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Thanks all for the great advice! I to have a 2000 Maxima. I recently had an oil change and had my K&N air filter cleaned and "recharged" with oil. Immediately leaving the oil change facility the engine would bog down at 3500 rpm. Luckily I wandered upon this helpful forum. I figured I would replace the MAF sensor myself & save $300+. Well I then researched MAF sensors a bit more and found many people cleaning them instead of replacing them. They sell MAF sensor cleaner at the auto parts store. I unhooked the battery, dismanteled the filter box and took off the MAF housing. And for $10 at the auto part store I bought MAF cleaner spray and a #20 tamper resitant star bit to remove the sensor from the housing. I used the spray to clean the MAF, its housing and the inside of the filter box of all the K&N oil and then reassembled. I replaced the K&N with a paper filter and she started right up and ran fine (less the K&N's addt'l power). So in summation, you might want to try a cleaning before springing for a new sensor or god forbid giving the dealer $400+.

Good luck,
Jenn    

Please can someone help me with my problem with my 2000 Nissan Maxima. I noticed my battery leaking so I went to buy another. A couple days later... the same problem. They told me at Autozone that it's probably the voltage regulator. I took it to the Nissan dealership and they told me the 2000 doesn't have one. Is the voltage regulator just inside the alternator, and can I just replace that, or do I have to replace the alternator altogether.  

I had the exact same problems.When they ran the computer check it also said it was running rich, They replaced my mass air flow sensor and that fixed the stalls not starting and bad bad gas mileage,was VERY expensive. Then about a year later I had to have two of the crank shaft sensors replaced. The maxima has four of them, two left bank and two right bank. They are not expensive,its the install that cost. I can't remember which ones are around 30.00 and the others about 75.00 I have not had anymore problems since then.  

I have a 2000 nissan maxima and I was having the same problems. I just got my vehicle back from the Nissan dealer and they ended up fixing it by replacing the MAF and an ignition coil. So far so good. However, I am also having an issue with putting fuel into my car. I can put gas in but I have to pump it very slow, if not it will shut itself off and spray a little. After it sprays a bit I will let it sit for a minute for the pressure to go down and then continue with filling my tank. When I brought my car in for the other issue I asked if they would look at the fuel issue, they said there was a lot of build up in some canister (forgive me I am not familar with these things) and he also mentioned I would need a new vent. He gave me a total of over $500. I told him not to fix it I can deal with it.  This morning while I was filling my tank (for the first time since I got my car back) I had put a bit in and it shut itself off. This time instead of just spitting out a little bit it poured out probably half of the gas I had just put in. I let it sit a minute thinking I would be able to add more gas but I was only able to get a few more cents in before I gave up.  

If you have had this issue and/or know how to fix this please let me know. I would like to try and get by without spending a ton. I made this mistake of letting the dealership "reprogram" the MAF when I could've easily saved myself some money. Thanks!  

Good advice from Jen ... get a T20 security bit for your screw driver ( @ hardware store) and a can of MAF cleaner from the auto parts store.   The "brick wall" at 3500 rpm is gone.  I have a stock air filter on the 2000 Maxima so I didn't have oil from a fancy filter getting on the MAF sensor ... it looked clean but apparently had some slight oxidation.  Once sprayed with MAF cleaner and reinstalled the car ran perfectly.

If you think your MAF is bad ... try cleaning it first.  It has worked for two of us now.

PETE  

Great, I am having the same problems that you are having; the car will just shut off from out of the blue. I have taken my car to infinity and other mechanics and they can find nothing wrong! Not sure if I can hang onto this car any longer; knowing what you have just mentioned just confirms to give up and get another car....  

I believe you have to replace the alternator; but then again i have done that about 3 times and the problem is still not fixed. i think i will try looking into the maf sensor...  

I HAD THE SAME PRBLM W/MY 00 MAX-THE AUTO SHOP I USED DID AN THOROUGH SYS CK-AFTERWARD HE GAVE ME 3 PRINTOUTS-HE ADV'D WE COULD START W/BIGGEST PRBLM FIRST AND MAYBE OR MAYBE NOT THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PRBLM-STARTED W/BIGGEST PRBLM FIRST-I GOT A TUNE UP AND REPL MASS AIR FLW SNSR-AND I HAVENT HAD NO MORE PRBLMS-SPEED IS GREAT AND STARTING BCK GETTING GOOD GAS MILEAGE-HOPE THIS HELP  

I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima, and i have question, because of my engine (i think). When i driving,in one moment, it stops work, i don't know what happen, i have to wait about 15 minuts, and then it starts ok. I have fuel, and I have the fuel, so it's not the fuel. Can somebody help me with it, what could happen ??  

My Nissan did exactly the same thing; Not hold a steady RPM, drop off and stall and lack power. I took it to the dealer and they kept it a couple of days and charged me for a new fuel pump!  This did nothing and a few days later they replaced the The mass air flow sensor.  This fixed the problem. Your car's problem seems to be the same as mine was.  The symtoms are identical.  Nissan had a very difficult time figuring this out.  

Nissan Formu on Nissan.org says not required.  

I have a 2000 as well When I replaced the MAF it was all better. You can not clean the sensor wire to make this work. If you do you will buy a new MAF. I paid 75 bucks for mine NEW. I took the battery terminals off tapped the brake reconnected the terminals.  

Replaced the alternator (no easy feat) you have to drop the condensor take off the portective covers jack the car up take off the drivers side wheel.  Replaced all coil Packs Plugs EGR. Next on the list aree all of the O2 Sensors.

I run a K&N filter on it with no problems other than burning rubber if I hit the gas to hard. I have 105k on it and it runs like a beast.

Kenfro  

I have a 2000 as well When I replaced the MAF it was all better. You can not clean the sensor wire to make this work. If you do you will buy a new MAF. I paid 75 bucks for mine NEW. I took the battery terminals off tapped the brake reconnected the terminals.  

Replaced the alternator (no easy feat) you have to drop the condensor take off the protective covers jack the car up take off the drivers side wheel. Bought mine refurbed at Autozone for 120 bucks.  Replaced all coil Packs Plugs EGR. Next on the list are all of the O2 sensors. EGM will still throw codes regardless. This car has problems and Nissan knows this. This was the year Renault bought the nearly bankrupt parent.

I run a K&N filter on it with no problems other than burning rubber if I hit the gas to hard. I have 105k on it and it runs like a beast.

Kenfro  

ANYONE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!! I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima that has 92000 miles on it. And for some reason it just stop working. It will not start anymore or anything. I don't know what went wrong. I had it cut off on me once before but it started right back up and this time it will not start it all. Just making a clicking noise when I try to start it and all the lights come on. But I haven't been having anymore problems besides the one time it turned off and then came right back on. Sometimes it may jurk when i let someone borrow the car and they put bad gas in it but that didn't happen often either. Someone please please help me.  

Latinachic:
 I can't believe that so many of us have the same problem with 2000 Nisssan Maxima.  I bought it used last year in November.  The problem is that when I come to a red light/stop sign or just sit idle, the car turns off.  So I had it checked out and was told that I had to take it to a Nissan dealership because of some codes (?)...Anyway needless to say that I am expecting this repair to be expensive..but I was told that the Nissan maxima's had a recall for the crank sensor.  Does anyone know about this? Now if there ever was a recall would it only apply to the original owners?

I just purchased a 2000 Nissan Maxima SE.  The car has 102K and it stalls from time to time at stop lights, and pings excessively!  

I'm going to contact a Nissan dealer about this potential recall.  Can you tell me how you made out with your issue?

Thank you,

Pete