Yes yes I know theres a sticky at the top.. that's actually what this is about. My car's been driving like crap, and today I got a check engine light and went to the ECU. I pulled code 33. So I got online and checked the sticky. It said O2 sensor for 300zx, but EGR valve for all other models.

But then I also checked another online source I had. It claimed it was O2 sensor for my VE Maxima. Then I also noticed in the sticky thread, mtcookson ALSO claims that code 33 is the O2 sensor. Now the only reason I'm hesitant is because it mentioned EGR valve- I've been messing with my EGR valve A LOT lately, so want to hear one more time that it's actually the O2 sensor code and not EGR so I can feel good about ordering the sensor
Thanks.

 

You can check your egr for proper function. How? Stickies of course.

 

the fsm says "exhaust gas sensor circuit". now, i took this as 02 sensor because the only other thing that could be the o2 sensor is the "exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit" but since that is not on the non-cali cars i'm pretty sure the "exhaust gas sensor circuit" is the o2 sensor.

i think one basic way to test it, according to the online fsm, is to allow the engine to warm up to opperating temperatures, run the engine at 2000 rpm with no load (not in gear), and watch for the little green light on the ecu once warmed up and running at 2000 rpm. it should turn on and off if the o2 sensor is working properly.

 

thanks for the info cookson, i appreciate it

as for the EGR valve, ive been playing with it and cleaning it but the dang thing confuses me. The valve itself seems to work fine. If I apply vacuum to it it moves up, and it's clean and doesnt seem to stick.

But it doestn seem to operate when I rev the engine like I read its supposed to. No air from its hose when i rev, so the dial doesnt move up. Hose isnt clogged. Its cause of that that I wondered what the code actually means. Maybe I'm testing it wrong or am misinformed on how its supposed to work

 

Hose has a crack/leak.

 

If you have a 5-speed, pull the vacuum hose going into the power valve solenoid and connect it directly to the EGR valve. Now rev the engine. If the EGR opens and closes, the vacuum source for your EGR valve (thru the EGR-C solenoid) is bad. That is why I failed NOx 3 times last winter.

 

hmm... well I already througholy checked the hose before, so I guess it would have to be the source if it is indeed supposed to operate upon rev. thx for the test, I'll have to try that. In theory, What kind of driveability issues would be caused by the solenoid being bad? Besides being a polluting son of a *****?