Check engine light come on with code P1320 random intermittent misfire

Tiny
DMANNING
  • MEMBER
  • NISSAN MAXIMA
1999 Nissan Maxima 49,000 miles V-6.
occasionally the car would run really rough for 10-20 seconds but otherwise seem to run normal. I did some research and found that this year model is notorious for the coils going bad, Nissan even issued a technical bulletin about it. The bulletin is not that helpful inspect harness/replace all coils. Well I replaced all 6 coils and spark plugs, the car runs better it doesn't run rough but the check engine light continues to come on with the same code. I also inspected the harness per tech bulletin and could not find a broken wire, from what I can tell there is only 7 wires to inspect, one for ECM ground and six others, one for each cylinder but if a wire was broken wouldn't I get a more specific code such as misfire cylinder #4 etc.
I'm at the end of my rope on this one and need someone that's been down this road to help me out.
I don't want to keep throwing parts at it and i'm afraid if I take it to a shop that's all they'll do too running up a huge repair bill. I've already spent close to $500.00.
Thursday, July 19th, 2007 AT 6:58 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KIN CHAN
  • MEMBER
  • 453 POSTS
P0300 is random misfire.P1320 is not the code for random misfire.
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Thursday, July 19th, 2007 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
DMANNING
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  • 3 POSTS
Okay, primary ignition fault but the car had a misfire problem. The research I found led me to NTB98-008B
which addresses the harness and coils. I replaced the coils and it runs better but still has code P1320.
I checked the harness and couldn't find a problem.
There are no other codes. What would you suggest from here?
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Friday, July 20th, 2007 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
KIN CHAN
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  • 453 POSTS
Got a scope?
Or a scanner equivalent to Nissan consult2 capability?
Is about 14 pages of road map to what computer think there's a lost of ignition signal.

By the way, was the coils from Nissan that you've replaced?
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Friday, July 20th, 2007 AT 1:01 PM
Tiny
DMANNING
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No, I don't have a scope
I got the coils from Advance auto
front bank have "Nissan" on them.
Rear bank doesn't.
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Friday, July 20th, 2007 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Random Misfire PO300

Always use OEM parts mixing it is a bad idea. Misfires can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs, a weak spark (weak coil, bad spark plug wire), loss of compression, vacuum leaks, anything that causes an unusually lean fuel mixture (lean misfire), an EGR valve that is stuck open, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, or even bad fuel.
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Friday, July 20th, 2007 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

There were so many issues with these systems that all were related to grounds. The main issue was the negative battery cable gets corroded internally and cause coil failures. there resolution was to replace the cable and all the coils.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

You also need to verify voltage at all the coils as well.

A scope would be a big advantage as you could see the signals to the coils.

I attached a flow chart and wiring harness diagram for you to view of the system.

Roy
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Tuesday, March 24th, 2020 AT 4:06 PM

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