2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help

did u have the mass air flow sensor checked out, perhaps u need a new one, my 2000 sentra would stall when i come to a stop or was just in idle
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

I changed the Mas Air Flow meter. Now the experience of the bad idle
is 100% predictable. I mean replaying the Mass Air Flow changed the
problem from intermittent to I can know when it's going to happen.

It happend only under this condition. The engine is cold. I start the
car up and the idle is OK. It seems a bit high at start but not
stalling out. When I drive for 8 to 10 mins. Than the bad idle comes
back. It's really low and will stall as soon as my foot is off the
gas. If I keep it going for a couple of minutes like this... than
pull over to stop, trun the car off and wait couple of minutes and
restart the car, The idle is perfect and it will stay that way until
I let the engine get cold again.

I guess this means that changing the Mass Air Flow meter did do
something but there must be something happening early on that the
computer doesn't understand until it warms up a bit... any thoughts
would be appriciated
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

Is there any codes being sent to the computer. I might suspect a problem
with the Air Intake Temp sensor.

"Anth37" <scheb37.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124975662.186026.269810@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I changed the Mas Air Flow meter. Now the experience of the bad idle
> is 100% predictable. I mean replaying the Mass Air Flow changed the
> problem from intermittent to I can know when it's going to happen.
>
> It happend only under this condition. The engine is cold. I start the
> car up and the idle is OK. It seems a bit high at start but not
> stalling out. When I drive for 8 to 10 mins. Than the bad idle comes
> back. It's really low and will stall as soon as my foot is off the
> gas. If I keep it going for a couple of minutes like this... than
> pull over to stop, trun the car off and wait couple of minutes and
> restart the car, The idle is perfect and it will stay that way until
> I let the engine get cold again.
>
> I guess this means that changing the Mass Air Flow meter did do
> something but there must be something happening early on that the
> computer doesn't understand until it warms up a bit... any thoughts
> would be appriciated
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

I'll have to get that scanned. Right now no lights stay on. Is that
sensor easy to find and replace?
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

I just started having the same exact problem with my 2001 Sentra GXE 1.8. I just purchased some fuel system cleaner to add to the gasoline. I was hoping that this would be the fix but now I have my doubts. I guess I will be taking it into the service center at the end of this week if it does't get better. I will keep you updated as to anything further.
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

I have also been having this problem on my 2001 Sentra GXE for about 3 months now and I can't find anyone who knows how to fix it. However, on my car the problem goes away as soon as the air conditioner is turned on. If anyone has any ideas or actually figures out how to fix this problem it would be a huge help to me.
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

Right after I started having the problem I poured a bottle of fuel system cleaner in a full tank of gas. That was just on the 29th and it seems to have solved the problem for now. The rpm's are staying much higher now. I barely even used enough fuel to really clean it good and it helped. I sure hope that is all it is.

This is really dangerous though, I could be going 60 miles per hour and have to stop for a redlight and lose my power steerig and breakes. So, if this doesn't fix it then I am definatly going to the shop.

*Updated*
Man, I think you are right. It seems like I was having problems today when my fan was turned off but when I turned on the fan it seemed to stop the problem. I guess I will be going to the shop this Friday. I will post anything further.
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

On 31 Aug 2005 18:41:02 -0400, Nathan <DoNotEmail RemoveThis @AutoForumz.com>
wrote:

>"Michael" wrote:
> > I have also been having this problem on my 2001 Sentra GXE for
> > about 3 months now and I can't find anyone who knows how to
> > fix it. However, on my car the problem goes away as soon as
> > the air conditioner is turned on. If anyone has any ideas or
> > actually figures out how to fix this problem it would be a
> > huge help to me.
>
>Right after I started having the problem I poured a bottle of fuel
>system cleaner in a full tank of gas. That was just on the 29th and it
>seems to have solved the problem for now. The rpm's are staying much
>higher now. I barely even used enough fuel to really clean it good and
>it helped. I sure hope that is all it is.
>
>This is really dangerous though, I could be going 60 miles per hour
>and have to stop for a redlight and lose my power steerig and breakes.
>So, if this doesn't fix it then I am definatly going to the shop.

sounds like the MAF for the intermittent idle... my '01 GXE does it
all the time and for now turning on the AC or the fan will level the
idle to ~1000 RPM with no bobble. I have also had the 'SES' light come
one with bank (1 or 2) lean. still in denial since a new MAF runs
about $500 from the dealer.

a while ago it randomly died on the highway, i'd pull over and turn
the car off, turn it back on and it was fine for a while then it would
do it again. seems there is a recall on '01 GXE crank position sensor,
took it to the dealer and they repaired it for free. thanks when they
showed me the air mixture from the MAF printout. and offered to fix ,
but i figure i can live with the idle for now. i still get 33-35 mpg.

If the SES light comes on you can take the car to advance auto and ask
at the parts desk for their OBD II code reader the'll lend it to you
and print out the results and clear the light.

hope it helps.
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

I still have not had the SES light come on, this is part of the reason why the mechanics I have had look at it can't seem to figure out what is going on. If it is in fact the MAF and I need a new one, it will have to wait for a little while, seeing as how I have already dropped nearly $400 on attempting to fix this problem. I guess for now I will run the A/C until it is cold enough to run the heater, that should delay the problem long enough for me to save the cash to replace the MAF.
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help 

Thanks for the update. Mine is currently at the dealership so I should figure out what they think is wrong this afternoon and will update the post.



Looks like I am going to be getting a new ECM in my 2001 Sentra GXE. I sure hope that fixes the problem with mine. Anyone else have this replaced and still have the problem?


I now have my car back from the shop. The problem with stalling out has not happened yet but idle rpms are really low sometimes. I am not sure what the rpms are supposed to be at but it looks like it even gets down to 500 rpms at times.
The ECM was replaced as well as the MAF. The ECM was replaced at first but the service center said that ECM was not communicating with the MAF after it was installed. They said that the MAF needs to match the ECM or they won't communicate. I didn't really pay for it since I am lucky to have the extended warranty.

So it looks like this problem might be from the ECM or the MAF but I guess that doesn't really narrow it down too well.

Two days without any problems after the repairs. Car actually seems to run much better in general. I didn't realize I had lost any performance but I see it now.
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 Sentra SE 5sp, intermittent bad idle, need help