Can somebody PLEASE shed some light on this situation?

I installed a brand new K&N air filter into my 1997 Maxima SE. I unplugged the grey wire harness that was going into the side of the air box (not sure what the name of it is, sorry).

After installation, I turn 'er on and all was sounding fine. However the "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" light came on. Oh ****. So I turn off the car, and it turns out I forgot to plug that grey wire harness back in... DOH! So I do that and crank it up again.. The light is STILL going on.

So now, my questions...
1) Was that 10 seconds of having the car on without that grey harness really bad, and therefore messed the engine up causing the light to go on? (I doubt this but I gotta ask) OR... Did the disconnected harness cause the light to go on, and then I have to reset the light now that it's "tripped"?

2) How do you reset the engine light if this is what I need to do?

3) Has anyone else experienced the check engine light going on in their 4th gen after installing a K&N, and what did you do about it?

Thanks for your help. I hope I didn't majorly screw something up.

-John

 

Do an ECU check. Find out how in the thread titled "ECU Diagnostic Trouble Codes" up top.

 

Clee, thanks for the info. However, I'd like to see if anybody else has had this problem with the K&N air filter itself, so I can rule out any potential harm resulting from that disconnected harness. Any idea what it's used for?

Thanks,

John

 

air flow meter

 

Probably no harm ... and since you replaced it, the light should go away once you reset the ECU.

Do an ECU check, I forget what sensor that is (brain slowly down late in the workday) but that's probably the code for that sensor. Reset it and it shouldn't come back.

 

Sweet...

Clee and Jdmmax, thanks for your help I plan on getting some much more serious upgrades in the future, and it's nice to know there are people here who know their stuff and help ya out.

-John

 

had the same problem with my k&n. It just went away after like a week.

 

Thats why your light came on. Just reset the ECU and you should be fine.