I just recently got a 1995 Maxima GXE and everything was going fine until this weekend i took it out for a trip and the check engine light came on.

Now i found the instructions on how to check what is wrong and all and i was planning on trying to diagnose the problem myself. Its either that or else pay someone $40 (can) to do it .

This might seem kind of stupid, but the only reason why i might not be able to save 40 bucks is because i can't get the stupid plastic cover to get access to the ECU! I've tried just wrenching it off and pulling on the plastic peice and it comes out a little but no matter how hard i try i can't get it off.

Anyone have any suggestions? It kind of looks like a screw but there is no pattern on the top so i can't just stick a phillips head or something into it and just screw it off.

 

http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html

 

Passanger side by the were there left foot would be at.

 

I had the same problem, those clips are a pain. I had a pair of end cutters so I used those to get under the edge and then pull out. If I didn't have those I would probably try needle nose plyers to get under the edge and pull it out. Maybe using two pairs would be better. After that I used velcro over the screw holes to hold it back in place instead of the clips.

 

Yes i found the instructions already and it is a pretty simple process (that's why i am not too enthusiastic about giving someone 40 bucks to do it).

kmax:

so i guess i shouldn't be too scared to yank on the clips really hard? I don't want to break the clips (or anything else that might be attached to it) so that's why i probably didn't use as much force as i should have.

One other thing, i could get something underneath the clip that was closer to the front of the car, but the one that was closer to the front seat SEEMED like it was part of the plastic plate (instead of a seperate clip like the other one) but i'm not sure... is this true?

I appreciate the help so far... thx!

 

Both clips originally were the same. When I used end cutters I did break a clip but then I didn't care because I wasn't going to use them again. Another tool that might work is a trim tool (I think it's called). It's used for pulling out these type of clips and is probably available at an auto parts store.

 

Nope. Driver's side, right foot.

Driver's side to pull codes...

Passenger's side for access to the harness...

 

Yep, drivers side right foot to pull codes. Just yank real hard on the cover or insert a flathead screwdriver under the round portion of the clip and pry it off. Don't be afraid of it, the most damage you could possibly do would be to the plastic clip itself which isn't a big deal.

 

So, thanks to the advice from the ppl that replied to my thread i finally managed to get the plastic cover off (without any damage to anything mind you)

I just took a hold of the plastic cover surrounding the clip and said to hell with any damage to anything and pulled for all i was worth and it just popped off. Did the same with the other side of the cover and the whole thing just came off. Turns out that the clip closer to the seat is in fact not a clip at all but is part of the plastic cover (maybe its a Canadian Maxima thing?).

Anyway, following the instructions kindly provided by VBX Maxima i soon got the error codes:

0303 (Front Left Heated O2 sensor)
0304 (Knock Sensor)
0806 (EVAP canister purge control valve/solenoid valve)

Now i get what the first two are (as they seem common enough when the check engine light goes on in a 4th gen Maxima) but the last one (EVAP canister purge control valve/solenoid valve) i don't recall anyone mentioning before... anyone know what it might mean?

I also decide to take some other advice i found while searching the maxima.org forums and i reset the "check engine" light and did a bit of driving waiting for the check engine light to come on again. The only thing is that the light has NOT turned on again. Does this in mean that i DON'T actually have a problem? Or is the ECU just ignoring the problem since i decided to reset it?

Thanks again for answers to my incessant questions

 

I had the same problem, I got codes 0303 and 0304, reset the ECU, and the light hasn't come back on yet, and this was a few days ago. I'm still getting the knock sensor code, 0304, but as long as the light doesn't come on I don't care because my car runs perfect. (and I get 22MPG city)

 

[QUOTE
I also decide to take some other advice i found while searching the maxima.org forums and i reset the "check engine" light and did a bit of driving waiting for the check engine light to come on again. The only thing is that the light has NOT turned on again. Does this in mean that i DON'T actually have a problem? Or is the ECU just ignoring the problem since i decided to reset it?

Thanks again for answers to my incessant questions [/B][/QUOTE]

If the light doesn't come back on in a few days of driving, you don't have a problem. If it does, then you need to start replacing parts. However, don't change the knock sensor until after you have changed the O2 sensor, reset the ECU, and driven for a few days again. Chances are the knock sensor code will go away and not come back, as it seems to be tripped a lot with the O2 codes.

I'm not familiar with the Evap code, is that a Canadian thing?

 

EVAP codes have to do with the charcoal cansiter that cleans your gas fumes and the system that vents your gas fumes back to the engine. I got a different set of codes relating to the same thing. The charcoal canister is under your left rear wheel, that big black box. In front of it are some hoses connecting to valves. They may be sticking. Check those. Those hoses route gas fumes to your intake manifold. Up front, on the engine are also some valves, like the purge control valve, that open and close letting the fumes go to the manifold.

One last thing, the gas cap is also part of the venting system. Usually you would replace that first, but your code would indicate otherwise.

Hope this helps

DW

 

MaxedOut97SE said:Yes that seems to be the case with me as well... from my very careful monitoring ever since i have bought the car, i don't notice any degredation in my fuel efficiency (around 21MPG) since the check engine light came on (around 5 days now). I might not have a problem then (thank $diety) .

iwannabmw said: Not quite sure... did a quick search on here for error code 0806 and the best answer i have gotten is that it is somehow related to problems with the o2 sensor as well (something about fuel richness which i assume that the o2 sensor is supposed to control). No really clear answer to that one though. Anyone know?

 

I know about the EVAP canister etc.. what threw me is that my listing does not include that particular code, which is why I was wondering if that is specific component only found on the Canadian versions.