MadAlex2002

Second time this has happened (first time was back in April, and cleared by itself):

- Engine stalled accelerating out of a turn (first time it happened the engine almost stalled, but kept running)
- Service Engine Soon (SES) light came on and stayed on
- Car starts, but only after ~ 10 seconds (long cranking)
- Tach is dead (at 0) regardless of throttle, speedo and other instruments OK
- Can sorta feel it missing at low throttle, idle

The car has 93K on it and I bought it used.

Monday, I ran the ECU Rest procedure and cleared the SES light, then took it to the local Goodyear/Gemini and had the battery replaced (it was due anyway - over 3 years old and possibly the original) along with oil/lube service. After they replaced the battery the SES light came back on again, so I told them to pull the codes and diagnose the problem. After 2 hours worth of "diagnostics" they finally told me the car threw a P0335 code, suggesting a/the crankshaft position sensor (which I suspected anyway, due to the dead tach symptom).

Then they told me that there are two crankshaft position sensors. Huh? A re-check of my Haynes manual says that the Gen 5 only has the POS sensor, and that they stopped using the second REF sensor in 1999. They also told me that after their initial search, they couldn't find any crankshaft position sensors on the East coast. Their write-up also suggested replacing both O2 sensors, but doesn't say why. Finally, they suggested a BG induction cleaning service - I objected and told them to take that off the ticket after saying that I had had one less than 10K ago (actually it was only 5K) - then their guy said that the mechanic probably thought it hadn't been done or hadn't been done properly. The other shop that did the induction cleaning work is check-rated by the local Consumers' Checkbook, and this Goodyear/Gemini shop just opened this past summer, so guess which one I trust more.

IAC, they called last night and said the "sensor(s)" came in, so I took the car in this morning - hoping that they would at least get the new crankshaft position sensor on to fix the real problem, and that I could then be done with them. They had re-written the ticket and put the induction cleaning service back in, so I made them take it off again.

So, are these guys trying to rip me off, clueless (or both)? For starters, can anybody confirm how many crankshaft position sensors a 2002 Max has? Does 93K mean it's probably ripe for O2 sensor(s)?

Murphy5156

DON'T PAY FOR THIS REPAIR!!! Mine had the exact same problem a few weeks ago, the same exact symptoms as yours....the dealer took a look and told me the Crank Position Sensor had to be replaced....and it had a RECALL notice out for that part, so it cost me NOTHING for the dealer to replace it. I think I still have the receipt at home where I can grab the recall notice number for you (the orange recall notice was on my fridge for about year or more and I just blew it off). Mine is a 2002 with 103,000....I will try and get you that recall notice number tonight when I get home and get back on here tonight and let you know what it is, that way you'll be able to give it to the dealer and have the sensor replaced for free. My car came out of the shop for $0 and I swear it runs better now than it has in years. Good luck!

Murphy5156

Found the info on the recall on line:

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 03V455000
Recall Data: 11/17/2003
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Units Affected: 630000
2002 NISSAN MAXIMA ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Recall Date: 11/17/2003

Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence:
THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Potential Units Affected: 630000

Notes: NISSAN MAXIMA R3021/R3022

MadAlex2002

Thanks for posting this ... but in this case I was most interested in getting the work done ASAP and was willing to pay the price to get the car working right before the holidays - last time I drove by my local dealer (Brown's Sterling Nissan), there was literally no room to even get my car on their lot. So I had little faith in the ability to schedule dealer recall service this/next week, considering that my car stalled in the road without warning this time.

Maxfli

iTrader: (2)

BG Induction cleaning service - save your money or buy lottery tickets with the money...you are more likely to get something back from the lottery tickets. IMO, BG stands for the "Big Gouge". It's just a revenue generator for repair shops...they use a can of BG cleaner @ $20/can and hit you with a $70 labor charge.

As for the crank position sensor, if you get it done at Goodyear, you risk them screwing it up (you did say it took them 2 hrs to pull the P0335 code, right??? ) If they do it correctly, you will have your car fixed and *may eventually* get Nissan to reimburse you for the repair since it was part of a recall but that will likely take a bit of time and effort. If they screw it up, well you are going to have to take it to the dealership anyway. They will fix it but won't reimburse you for the work Goodyear charged you for.

So, it is up to you but I've generally not had good luck with the Goodyear/Firestone/Brake specialist places that I have used in a crunch.

Shane02Maxima

What's the deal with the crankshaft sensor and where can you go to find out what other parts the 5.5 Gen has recalls on I have a few odd problems but any help would be great

Shane02Maxima

Ok just lmk the recall number and is their any other recalls on the 02 maximas? That you know of

maxiiiboy

Try this: http://www.nissanproblems.com/recalls/Maxima/

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

This is way too much back and forth for a 60 second repair.