My Maxima 1999 started the following behavior about six months back...
- initially, "service engine" light came on. I took the car to a local mechanic and the code apparently said "primary ignition failure". Since obviously my car was starting fine, he just reset the light and said everything was ok.
- after a couple of weeks, sometimes all the lights would come on: "service engine", "traction control off" and "slip" and the car starts to shake.
- I took the car to Nissan dealer. They say that my ignition coil is coming apart and needs to be replaced. They reset the "service engine" light, but it came back again after a couple of days.
- Currently, "service engine" light is ON all the time and the car shakes when all the other lights come on (happens couple of times a week). I noted that it has nothing to do with warm engine/cold engine, but it always happens from the time of start (that is, the shaking does not start when I am driving, but from the time I start the car).
I find the dealer diagnosis incredible - is the technology so advanced that they can sense a falling apart ignition coil ?
Any insights on what the problem might be, I would like some help before spending $$$$ on the ignition coil.
Thanks Regards
- Sam