And they said I need a new knock sensor, cam sensor, air system cleaning, and a major tuneup. Totalling over $1,200. Minus the tuneup it was still over $800.

My check engine light came on about a month ago (on and off) and the car started going dead.(4 times)

Does anyone have an idea what I should start with... because I can't affrd everthing at once. I just paid about $800 on a brake job for my wifes Pathfinder. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

And.. I thought I should start with cleaning the air system, but he said just for that was about $220, is that too much?

Edit: My car only has 85k miles

 

You can do those things on your own for way under $800. You can get a knock sensor new off ebay for $90. The camshaft position sensor is about $70 here.. http://www.jerryromenissan.com . Im not sure what "cleaning the air system" is, sounds like bs just check your air filter and clean your throttle body. Get a Haynes manual to change those things. Also check the cel codes, http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html , to make your those are the things you need done and they are not bsing you.

 

WOW dude... They Weren't even courteous enough to use LUBE to FCK you in the @ss...
FIRST Mistake, going to the dealer without first consulting US first. Okay, Lets do a break down of what this should cost you!

Oil Change $20 Wherever you can get oil
Tranny Fluid $30 Search for redline oil
Fuel Filter $10 wherever, pref. nissan
Knock Sensor $90 www.ebaymotors.com
Tools to change knock sensor $17 sears
3 BRAND NEW O2 Sensors $200 www.buyoxygensensors.com
Throttle body Cleaner $6 wherever
Some Sea Foam $10 wherever
new tps $70 www.jerryromenissan.com

So, Like 450 bucks, you could do ALL THAT...
Please Dont Get ripped off!

 

i agree with 97blackse, u can do a majority of those yourself. Normally if its saving 0-30 bucks i may get someone to do it for me if i'm scared of killing something, but in your case we're talking about saving hundreds. I would definitely attempt it yourself.

 

Thanks for the replies. I am definitely going to price those parts and get those for myself, but I don't have much experience working on cars myself. Almost none mechanically... But I did make my own red/ clear tails from the instructions posted here. Should I be able to perform the work with instructions from the Haynes manual?

I have a few tools. Does that book tell you all the tools that you need for a particular job?

Thanks!

 

It should. And if you're intelligent and can read directions, I would think you could do it. The hardest part of all might be getting to the knock sensor.

 

Don't worry man everyone is new at car stuff also. Just take it slow and be careful and the more you do stuff the better you will be. Just remember for some reason the first time takes twice as long as everytime after so make sure you do it on some day where you can take a lot of time or use someone elses car to go grab those random parts you might need. Only other air thing they might have said was the in car cabin filter maybe ?

 

Thanks again for all the input

About the air... they said I had a lot of carbon build up. I guess it would be the throttle body.

Where can I get the Haynes Manual?

I am about to go pick up the car and do some studying. I'm gonna get them do write up an estimate so I can see everything they wanted to do. The I'm gonna try to check the ECUs myself.

I just didn't understand why the check engine light would come on and go off after a couple days. Any input? I though was colder weather.

 

If you have trouble pulling the codes or just dont want to do it yourself many auto parts stores will pull them for free. I know Autozone does around here.

 

War Eagle! Thanks

 

Most of the directions are online: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=254238

You can pickup a used Haynes manual on eBay or a new one from Pep Boys or maybe a book store like Borders

 

cleaning the air system is usually the air conditions, which is crap, espcially in the winter. if u dont smell anything, dont worry. just do the tune up and do the rest ur self.

 

What was that $800 dollar Pathfinder brake repair?
Stay away from this dealer, unless you want to make his home and boat payments.
I've had better luck with private mechanics, or with import mechanics that specialize in a particular brand. Since the car dies, which could be cam position sensor, you have to fix that first. After that then do oxygen sensors. Then airfilter, though that is cheap. How many miles? What tranny? You can get a radiator flush for ~60 and transmission service for ~75-100. Spark plugs by a mechanic are probably done for ~60, but that could be a do it yourself job. Dealership=$tealership

 

First replace the cam position sensor then see if that takes care of the KS. I pulled codes for KS, cam position sensor, and O2 sensors. I only had to change the cam sensor and all the other codes went away. It even passed emissions(with a Y pipe) after all this.

 

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/517
BOOKMARK THIS SITE. It Tells all sorts of good information, its an easy step by step guide to fixing and cleaning alot of things

 

"mamasocks" the haynes book tell you all the tools and procedures you need to do.

TO ALL. Fantastic responses and very informative it's members like you that keep me comming back to the org.
Thanks

 

Between www.motorvate.ca and this forum, you can find the how-to's on all of the things that needed to be done to your car. Sometimes you'll find some good stuff to at www.automotiveforums.com. Those sound pretty simple compared to changing a clutch, diff bearing, head and valve cover gaskets. Do one project at a time, print the procedures, get a good Haynes manual (don't get Chiltons, I have one and I found too many errors in it), make sure you have a good set of tools, and go at it. If you get stuck, you can always post here and people are usually ready and willing to assist. Goodluck!

Remember, never let the dealer rip you off. If anything, let them diagnose the problem, then take your car and do the work yourself or take it to a private mechanic. I do that sometimes, when I can't figure out what's wrong with my car.

BTW, dealers love to use the word "major" like a major tune-up. What else is there in a tune-up on fuel injected engines? Not much. Change the plugs, check/test the coilpacks and replace if necessary (rarely needs replacing), check engine timing. Simple procedures but dealers love to charge hundreds of dollars for them. Blood sucking *****!

 

Just a little off topic here but how much was it to have ur car checked up at the dealer, if they did charge you?

 

The $800 Midas brake job consisted of:
New rotors on front
Machined rear disks
new pads
and they replaced some seal on the axle

I probably got ripped on that but I wanted it done right the 1st time. Her brakes were dangerous.

The diagnostic work on my Max was about $65

Thanks again for all the replies!

Oh... and to whoever changes newbie taglines around here. I don't think you can find the anwser th my first question in the FAQ which we all read you ****. That why they call this a forum.

 

Like I said, do the CPS/cam sensor first as that could cause the stalling problem and is obviously dangerous. So have a mechanic fix that. The rest of the stuff can be delayed abit, and can be done by a "generic mechanic".

 

hey mamasocks uh dont get your panties in a bunch every new person gets that for the first 50 posts so not like they are targeting you or anything.