000 NISSAN Xterra -- after warming up, loses RPM by 500-1000..... have replaced ignition wires and distributor, checked mass air flow sensor and OK.....

I would suspect the mass air flow sensor. It is located on the passenger side of the throttle body (under the air cleaner). These are very poorly made and fail often without throwing any codes. Here's a link of the part. Some emission parts for the 1997 pickup are different depending on the month of manufacture so make sure you get the correct part.
http://www.aipelectronics.com/index.php/mass-air-flow-sensor-meter-1996-2004-nissan-pickup-frontier-and-xterra.html?Tracker_ChannelID=28&Tracker_CustomerID=319&Tracker_variantid=419611&gclid=CLPJs_Wr4b4CFVJefgodmIUANQ

Have you "reset" the computer on the car. When parts are replaced, the comp continues to run the vehicle on all the old settings which can drive you nuts because nothing you do will fix a problem. Usually, taking both battery cables off and waiting for 15 minutes will reset the computer. If this does not do it, then ask a dealer how to reset yours.

First, If a dstributor is used, check for carbon tracking iside and corrosion. Replace cap. Then check for arcover from faulty plug wires and ignition components- start it up at night and let the engine warm up outside before the moon rises and look for corona discharge along all spark plug wires, and ignition components. They are not always visible at first and never in daylight, but at night in the dark they can be seen. be mindful of the moving engine components.

If that checks okay, confirm steady fuel flow/pressure, and clean Mass Air Flow Sensor wire- back flush with contact cleaner to clean wire, and lastly replace the Throttle Position sensor. Checking and correcting in this order should correct issue.

Mass air flow sensor might be dirty or failing.
Clean sensor when cold with mass air sensor cleaner only.
that controls the throttle opening and closing.

Clean the throttle body. Check the mass air flow sensor for corrosion of the wire harness connector.

This could be many things. I used to have a nissan altima that would do this. Could be anything from bad sensors such as a throttle position sensor, oxygen sensor, or possibly a mass air flow sensor. Other possibilites include bad parts of the ignition system: spark plugs, plug wires, distributor/ignition coils. In my case I picked up a used mass air flow sensor for around $30 dollars and it fixed the problem. If you could descibe the problem in more detail I might be able to help narrow it down.

. Check the Mass Air Flow Sensor voltages. Verify good battery voltage to the Mass Air Flow Sensor on the White/Black wire. Verify good grounds for the Mass Air Flow Sensor on the two Black wires - look for 0.05 volts or less to be ok. Check the output voltage from the Mass Air Flow Sensor on the White wire - specification is less than 0.5 volts key on engine off and 1.0 - 1.3 volts at warm idle. The Green/Orange wire at the Mass Air Flow Sensor is not used. The Mass Air Flow Sensor can test good and still be defective.

2. Make sure the timing belt is not off a tooth. Can check ignition timing to see if one bank is on. May need to get into compression on each bank but a timing belt off a tooth or two will idle poorly but can run better at higher RPM.

The mass air flow sensor is most likely the problem. I would check it with a known good mass air flow sensor of the same to see if it corrects the problem.

try changing the coil packs

Since this is an intermittent problem, first try to determine if the problem arises due to one of these many intermittent problems:

* Vehicle vibration
* Heat sensitive
* Freezing
* Water intrusion
* Electrical load
* Cold or hot start up

If you can't isolate the cause of the intermittent problem, you can try adjusting the Idle Speed/Ignition Timing/Idle Mixture Ratio:

Idle Speed/Ignition Timing/Idle Mixture Ratio Adjustment

PREPARATION
1) Make sure that the following parts are in good order.

