1997 Nissan Maxima car sputters, oil like flickers, temp ga

Tiny
KOBE6209
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 90,000 MILES
I have a 97 maxima and put a used engine in it after I blew my other engine. It is standard, and one time after downshifting hard and reving high the car started sputtering, and usually when it sputters the hot cold gauge flickers down toward cold, I've noticed sometimes when I hit a hard bump the gauge flickers as well. Sometimes the check engine like comes on and when it does it flickers very quickyl and dims in and out and I noticed the car sputters and jerks more when it is flickering, but is never a constant light. Also the car idles rough and stalls out sometimes and if it doesn't stall out the rpms go up and down acting like it will stall out, also the rpm gauge stops working at around 2000 rpms The main problem is the car sputtering and sometimes jerks really hard. Please help I will put whatever parts I need into it. I put spark plugs already.
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 AT 6:08 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi kobe6209,

Thank you for the donation.

Symptoms indicates a possible fault with loose wire harness or grounding circuits.

Recheck harness connectors and ground circuits in engine compartment.

How long have the engine been installed?
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Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
KOBE6209
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  • 3 POSTS
I have the engine in for about 4 months now. The only time it doesn't sputter, or very rarely is when I first drive in the morning for about 10 minutes, then it begins too. The guy who put the engine in kinda messed up and I had to connect a few things afterwards that he didn't do. Thanks for the suggestion so far I willl try this, any other suggestions? I will be happy to donate more if the problem gets fixed.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 6:10 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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  • 41,814 POSTS
Quite often loose wire connector and ground circuits causes intermittent problems so we should start with them first.

When circuits heats up due to poor conductivity, they would act up after some time of driving.

Other item to check would be the the Engine Coolant Sensor and its connector. When the ECT has poor conductivity, it can send false readings to the PCM and also the temperature gauge.

Dos the Check Engine Light indicates while driving and did you try to retrieve for teouble codes?

You can get a free scan done at Autozone to retrieve for trouble codes.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 6:20 AM
Tiny
KOBE6209
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If you wouldn't mind sending me a list numbered of the things you said to do in tghe first message and last just so I don't get confused. Thank you
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Do the following.

1. Checek ground circuits for loose connectrions.
2. Check wire harness connectors between engine and cabin harness.
3. Check temperature sending unit and its connector.
4. Check for loose wireharness that is not secured to brackets, this can cause wires to break internally if the wires are swaying around too much.
5. Get a free scan done at Autozone for trouble codes.

Lets us start with above.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 9:49 AM

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