1997 maxima resistor mod not working I bought 470k resistors at radioshack and inserted one into the knock sensor sub harness plug and reset the computer and code keeps coming back? Why is the resistor not working?

 

Look up the instructions to install a new knock sensor without removing the intake manifold.
It is better for your car in the long run.

Don't know the answer to your question.

 

^^^ Ditto. They aren't that expensive. Mine old one went out and new one back in, in about 15 minutes without removing the IM.

 

A new knock sensor is on it's way. I was trying to figure out why it wasn't working because it had me kinda annoyed that it didnt work

 

dont sweat the little things. Replace and be done with it.

One of those long claw mouth tools work great to grab the old knock sensor out of the crevice. You need a long extension and swivel head driver with 10mm hex socket.

Takes some time but you'll get it.

 

Someone with small, dainty hands can reach in there. They might bleed some though. I'm thinking of a 12 year old girl or something like that. Bribery could help. Twenty bucks?

 

I have a swivel and long extension ready to do the job just waiting for the knock sensor to arrive.

 

Might as well change the harness as well.

Have you tried another resistor? Maybe that one is defective. I've had my KS bypassed for about five years now. I'd also check to make sure that each end of the resistor is touching the pins in the connector.

 

I ordered the harness also. The resistor is touching both pins and I did try another one still didn't work.

 

Is there anyway i can get the resistor mod to work? Maybe try a different resistor? I recieved knock sensor and it seems like it really is a pita to change even with a swivel extension the swivel seems to pop off to the side when i try to turn the ratchet? At this point if i could get the resitor to work id be happy. Any Ideas?

 

Don't do the resistor mod just because you think the knock sensor is hard to access.

There's room to get it on with the 97.
If it was a 99 I would understand more, because that's almost impossible without removing the LIM.

 

Yes, it needs to be changed out. Yes it is a PITA. 1/4 inch rather than 3/8 tools will fit better. Swivels and u-joints will help a lot. Tape the extentions and swivels together.


When you put it back together, you might understand why a childs assistance is helpful.


When I did mine, I kept in mind what the labor bill would be like to hire a mechanic. Removing the UIM is not fun.

 

Resistor doesn't go in the sub harness, it goes in the main wiring harness that is attached the the bracket on the cylinder head.

 

The resistor is plugged into the wiring harness. Changing out the knock sensor does seem possible its just for some reason the swivel i have does not want to work on it the swivel works good when its straight but when its sideways it tends to pop off.

 

1/4 tools will fit much easier. I taped the swivels and extentions together with masking tape or electrical tape. That solved the popping off problem.


I have short extentions that allow for some side to side swivel. this will not bind up as easily as a u-joint.


This is not an easy job. It takes persistence.

 

I appreciate your advice i guess i will give it a try some other time and see what happens. I wish that in the mean time the resistor would work though.

 

The resistor mod will fool the computer to think that your engine never knocks.
I hope you, and everyone who drives the car will ALWAYS fill with premium gas.
If the car is filled with 87 octane it might /will knock. The resistor will not dail back spark advance like the knock sensor would. Pre-ignition or knock is hell on bearings and pistons.
Nissan gave it high compression, considerable spark advance for a reason... power and gas mileage. I myself trust the engineers who designed the engine more than I have faith in a resistor that does not belong there.

 

It concersn me that the resistor does not work because in if nothing else the resistor is a good diagnostic tool for testing the harness and ECU. Do you have any other codes?

4th Gen Maxima will present a false KS code in the presence of almost any other Emissions codes. If there are no other codes, and the resistor does not work, then I would suspect the wiring harness or ECU of having issues.