So I was saving up money for a new muffler since mine has several holes in it and sounds horrible. As of 2 days ago my engine light also went on so I went to advanced auto and they ran a diagnostic check. They said the cam position is off. I am literally scraping by weekly saving money for my exhaust already and now have to take my car into a shop for a new sensor. Does anyone how much money am I going to have to end up shoveling out now for this? Or have had this happened to them can tell me what they paid? A friend of mine was telling me around $250. Working at a fast food place and going to college makes it a bit difficult to save money so I am trying to research and piece together what I will have to save up but I don't want my sensor to go and my car to not start. Can anyone help out or have any idea of how much it could be?

 

What was the code?
More then likely its the camshaft position sensor that went bad

looks to be a 40-100 dollar part not too bad if thats the issue.

 

If it's the Camshaft Position Sensor, it's a really easy fix (installation wise). I bought mine from a Nissan Dealership unfortunately and was I believe just a little under $100. I've read in some threads that people are using eBay to buy these sensors and don't have any problems. I would research about the people using those and go from there. DON'T PAY A DEALERSHIP OR SHOP TO INSTALL THIS, unless it's free. It took me 5 minutes to swap mine out.

 

It would be helpful to know what code the engine was throwing, the code would have been P0340 cam position sensors ... did you SES light come on?

 

To be honest I don't know, the place was busy so a guy went out with me ran the code said "Your Cam position is off" I asked if he knew how much a fix that would be he said "No", then walked away. I never even got to see it for myself. Should I browse ebay for a new sensor or first go back and record the code?

 

Get the code or you might end up replacing wrong part.

 

Okay then that is tomorrows errand of the day. I'll post the code when I get it tomorrow.

 

Put the code into the forum search, you'll probably pull up several threads. Did that when I got the P0303 code the other night. Read the threads, fixed it myself the next day.

 

So I was going to take it to advanced auto today to get the code pulled again, and after school my engine light was off. Should I just leave it alone and wait for it to come back then pull the code? A friend of my said that if the check engine light went off that could mean the sensor is on its last leg.

 

So the engine light was back on by this morning got the code checked out its cam position p0011.

And now I just searched the threads and found my code. I'm going to try and replace the sensor and hope that fixes the problem, if that doesn't work I will try some of the other suggestions on the thread.

 

find a friend with the same car (without the same problem) lol borrow that cam sensor and see how that works out. a nissan engineer would do the same thing

 

Also check your oil pressure as it can cause the P0011 to go off, as for the cam position sensor there is a TSB for it as well doesn't hurt to have your vin number checked to see if your is listed
TSB- NTB03-124
http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb...=2002&tsb=none

 

P0011 can be caused by low oil level/pressure or dirty oil/sludge build-up.

You can remove the solenoids and blow them out with compressed air.

 

Exactly what Scott has mentioned the variable timing solenoid has a very narrow passage way that sludge or other contaminates can block this passageway which will lead to the next code as P0300 the multi misfire

 

I've never actually pulled the solenoids off, not sure what kind of gaskets or o-rings might be involved.

 

I'll check the oil level today it could possible be low although I did have my oil changed at around 97k with synthetic. I am right now at 98,900. One person did say to put a quart of transmission fluid in the engine, run it for 15 minutes but not drive it, then change the oil with synthetic. I would try this but I was trying to wait until I hit 100k to change all my fluids and oil

And I would try this but none of my friends or anyone I know around me even drives a Nissan let alone a 5.5 gen Maxima. Unfortunately among all my friends I am the only one who represents Nissan, everyone else I know drives only Hondas. My one friend who is going to replace the sensor with me drives a BMW, and a Mustang, but no Nissan. So the closest I can get to a Maxima cam sensor is a junkyard.

Where can I get my VIN number checked for the TSB?

 

my gasket has been reused after pulling them off a couple times. I know its not recommended but i have reused mine. no orings or anything just the rectangular piece of metal w/ holes

 

Any of the Nissan dealerships in your area (service dept.) can run your VIN number and advise you if there are any recalls on your car

 

Yeah I went up at around 2 earlier today and had it checked out, no recall on my Vin for the cam sensor, although there was one for something about my suspension.

 

The suspension recall -

2002 Nissan Maxima Recall Details

1. NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 02V146000
Recall Date: 2002-05-30

Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) COULD BREAK WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME.

Consequences:
THIS CAN CAUSE A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING. THIS COULD RESULT IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINKS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Component Affected:
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Potential Cars Affected:
90,500

Notes:
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

My car doesn't show any of those signs yet, should I call and schedule to have them replaced anyway? They would still replace it for free?

 

I had the same problem so I decided to switch out both camshaft position sensors. Since my buddy is a mechanic he saved me 40 bucks so I got it for 140 for two sensors from the dealer. Good luck man.

 

Yes, get it done. It may be happening at a much slower rate than other cars.
Recalls are no charge repairs, kinda like warranty. If your car is in this category, get it done and sleep peacefully at night.

 

Okay I guess that will be for after sensor and muffler. I have to call the dealership and schedule a day to bring my car in right?

 

question: I couldnt put words to it but someone on here said "bucking" that adequately describes what my maxima has done twice now while i was driving it. I could feel it in the gas pedal, and the car didnt die or anything.
I also recently had issues with when my car has been sitting for a long time, when i would start it and drive off, it would die. I put it back in park and would start it again and drive and it wouldnt give me anymore problems for the rest of the day. could this all be because i need a new cam shaft sensor? where exactly is this thing if its so easy to replace please?

 

Until you check for codes, all you are doing is guessing. Even if the SES light is off, you can still have a pending code. Problems with the cam position sensors and IVT solenoids can cause bucking on acceleration.

 

to the OP....

do you have any problems with acceleration ? is the car running strong ?

 

My car is still running strong, maybe a little under powered it seems like at times. My engine light is still on but my car was a quart of oil short. I put another quart in and am going to check it at the end of the week to see if I lost any oil since. Could 1 quart short explain my engine light being on? Its still on but I am going to reset it today and if it comes back on I guess get the sensor.

Also I saw on another maxima site a post similar to mine a guy advised against getting a cheap ebay sensor saying that they are cheap or not compatible and to get it straight from the dealership? Is this true because at the dealer I would be charged double what I see online the cam sensor go for.

 

I would only trust oem for those kinds of sensors