* Battery
* Ignition system
* Engine oil and coolant levels
* Fuses
* ECM harness connector
* Vacuum hoses
* Air intake system
* (Oil filler cap, oil level gauge, etc.)
* Fuel pressure
* Engine compression
* EGR valve operation (If so equipped)
* Throttle valve
* Evaporative emission system

2) On air conditioner equipped models, checks should be carried out while the air conditioner is OFF.
3) On automatic transmission equipped models, when checking idle rpm, ignition timing and mixture ratio,
checks should be carried out while shift lever is in “N” position.
4) When measuring “CO” percentage, insert probe more than 40 cm (15.7 in) into tail pipe.
5) Turn off headlamps, heater blower, rear defogger.
6) Keep front wheels pointed straight ahead.
7) Make the check after the cooling fan has stopped.

INSPECTION PROCEDURE

1 INSPECTION START
1. Visually check the following:
I Air cleaner clogging
I Hoses and ducts for leaks
I EGR valve operation (If so equipped)
I Electrical connectors
I Gasket
I Throttle valve and throttle position sensor operation
2. Start engine and warm it up until engine coolant temperature indicator points to the middle of gauge.
Ensure engine stays below 1,000 rpm.
3. Open engine hood and run engine at about 2,000 rpm for about 2 minutes under no-load.
4. Perform diagnostic test mode II (Self-diagnostic results).
OK or NG
OK ' GO TO 2.
NG ' 1. Repair or replace components as necessary.
2. GO TO 2.

2 CHECK IGNITION TIMING
1. Run engine at about 2,000 rpm for about 2 minutes under no-load.
2. Rev engine (2,000 to 3,000 rpm) two or three times under no-load, then run engine at idle speed.
3. Turn off engine and disconnect throttle position sensor harness connector.
4. Start and rev engine (2,000 - 3,000 rpm) two or three times under no-load, then run at idle speed.
5. Check ignition timing with a timing light.
15°±2° BTDC (in “P” or “N” position)
OK or NG
OK ' GO TO 4.
NG ' GO TO 3.

3 ADJUST IGNITION TIMING
1. Adjust ignition timing by turning distributor after loosening securing bolts.
2. Turn off engine and connect throttle position sensor harness connector to throttle position sensor.
' GO TO 2.


4 CHECK BASE IDLE SPEED
1. Check idle speed.
700±50 rpm (in “P” or “N” position)
OK or NG
OK ' GO TO 6.
NG ' GO TO 5.

5 ADJUST BASE IDLE SPEED
1. Rev engine (2,000 to 3,000 rpm) 2 or 3 times under no-load then run engine at idle speed.
2. Adjust idle speed by turning idle speed adjusting screw.
700±50 rpm (in “P” or “N” position)
' GO TO 6.

6 CHECK TARGET IDLE SPEED
1. Turn off engine and connect throttle position sensor harness connector.
2. Start and rev engine (2,000 to 3,000 rpm) 2 or 3 times under no-load then run at idle speed.
3. Check idle speed.
750±50 rpm (in “P” or “N” position)
OK or NG
OK ' GO TO 9.
NG ' GO TO 7.

7 DETECT MALFUNCTIONING PART
Check the following.
1. Check IACV-AAC valve and replace if necessary.
2. Check IACV-AAC valve harness and repair if necessary.
3. Check ECM function by substituting another known good ECM.
(ECM may be the cause of a problem, but this is rarely the case.)
' GO TO 9.

9 CHECK FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR LH SIGNAL
1. Run engine at about 2,000 rpm for about 2 minutes under no-load.
2. Set “Left bank front heated oxygen sensor monitor” in the Diagnostic Test Mode II.
3. Make sure that MIL goes on more than 5 times during 10 seconds at 2,000 rpm.
OK or NG
OK ' GO TO 12.
NG (MIL does not blink.) ' GO TO 17.
NG (MIL blinks less than 5 times.)
' 1. Replace front heated oxygen sensor LH.
2. GO TO 10.


10 CHECK FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR LH SIGNAL
1. Warm engine to normal operating temperature.
2. Run engine at approx. 2000 rpm for approx. 2 minutes under no-load.
3. Set “Left bank front heated oxygen sensor monitor” in the Diagnostic Test Mode II.
4. Make sure that MIL goes on more than 5 times during 10 seconds at 2,000 rpm.
OK or NG
OK ' GO TO 13.
NG ' GO TO 11.

