My 'service engine soon' light is coming on and I was hoping you guys could give some perspective. The manual says that it's an emission issue, but I'm not sure what all that could entail.

Could someone shed some light and offer a recommendation??

I'ved looked through the technical bulletins without luck.

Thanks!!

 

Same has happened to me. This thursday nissan is fixing it for me.
I will advise you of what Nissan found wrong.

Primary emission leak large
Aux emission

Two codes for me.

 

How many of you guys who have this problem (SES & CEL) are using an aftermarket air filter?

 

Mine is strictly stock....no aftermarket parts.




[B]How many of you guys who have this problem (SES & CEL) are using an aftermarket air filter?

 

This problem came about the other day for me. I got an intake and exhaust but is that the reason that SES light came on? Someone help

 

You would think this would be a fairly 'known' issue. I really don't want to take it into the dealership and get charged $300 in labor when it might be as simple as a sensor or something. You know!?

 

I know what you mean but all of a sudden my light came off, so I wopn't worry about it.

 

Hey Darth, what did Nissan tell you??

 

Bastards still have it, I should know 12:00pm 2morrow.
Hopefully the force will be with my car.

 

Darth. What year is your Maxima and how many miles? Mines a 2001 AE with 43,000. Just trying to compare when you light came on compared to mine....trends or something....lol

 

Mine is a 2K2 with 32,000 on it. I had codes read and they were emissions leaks, primary and aux. I have no clue what that means, as soon as I get an answer, I'll post up.

 

Cool. Any details would be great!

 

Mine (2000 GLE) just did the same...service engine light on. Started a few weeks ago, went out, and now is back on. Is this covered under warranty since part of emission equipment?

 

Ok, Nissan still has my car. I bought the car from a dealer (not nissan)
and the car came with Viper Alarm and Greddy CatBack. One code was from
improper wiring from the Viper. There used to be some other electrical
equipment that was also improperly wired. The second code has to due the
aftermarket exhaust. I don't know anything about Nissan so I am guessing
an 02 sensor could be fouled.

I am not being charged (cant be under NYS Lemon Law Warranty)

The car also came with CustomMaxima FSTB.
I wonder if previous owner was a member here ???

 

Thanks Darth!! Doesn't sound like this helps me though. Your problem(s) sound specific to your mods....

RBNERON: Let me know if you find out anything regarding the warranty coverage? I would be interested in hearing what they say.

Thanks!

 

[RBNERON: Let me know if you find out anything regarding the warranty coverage? I would be interested in hearing what they say.

Thanks! [/B][/QUOTE]

Turns out that the dealer insists it is one of four (!) O2 sensors that was "fouled". Charged $80 to hook up the computer and $350 (!!!!) to replace the rear O2 sensor.

Also claimed that they need to "reprogram" the computer after installation of the O2 sensor.

Warranty "does not cover" the O2 sensor, as it is not part of the drivetrain and emission equipment warranty is only for catalytic converter and exhaust parts. I'm going to try to take it up with Nissan to try to get at least some of my $$$ back.

Disappointing...I just bought this car 6 weeks ago. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Also ordered a Haynes manual today; I can't afford these type of repairs!

 

I have an '01 SE AE, that just had the light come on for the first time at 39k miles. The car went in for scheduled maintenance and they reset it at no charge. I don't think it's anything to worry about. Many cars like Honda for instance have lights that come on for no good reason but to bring you in to spend money. Another thing I've seen is not tightening the gas cap enough can make that light come on.

 

I just got my 2000 maxima GLE 3 weeks ago, and the "service engine light" has been on the past 2 days. The car now has 27,500 miles, and everything else seems fine. I guess I should take it to Nissan, since its still under warrenty. This seems like a common problem with maximas, I hope its nothing major...

 

Turns out that the dealer insists it is one of four (!) O2 sensors that was "fouled". Charged $80 to hook up the computer and $350 (!!!!) to replace the rear O2 sensor.

Also claimed that they need to "reprogram" the computer after installation of the O2 sensor.

Warranty "does not cover" the O2 sensor, as it is not part of the drivetrain and emission equipment warranty is only for catalytic converter and exhaust parts. I'm going to try to take it up with Nissan to try to get at least some of my $$$ back.

Disappointing...I just bought this car 6 weeks ago. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Also ordered a Haynes manual today; I can't afford these type of repairs!

---------

Any idea where the O2 sensor is located? I'm wondering if I can change this myself? I think that re-programming business is a bunch of crap.

 

Ok let me enlighten a few of you....

As far as warranty coverage, only the main exhaust system (not including O2 sensors) are covered under the federal emissions warranty for 80,000 miles I believe, it may be 70,000 miles. So that O2 sensor is not covered after the usual 45,000 runs out.

The SES and CEL are the same.

