2002 Maxima...

Over the past couple of years when driving on the interstate around 70 or 75 miles an hour I would get a SES light on my dashboard. The first time I took it to AutoZone and had them read the code and it came up misfire in number 3 cylinder. Since the car continued to drive very well I didn't think it was a big problem so I had my mechanic clear the SES light from the dashboard.

2 or 3 times a year over the past couple of years I'd get the SES light come on the dashboard. And since the car still drove very well I had my mechanic clear the SES light from the dashboard. I will say I have not ever had a problem getting an inspection sticker.

But about 3 weeks ago the SES light came on and again I had my mechanic clear the SES light from the dashboard. Last week I took the car in to get an inspection sticker and it failed. Even though I did not has an SES light on the dashboard I was told that the onboard computer still showed the fail code. The fail code read O2 sensor not ready and converter not ready. The guy doing the inspection told me to drive the car around for about 100 mile, going fast and then slow, stopping the car and restarting it again and this should clear the computer. I drove the car for a week and put on over 300 miles on the car. Well another inspection failed. I was told that there was a very specific driving pattern I had to adhere to in order for the computer to clear. My request is could someone tell me what the driving pattern I need to use in order to clear the computer.

Thanks very much for any responses.

 

I wouldn't just clear the error for a misfire. It will just keep coming back. Or are you only getting the 02 sensor and cat code now?

To your first issue, it might be the coil on cylinder 3 that's causing the problem. Your mechanic can test it by swapping coils to see if that solves the issue.

 

Thank you Cotozic for your response.

Since the misfire in cylinder 3 code came up a few years ago and my car continued to drive very well I did not look into the cause of the misfire.

But now I'm only getting the O2 sensor not ready and converter not ready code and that's why my car failed it's inspection.

I was told to drive the car for about 100 miles over interstate and surface roads and the code would clear from the onboard computer. This did not work as I went in again and was told that the codes had not cleared the computer.

I now was told that there is a specific driving pattern that's necessary to clear the computer. If someone knows what the specific driving pattern is would you please share this information.

Thank you.