11 DETECT MALFUNCTIONING PART
Check the following.
1. Check fuel pressure regulator.
2. Check mass air flow sensor and its circuit.
3. Check injector and its circuit.
Clean or replace if necessary.
4. Check engine coolant temperature sensor and its circuit.
5. Check ECM function by substituting another known good ECM.
(ECM may be the cause of a problem, but this is rarely the case.)
' GO TO 2.


13 CHECK FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR RH SIGNAL
1. Set “Right bank front heated oxygen sensor monitor” in the Diagnostic Test Mode II.
2. Make sure that MIL goes on more than 5 times during 10 seconds at 2,000 rpm.
OK or NG
OK ' INSPECTION END
NG (MIL does not blink.) ' GO TO 16.
NG (MIL blinks less than 5 times.)
' 1. Replace front heated oxygen sensor RH.
2. GO TO 14.


14 CHECK FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR RH SIGNAL
1. Warm engine to normal operating temperature.
2. Run engine at approx. 2000 rpm for approx. 2 minutes under no-load.
3. Set “Right bank front heated oxygen sensor monitor” in the Diagnostic Test Mode II.
4. Make sure that MIL goes on more than 5 times during 10 seconds at 2,000 rpm.
OK or NG
OK ' INSPECTION END
NG ' GO TO 15.

15 DETECT MALFUNCTIONING PART
Check the following.
1. Check fuel pressure regulator.
2. Check mass air flow sensor and its circuit.
3. Check injector and its circuit. Clean or replace if necessary.
4. Check engine coolant temperature sensor and its circuit.
5. Check ECM function by substituting another known good ECM.
(ECM may be the cause of a problem, but this is rarely the case.)
' GO TO 2.
16 CHECK FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR RH HARNESS
1. Turn off engine and disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Disconnect ECM harness connector.
3. Disconnect front heated oxygen sensor RH harness connector.
4. Check harness continuity between ECM terminal 50 and front heated oxygen sensor RH harness connector.
Continuity should exist.
OK or NG
OK ' 1. Connect ECM harness connector.
2. GO TO 18.
NG ' 1. Repair or replace harness.
2. GO TO 9.

17 CHECK FRONT HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR LH HARNESS
1. Turn off engine and disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Disconnect ECM harness connector.
3. Disconnect front heated oxygen sensor LH harness connector.
4. Check harness continuity between ECM terminal 51 and front heated oxygen sensor LH harness connector.
Continuity should exist.
OK or NG
OK ' 1. Connect ECM harness connector.
2. GO TO 18.
NG ' 1. Repair or replace harness.
2. GO TO 9.

18 PREPARATION FOR “CO” % CHECK
1. Disconnect engine coolant temperature sensor harness connector.
2. Connect a resistor (4.4 kW) between terminals of engine coolant temperature sensor harness connector.
' GO TO 19.

19 CHECK “CO” %
1. Start engine and warm it up until engine coolant temperature indicator points to the middle of gauge.
2. Rev engine (2,000 to 3,000 rpm) two or three times under no-load, then run engine at idle speed.
3. Check “CO” %.
Idle CO: 1.5 - 9%
After checking CO%,
a. Disconnect the resistor from terminals of engine coolant temperature sensor.
b. Connect engine coolant temperature sensor harness connector to engine coolant temperature sensor.
OK or NG
OK ' 1. Replace front heated oxygen sensor LH.
2. GO TO 10.
NG ' GO TO 20.

20 DETECT MALFUNCTIONING PART
Check the following.
1. Connect front heated oxygen sensor harness connectors to front heated oxygen sensors.
2. Check fuel pressure regulator.
3. Check mass air flow sensor and its circuit.
4. Check injector and its circuit.
Clean or replace if necessary.
5. Check engine coolant temperature sensor and its circuit.
6. Check ECM function by substituting another known good ECM.
(ECM may be the cause of a problem, but this is rarely the case.)
' GO TO 2.