My '92 Nissan Maxima has had the same problems... I've changed the distributor, the plugs had the computer checked, had the transmission and engine flushed, but still the same annoying problem. I find it happens more in the wet or when the car is running hot... after some deep research on the net I found it could be theTPS connector (Throttle Posiotion sensor) afterwards I found that the rubber cover the TPS connector was worn out and therefore causing a faulty operation... hope this helps...
BB.
I have a 92 nissan maxima se 5 speed I had the same problem it occured when I washed the engine, water got in the ignition module. i changed it and its fine, also be sure to run the spark plugs nissan recommends, NGKs.
92 Max stalling 10-15 times over 6 miles. Did the spark plugs, new wires, distributor cap and rotor... still nothing. Install used MAF works great.. has not stalled yet (1 1/2 month). Gas mileage is BAD... about 220 miles on a full tank (350 km). Just install new O2 sensor in hope that it'll improve. What's typical on these things??? it's got about 92K miles (146k km) so far. New fuel filter as well.
Please help.
Same problem. 92 SE. i hated the car because of that.
+ have timing chain noise.
I have 92 max, I was experiencing intermitted power loss, I would sometimes have to put pedal to the medal just to keep car moving. I brought it to a mechanic and it cost me $800.00 after all the components he changed, dash board computer, mass airflow, finally he determined it was an electrical problem... so far so good, winters coming I hope the problem is gone for good.
I have a 1992 Maxima SE with Auto trans which jumps and stalls when it wants to. From my research and the above postings realised that it could be 2 things Fuel Injectors and also TPS, which is Throttle Position Sensor. This is a general problem with 92 SE's. Drivers of the 1994 SE have no such problems. Solution is to replace the Fuel Injectors, TPS and also use fuel additives regularly.
Further to my above posting, I went to a third mechanic who hooked up my 1992 Nissan Maxima SE to his scanner for the jumping / stalling / hesitation problem and found 2 codes. One for one of the O2 sensor and the other for the Speed Sensor (Code 14). So far I am crossing my fingers.
I have a 92 Max GXE that recently began stalling when I have the brake on while the trans is in drive. (IE : the rpm hovers around 800 then fluctuates madly then dies.) Prior to this, and for the last 2 years, I've had a gas smell only when its real cold out, that lasts for about a half hour. I figure its the fuel injectors. Tho I've used various additives and it still does it. It doesn't seem to affect speed or pick up tho. My Max is still real zippy, and the engine winds up sweet when I floor it. All I can say is WTF?! Its not ready for demolition yet, but its p*ssing me off.
After I took my 92 MAX GXE to a garage, they scoped it, and catheterized it, and found that it was a faulty coolant-temp sensor that was adjusting the rpm at idle. TG it is cheap at a tag around $280, otherwise my Max would have been a trade in for a brand new Clio, or Accent. A quarter the car at half the price.
In Regards to your problems with the Nissan Maxima SE, hesitating engine and coughing like motion, it is nothing other than the Oxygen sensor. It happen to mine and drove me nuts. Dealer told me it could be the O2 sensor so I went to my local auto parts store (No dealer on this one cause they wanted $260 Canadian) I found it for about $95 After market made in Japan. since then I have added another 100,000 KM on it and not a problem since!
Also have 92 Maxima SE with automatic with stalling and downshifting. Have tried virtually everything recommended, plus put in new alternator: no change. When dealer tried to do computer test, the power to the computer went out on the downshift, so no analysis could be made. No one can figure this out, may have to just part out the car.
For everyone having this issue here is the order in which I would replace the parts;
Do your O2 sensor first as stated above its $95 for a brand new part with warranty.
Secondly do your spark plugs these cost $25CDN.
Than your fuel filter $12 at parts store.
Air filter $8 at parts store.
Do the throttle position sensor next.
Than if you still have the issue, do your coil packs and module (wrecker will want $100 for the whole deal)
Still having the issue?
Do the MAF get a used one from the wrecker.
Still have the problem? sell the car.
I suggest before changing parts, look over every inch of the engine for cracked, broken or missing vacuum lines. My 92 Maxima had a lot of the symptoms listed in this post, but no check engine light. We changed 6 or 7 cracked hoses and all is well so far.
For the 1992-1994 MAXIMA SE'S With the DOHC motor, the most common reason for stalling is the coil packs... they are expensive to replace. and it is 80% of the time the coil packs if you are stalling when stepping on the gas (putting some stress on the motor)... check them for cracks, if they are cracked, replace them.. or even if they aren't cracked it doenst mean there is something wrong with them.. check out www.maxima.org and ask on there.
I too am having problems with my 92 Maxima. It has 330000 km. I have been told by a Nissan mechanic that the problem is the O2 sensor, and if you disconnect it, the problem will go away. I have tried this and it worked for about a year, however the problem has returned, and as one of the postings mentioned, I have noticed the problem occurring during wet or damp weather. I am now about to try the mass air flow sensor or the throttle positioning sensor. Hopes this works because it`s been a real headache so far. Love the car otherwise.