my service engine light is on now and its not going off...the car runs perfect i dont know whats wrong

 

Free. autozone and/or do it yourself. How to is in the stickies....Get your code checked and go from there....

 

Seriously...there's a big sticky above labeled 'Fault Indicator Light Diagnosis (If "trouble" lights are on, read here first!!!)'

Or just to go an auto parts store and have them read the code for free.

 

Nissan delaerships were charging $95 in October for complete diagnostics and inspection to tell you everything that is wrong with your car. I don't kow if it is still at that price this month, but if you pay their astronomical fee to get it repaired at the dealership they apply the $95 toward the repair. The dealer here charges $95/hour mechanical labor.

 

All 4th gen Maximas are kind of "aged". It's a good idea to invest some money on an OBD II reader.

The screw of ECU is easy to break, if you are not aware. Using a reader is way clean and easy.

Just my $.02

 

I got a card in the mail last month that said they would do it for free.

 

if you want it done right you gotta pay the big bucks
anything short of $80 isnt gonna do the trick. in fact, it will probably cause more damage

 

 

Speaking of diagnosis...

Can someone please tell me what the heck is going on with my car.

I have a 1999 Nisan Maxima SE with 161,000 miles. My service engine light came on and my car starting hesitating. I had it diagnosed.
I needed to change the front coil and new spark plugs (NGK Platinum).
After changing coils, car stopped hesitating and ran smooth. Got it on highway and around 70 miles per hour, light comes on again. Had it diagnosed at Autozone. Error Code P0158 & P0159 Sensor 2 - Bank 2.
I bought new 02 Sensor (Original Nissan OEM) and had mechanic install. Mechanic turned light off. Light stayed off for 1 day. Hit high speed again on highway after 2 days and light comes back on again!!!


Took car back to Autozone and diagnosed P0158.

P0158 - The PCM has determined the input voltage from oxygen sensor 2 in bank 2 is too high for current operating conditions.

Probable Causes:
1. Oxygen Sensor defective
2. System running very rich or lean - check other codes first
3. Engine misfire condition-repair
4. Fuel pressure very high or low fuel pump or pressure regulator


Anyone have these problems? It seems on other forums that everyone seems to have the same issues with their Maxima.

Can anyone offer help/suggestions on what my next steps are...

Thanks

 

WTH!!! are you talking about? you own a 4th gen man that pritty much mean you dont have a crap load of money. how is going and spending $100 for a nissan dealer using a OBDII scanner and reading what the coad is in a little book any diff than a guy at checker or autozone? I really hope you were being sarcastic.

 

yes. clearly.

 

Read it again. I'll bet it says absolutely nothing about it being free does it? It may give you that impression, but it's not free. It's $95.

 

go to nissan stealership and they will do it for 60-90$ oh yeah ask to see if your car has any recalls free!!

 

my exact same car with the exact same problem

but i just replaced my spark plugs (except for one because i couldnt get it)

 

Have you checked out the O2 sensor with a DVOM? Could just be defective.

Quick search finds something which seems applicable:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ighlight=p0158

 

Hi, I am in Australia and after a std scan tool didn't pick up any codes ($60 cost) I took it to Nissan where I waited for 4 hours and it cost me $400 just for them to look at it. They then charged me another $600 for replacing a knock sensor which didn't fix the problem. I am now about $2500 poorer and still with the same problem! I think from research it may be the Idle Control Valve sticking but so far Nissan and a host of mechanics cannot tell me for sure they just want to be paid for guessing and replacing parts that don't fix it! PS. sorry this post is no. 2 of useless replies as I can't post new thread until I post 15 of these stupid things.

 

What is your problem?....There is a Noobie ask question thread on the 1st page of the 4th gen forum...

here you are.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=389852

 

Keep in mind that some defective parts sometimes make other parts seem defective to the ECU, you have to find the true cause and hope that the others parts aren't really crapped out. You have a 99, most likely you have the crappy coils that needs to be replaced.

 

how ture

 

99grnmaxgxe & pmohr...

Thank you very much for trying to provide guidance to me. Getting very frustrating because I continue to spend money buying parts without fixing the problem. More annoying because as you are driving, you are wondering if the car is dependable with the Service Engine Light on.

99grnmaxgxe - Are you suggesting that I have to replace all the coils? I just replaced a front coil along with new spark plugs.

pmohr - Seems like an excellent idea to have the DVOM check my 02 Sensor. At least I would be able to rule out the whether new 02 Sensor is faulty or not.

I am beginning to notice a slight rotten egg kind of smell from the car now. Maybe something to do with the Catalytic Converter? It is the kind of smell that you normally get with American cars after hard acceleration.
To add fuel to the fire, the mechanic who mis diagnosed a noise that I had with the car claiming it was the Water Pump. Now he changed his mind after putting a stethescope to Water Pump?? Now claims it is my AC Compressor.........

Could A/C Compressor cause Service Engine Light to come on?

 

Um, what cylinder does it say that is misfiring? Whatever it is replace that one. To be perfect you can replace them all but that's hella expen$ive.

 

wow.... The mechanic Is trying to ripe you off and make you look like a clown. To check the A/C compressor start the engine let it run for a 1 min or two then hit the A/C button then you should hear the engine drop it's revs and it's sound. Then you can hear a cluck sound when your compressor is on. If you don't hear a clunk sound and your engine rev dropping then you know the compressor is not working.