Nissan Repair: 99 maxima, cheap sources, rockauto

Question
QUESTION: My sons Nis is missing and the computer can not pin point it, something is wrong with the cars computer hook up. We have determined that it is in the back 3 cylinders which are very hard to get to. Each cylinder has its own wire and coil. My mechanic says he can do one at a time but the labor will be very high or just do all three at one time. Is there anyway to check the coils out of the car so we can just fix the bad one and not all three? That way it would only have to be disassembled once and not three times. Also, if one has gone bad, maybe the other two aren't far behind, so doing all three would be the smart thing? It has a 170,000 miles.

ANSWER: Steve,

It is not too difficult to change the coils.  But, I would replace all of them at once.  It only takes a ten millimeter socket and extension to reach the bolts.  Get a magnetic on a stick and grab the bolts so as not to loose them.  Then, get WD40 and spray the releases on the coils.  Use a screwdriver to press the clips and pull the coils off and replace them.  This would be a good time to change the plugs.  courtesynissan.com or rockauto.com are both cheap sources for coils.  The dealer is quite expensive as are local parts stores.  Also, use a different scanner if the one you had fails to connect.  I have several scanners and some work on Nissans and some do not.  Autozone or Checker will read the codes for free...

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My mechanic says he has to remove some things to get to the wires and coils. I looked and it does appear that they can't be reached without removing things that cover them. He said the labor is not worth doing one at a time. Thanks for your help. I liked your answer.

ANSWER: Steve,

The front valve cover plate needs to be removed to get to those but the rear can be accessed.  It is a pain to get to but it is worth doing all of them at once.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I got the work done today and the mechanic said he had to remove the plenum to access the coils and plugs. That sounds like alot of work.

Answer
Steve,

There are only six bolts for the plenum but it is time consuming if you remove it to gain access to the coils.  I bet it runs like a top now.  My wife has a 2000 Maxima and I replaced the coils on that a year ago.  Only a couple of hours and the cost of parts...