My white Maxima's inspection is a little overdue right now. Wary of believing an AutoZone code read, I have a mystery SES that I hope doesn't end up costing an arm and a leg.

It turns off for a day or so (sometimes less, rarely more) when I drive in rainy weather or spray wash the underside of the car.

Any guesses? I'm all ears.

 

You're wary of letting Autozone pull your code(s)? For free?

They use the same scanner your local Nissan dealer will. The only difference is Nissan will charge you $45 to use it.

Autozone will pull the code, print it off, and tell you exactly what it is. Then if you still don't believe them, walk out the door with code, and go ahead and look it up online.

 

Alternatively, if you really don't trust Autozone, you can go buy your own scan tool. They're pretty cheap now.

All you need to get is the code and bring it here. Without it you're just shooting blindly in the dark.

 

I say a clog cat? since when it rains, water gets on it to cool it down a bit?

 

The SES Light isn't a mystery per say, it's telling you that a code is recorded.
Have it read and your mystery will be solved.

 

doubt it. water would only get on the main cat, which is not monitored by the ECU at all

 

Or an 02 sensor.

 

I had become reticent to have Autozone/Advance Auto pull codes because I've had a shop tell me that a car was pulling different codes from what AA/AZ was telling me.

This time I went there, and the employee plainly stated that the reader indicated P0110 - Intake Air Temperature Sensor ...

.... I went home and tried my other '00's sensor on this car. Still an SES. So I picked a new one up for $32. Still an SES, and another scan indicated that the P0110 was showing up twice.... one for the sensor and one for the circuit itself.

... The employee pointed to the loose fit of the intake plastickry to the airbox, where the plastic ring sleeve is. She said that the bad air sealing there might be throwing things off.

Before the $6k collision, that area of the intake was taped up by the previous owner. Maybe this error is why they had it taped up?

I really gotta get this car inspected and would sure like to fix it myself instead of having a shop charge me, especially if it's simple stupid stuff.

 

Then it's the wiring, so yeah, sounds like some yahoo taped it up crappy.

 

That's great.

I wonder how I could make it easier for the shop so I don't have to pay out the anus for this repair. Maybe I should install my black '00s short ram intake as it would provide easier access to wiring.

 

Just follow the wire from the sensor and find the spliced/damaged section and repair it.

 

Ugh. I don't have a tester/multimeter. Well, it's either I do it or the shop spends hours doing it.

 

its probably right near the ECU where they took the signal for something (VAFC, maybe)