If you have an SES (CEL) it could be a number of things. For a 2k, and 2k1 there has been the usual items of ignition coils, O2 sensors, reprogramming needing to be done (keep in mind this is with Cali-spec only), and there was even one guy that had a bad cat. That is highly unusual. If you don't seem to have any performance problems then its probably an O2 sensor or reprogramming that needs to be done. If the O2 sensor is faulty they your gas mileage will be crappy. Ignition coils will cause bad performance such as hesitation, sudden acceleration, jumpiness.

For 2k2 and 2k3 I am not totally aware of all the problems but I believe there is a problem with the ECU programming itself. Also there have been a numbers of issues with the MAF. I think they have some O2 problems too, but I'm not sure.

Just FYI for future reference you can get the code pulled at any Autozone for free so you don't have to pay the dealer. And the code will let you know what is going on.

If you do need reprogramming then you have to take it to the dealer and it takes about an hour or two.

Hope this helps. Remember...the CEL is nothing to get too worried about until it starts flashing,

 

Nice Job, I was told by Nissan if it SES was flashing, not to drive the car. Thanks for this post, it just seems like there are a little too many SES lights coming on lately. Luckily for me the car is under lemon law warranty and it is not costing me anything.

 

Great Post, Im still under lemon law warrenty, so I shouldnt be charged either. I just hate dealing with the idiots at Nissan Service. I was so convinced maximas were so realiabe, I also hope this isnt a sign of things to come. I already had the car back to the dealer last week for the brakes, but I love my maxima.

 

I'm feelin ya man, as soon as we get by these issues, I think we will be satisfied with our purchases.

 

Did the dealer take your permission before changing the O2 sensor? Or did they just change it and later bill you? Just wondering...

My car is about 4 months old and I had SES light on a few weeks ago. After refueling one day, it disappeared. I think the $80 that the dealer charges to hook up to a computer is such a rip-off. I heard there are devices readily avialable to consumers that cost about $150 and you can pull the code yourself... I forgot what they are called...

 

This is funny because I was just going to post a question about the SES light. Mine came on yesterday after coming off of the highway. I have a 2K3SE with the INJEN Intake. I have never had this problem before and have been fine with the intake. That's the only thing I can think of that is causing the problem. I am taking it to the dealer tomorrow to have it checked out. I only have 10k miles on my Max and I can't believe it is happening to me. I remember having the same problem in my Honda and the O2 sensor went bad but I would not fix it because it costs like $350 for 1 sensor.

Do you guys think it is still safe to drive the car until I get it inspected? I read in your post about not to drive the car.

 

I wondering the same thing. How long can I go without taking the car into the dealership. Doesn't sound like their is any long-term damage to worry about if not fixed immediately?

My performance seems to be fine and I'm not experiencing higher fuel consumption, so my plan is to drive it for awhile with the SES light on.

Thoughts?

Oh, also what is this code that you guys are talking about that I can get free from AutoZone?

 

You wouldn't believe it but the SES light went away. I think after I hit this big bump in the road, somehow the shock just shut it off. Strange but I think it was some type of sensor trigger.

"Well", I'm going to the dealer today to have it checked out.

 

I have a 2K w/70K miles on it. My SES light came on, took it to dealer. He said it was an O2 sensor and that it was covered under 80K mile manufacturers warranty. Did not cost me anything. Hope this helps.

 

I had this happen about a month ago and it was an O2 sensor. Cost me way more than it should ($260) have but I didn't have time to mess with it. However, IF it is just the sensor and if you can put up with the light being on, I have been driving an Ford Explorer for 2 years with it on and it passes the state emissions test just fine. Problem is there are 3 sensors on the Explorer and the code does not tell you which one it is. Just the parts to replace all 3 are over $500, so I opt'ed to just ignore it. (And please, no one respond with "oh my god you'll kill your engine", as that was about 30k miles ago, out of 130k, and it is running just fine.)

 

There's a 80K warranty? My SES light came on too and if I can get it checked out for free that would be a plus since I'm broke.

 

Hope this helps. Remember...the CEL is nothing to get too worried about until it starts flashing, [/QUOTE]

Thanks for the advise on Autozone, but done now. Also, you can read the codes via counting flashes on the CEL and cross-referencing for free. The Haynes manual mentioned lists exactly how to do this and what each code means.

As for running with a CEL on, not recommended. The car could be running in "open loop" method. The manual recommends that you should get it checked as soon as convenient (as you mentioned, a flashing CEL is more serious).

Also, in NC, you cannot pass a vehicle emissions test with a CEL on. Period. Your vehicle needs to pass to renew the registration.

I'll replace the O2 sensor myself next time.

 

You know what, I love being able to "search" now. My SES light just came on and I was hoping that I would find an answer here on the .org. I see that I'm not the only one with this problem. I have an AE with 60K miles and my gas tank is on E. I'll fill up tomorrow, check the gas cap and lines and see if that helps.

 

Here is a link that has info about O2 sensor in automobile. Hope this helps.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question257.htm