02 Max with blinking engine light and codes p0420 & p0455
07-04-2015, 03:54 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Wisconsin, East of Madison, small town of Hustisford
Posts: 23
02 Max with blinking engine light and codes p0420 & p0455
I am the proud owner of an 02 Max that has unfortunately, contracted a nasty virus...
As I reach 3-3.5k rpms in 2nd gear and above, my car stops accelerating and starts to sputter/hesitates as if something was clogged or preventing it from further accelerating. It's almost like a popping, red lined sound, real nasty sounding. I put new plugs but the not wires/coils(stupid me being cheap lol), and a new fuel filter in it with no change to the problem. I have to let off the pedal slightly for it to shift/accelerate. It takes about roughly 35-40 seconds to reach 60mph. The cat is about 2yrs old and was put on with a new exhaust. I have an Injen cold air intake as well, if that would cause anything. Now the p0420 code is "Catalyist efficiency below threshold, bank 1" and p0455 is "EVAP system leak- large" The info I found on that was, "Vent Control Valve Replacement" on the EVAP canister. So if that don't fix the problem, my next guess is either the coils/wires, an old vacuum hose getting pinched at high RPMs or something cat related. It feels/sounds like it's a trans problem tho the way it stops at 3.5k rpms like a Rev limiter is kicking in or something. Any thoughts? Please help, I love my Max and don't want to see her go....
As I reach 3-3.5k rpms in 2nd gear and above, my car stops accelerating and starts to sputter/hesitates as if something was clogged or preventing it from further accelerating. It's almost like a popping, red lined sound, real nasty sounding. I put new plugs but the not wires/coils(stupid me being cheap lol), and a new fuel filter in it with no change to the problem. I have to let off the pedal slightly for it to shift/accelerate. It takes about roughly 35-40 seconds to reach 60mph. The cat is about 2yrs old and was put on with a new exhaust. I have an Injen cold air intake as well, if that would cause anything. Now the p0420 code is "Catalyist efficiency below threshold, bank 1" and p0455 is "EVAP system leak- large" The info I found on that was, "Vent Control Valve Replacement" on the EVAP canister. So if that don't fix the problem, my next guess is either the coils/wires, an old vacuum hose getting pinched at high RPMs or something cat related. It feels/sounds like it's a trans problem tho the way it stops at 3.5k rpms like a Rev limiter is kicking in or something. Any thoughts? Please help, I love my Max and don't want to see her go....
07-04-2015, 08:04 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,445
I am the proud owner of an 02 Max that has unfortunately, contracted a nasty virus... As I reach 3-3.5k rpms in 2nd gear and above, my car stops accelerating and starts to sputter/hesitates as if something was clogged or preventing it from further accelerating. It's almost like a popping, red lined sound, real nasty sounding. I put new plugs but the not wires/coils(stupid me being cheap lol), and a new fuel filter in it with no change to the problem. I have to let off the pedal slightly for it to shift/accelerate. It takes about roughly 35-40 seconds to reach 60mph. The cat is about 2yrs old and was put on with a new exhaust. I have an Injen cold air intake as well, if that would cause anything. Now the p0420 code is "Catalyist efficiency below threshold, bank 1" and p0455 is "EVAP system leak- large" The info I found on that was, "Vent Control Valve Replacement" on the EVAP canister. So if that don't fix the problem, my next guess is either the coils/wires, an old vacuum hose getting pinched at high RPMs or something cat related. It feels/sounds like it's a trans problem tho the way it stops at 3.5k rpms like a Rev limiter is kicking in or something. Any thoughts? Please help, I love my Max and don't want to see her go....
As I reach 3-3.5k rpms in 2nd gear and above, my car stops accelerating and starts to sputter/hesitates as if something was clogged or preventing it from further accelerating. It's almost like a popping, red lined sound, real nasty sounding. I put new plugs but the not wires/coils(stupid me being cheap lol), and a new fuel filter in it with no change to the problem. I have to let off the pedal slightly for it to shift/accelerate. It takes about roughly 35-40 seconds to reach 60mph. The cat is about 2yrs old and was put on with a new exhaust. I have an Injen cold air intake as well, if that would cause anything. Now the p0420 code is "Catalyist efficiency below threshold, bank 1" and p0455 is "EVAP system leak- large" The info I found on that was, "Vent Control Valve Replacement" on the EVAP canister. So if that don't fix the problem, my next guess is either the coils/wires, an old vacuum hose getting pinched at high RPMs or something cat related. It feels/sounds like it's a trans problem tho the way it stops at 3.5k rpms like a Rev limiter is kicking in or something. Any thoughts? Please help, I love my Max and don't want to see her go.... 
07-06-2015, 10:05 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Wisconsin, East of Madison, small town of Hustisford
Posts: 23
I have a video of it.
I'll put the video I have on YouTube and name it, "02 Maxima Bad Sputter" so you can see/hear what it does lol. I tried that link Maxiiiboy and my phone cannot open the files.
Last edited by 02maxima76; 07-06-2015 at 10:11 AM.
07-27-2015, 09:50 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Wisconsin, East of Madison, small town of Hustisford
Posts: 23
Figured it out.
Put the stock air filter/intake on it when I traded it in, ran just fine. The cone filter on my Injen cold air intake was waaay dirty I guess. I should have thought about that with all the construction and dust in town lol. Still ran a little funny the first 10 miles or so but, once on the highway, passing a car, she moved along nicely with no sputters or problems. Put cold air intake filter on the checklist lol. Also it's July 27th at 11:51pm. Post says July 28th at 4:50am lol.
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