Okay so let me make this short and simple for you guys....2k2 6spd bone stock except for GAB....

driving home from skool I noticed a serious powerloss at around 1500 RPMs....didn't think it was a biggie becuz no SES light yet and no weird noises.....Parked at home...took a shower and got ready for work....cracked the car over and it wouldn't go.....usually it cracks over in half a second....but i held it for 2 seconds and no go.....this time I held it for about 4 seconds and it finally cranked over.....with an SES light....was very upset about this so after work i pulled the codes using the SES light reset procedure....

0340 - Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit malfunction

OR

0350 - Ignition Coil Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction

I'm pretty sure its the camshaft one....but I sorta lost count on the 3rd digit while it was blinking at me....I know for sure the 3rd digit its either 4 or 5 blinks.....the other digits are correct....so i end up with these two codes....and I also end up with a severe powerloss too.....my 2k2 feels like i'm driving a 4th gen 3.0 liter.....basically i feel like i lost 40-50hp all across the powerband....

anyway a few months back I had my car at the dealership and they told me about the camshaft sensor recall....they replaced it for free....So i already got that down...also I know maximas are known for bad ignition coils.....but where do I start? I'm basically stuck becuz I can't even reset my ECU becuz now that I try to do the procedure....it won't allow me to go any further.....like on the 4th step when I floor the gas pedal for 10 seconds and wait for the SES to blink...it wont go any further than dat....i am very upset becuz I cant even reset my ECU!!! And i cant even pull the codes anymore to double check!! ARGH

SOMEBODY HELP!!!!!

 

still under warranty?...take it to the dealership and let them worry about it

 

No I am not under warranty anymore....does anybody have a similiar situation to mine? or had one? i need to know what you guys did.....!!

 

I'm tryin to see if the MAF is messed up cuz i Know 2k2 MAFs are weak as hell....but damnit I cant even pull the codes anymore....It wont let me go passed the 4th step (floor it and wait 10 seconds for SES light to flash).....it won't go into self diagnosis mode....

 

drive over to AutoZone and have them scan it for ya. I'm sure there is someone in Cali with a OBDII scanner on the .ORG. I think your camshaft position sensor is bad, or maybe its unplugged ? Maybe the recalled part didn't get installed ? I seen weird things at the dealer.

 

Blackbird...thanks for the reply...that was my next step...to take it to autozone since my ECU reset procedure wont work nemore.....but heres the thing....does the camshaft position sensor suppose to make my car act like this? very sluggish and very hard to crank over during start up? I mean i realize its important part of the car, but why does it not allow me to start up normally? I understand the sluggishness but sometimes I'm scared that my car won't start AT ALL becuz it takes FOREVER to crank over sometimes...like 6 seconds......

btw can you tell me where this thing is located? where in the engine bay? maybe I can see if its plugged in....but the weird thing is I took my car in the dealers this one time....and they told me about the re-call and said they changed it....should work fine right?

 

I would look for a sensor somewhere eighter by the timing chain cover, or on the valve cover somewhere. I can't tell you without looking for pictures of a 3.5L where its located, on a 3.0L its right on the timing chain cover. If the cam sensor fails the ECU goes into limp mode and it uses the CRANK position sensor to tell it if the engine is runing or not. It also needs more crank revolutions to see that you are trying to start the engine over, where cam position sensor will tell the ECU exac location of the cam and cranshaft in relation to eachother. When one fails- cam or crank position sensor, the ECU goes into limp mode and will limit power output of the engine. It will be very hard to start the engine up. I'm not a 3.5L guru here as far as where the sensors are located, but I know my 3.0L from top to bottom- which shares alot of parts with the 3.5L.

 

Thank you once again for the quick response!

I will look for the sensor right now.....btw is it a "plug" type sensor? meaning does it plug into a bunch of wires? or maybe its like one of those type of sensors where its bolted on something?

BlackBird, you ROCK when it comes to troubleshooting! Being a nissan/acura master tech must have paid off =)

 

Thanx for the kind words it will be a plug type of a sensor, lemme look for a picture of a 3.5L somewhere online and I will tell ya for sure where it at. It will most likely be on the passenger side of the engine, right around the drive belts area, somewhere on the very top of the engine/valve cover area- cause this is the area of the cams- aka cam position sensor.

 

Cool...just got back from my garage....yeah i know maxima VQs are mounted transversely....and so the headers are on the front n back...while the timing chain/crankshaft and transmission are on the sides.....so I was lookin at the passenger sides of the engine near the timing area....I found one plug near the front....its right above the oil dipstick...the plug housing is colored GREEN.....i dunno where it leads to becuz my engine cover is blocking it (cant take it off cuz i dont have the allen wrench size) but its near the timing chain area....could it be this? I unplugged it and plugged it back in....seems snug and tight....also theres a red and black wire that lead into this plug.....i'm sure its positive and negative....wires arent frayed or nuttin either....

once again thanks for da help!

 

bump.......anybody? I'm seriously scared that I might blow the starter or something cuz it takes FOREVER to crank over...like 5+ seconds.....and it feels like my car is going thru severe pain when starting up =(

 

buy a 3rd gen problem solved