Does anyone else's Check engine light go on and off?
 

My check engine light goes off and on but almost everytime its a different code when i have it read has anyone else had this problem, if so how did you fix it?

What are the codes you're getting? Obviously there's some kind of problem here, and it would be mighty helpful to know what codes the ECU is puking up.

Mine used to come off and on for a while, but it was always the same code, 0203, which is an oxygen sensor. I replaced the sensor. I haven't had a code appear since.

0203 = Closed Throttle Position Switch


oh and btw, CEL flashing on and off = heavy misfire

your probably killing your CAT

In what way could i be killing my CAT, also what do you consider flashing off and on it comes on for a 2-3wk period then goes off for about the same time.

HIGH HC's but anyway.... flashing could be caused by a couple of things.

1)faulty fuel injector/circuit
2)faulty igniton coil/circuit
3)mechanical damage

remember, electronics dont like the following

Over amperage
Over voltage
and Over heating.

I have the exact same thing and im wondering WTF the problem is, i dont have money to waste on sensors i might not need.

As I understand it, the misfire would be dumping un-burnt gas from the cyl into the exhaust stream and on into the Cat Converter, not good. OTOH, an excuse to get a high-flow cat.

when they say flashing they mean on for a second, off for a second, on for a second and so on. Your most likely not misfiring cuz your cel is not flashing. Its turning on for a few days then off again. I would just pull the codes when its on and fix whatever that problem is.

It was probably 0303 instead, this was some time ago and I don't have the chart memorized. It's not all that relevant anyway.

My CEL was going on and off on the order of every few days, not an intermittent flashing. I'm under the impression that GTMUGGS is also seeing the CEL come on and off at a similar frequency and is not experiencing a heavy misfire.

GTMUGGS, check the codes and let us know what you find out. The sticky for how to pull the codes and what they mean is here:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=104931

Good luck!

My check engine light
 

well im glad to find out its not flashing but i will have the codes and post them the next time the light is on right now its not on. I know a few times before the codes before i think was the throttle positon sensor, and the knock sensor which im going to check the knock sensor this wk end but i really appreciate all the help :thumbsup:

Just as a thought, try to pull the codes now anyway. Sometimes the ECU stores codes even if the CEL is off. This isn't always the case, but it's worth a shot.