get an actron hand held make sure its can read live data and display (hand held), also when was the last time you used fuel injector cleaner ? I had a similar problem like yours i dumped 2 bottles of stp fuel cleaner when i was close toa quarter of a tanks and the problem went away, but remember start small then work your way up (when it comes to finding problem)

Parthur

I am not sure if you problem is the same but there is a threat talking about intake manifold gasket and how the rpm's jump when is cold, search for intake manifold gasket in here, I found it that way, it may help you.
Report back.
try this link: http://forums.maxima.org/4524568-post20.html

n3985

iTrader: (36)

This might be too simple a diagnosis, but have you considered your throttle body is dirty? And in the freezing weather all the dirt and grime is making the TB stick?

icewake

iTrader: (1)

i have cleaned out my throttle body

96sleepergle

iTrader: (6)

yes check your intake gasket, but a scan tool is your best friend

Bjs470

iTrader: (13)

It's a miracle I started yesterday in -12 degrees

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

Is that noise your engine knocking from inside the car??

It's been -27 around here w/o the windchill the last two days...oil viscosity changes when it breaks down (sludges up) and becomes much thicker when cold.. Does your car crank slow the first few revolutions before it starts cranking fast?? When's the last time you had an oil change? Is the oil really thick?? If that's the exhaust I'm hearing nevermind.

EDIT. BTW: I've never heard of that stupid cigarette trick in that link....Just spray some brake clean around your intake. if the engine dies it's probably a gasket.

icewake

iTrader: (1)

the noise you are hearing in the video is the engine revolutions jumping around