I need a little trouble shooting help. I washed my car yesterday, drove down the road about a mile and my motor suddenly shuts off.
It luckily cranks back up and and I make it back home. I go to drive it today and the same thing happens again. It has plenty of gas, battery is strong, I checked and tightend the battery terminals. I start it again todsy and it idles smooth, but shut off after about 5 minutes of idle. My car is 03 Maxima with 103,000 miles. The only thing I've done is new plugs and the updated rear valve cover at 75,000 miles. Any help or ideas is appreciated.

 

Did you wash under the hood as well?

 

No, just under the fender wells and frame.

 

The service engine soon, limited slip, and traction control off lights are on in the dash display.

 

Check for codes and pending codes (aka Incomplete Monitors) and let us know what you get.

 

Hopefully I can figure it out sometime next week. I'm a little hesitant to drive it now.

 

You might have gotten the alternator wet?

 

I ordered one of the cheap OBD bluetooth scanners. Should be here by Wednesday. Hopefully this can tell me if a sensor is bad. Until then I will let it rest in the garage.

 

Got the cam sensor bank 2 code. Do these usually go out with no warning signs?

 

The symptom is the warning sign

It's a common problem. The early design is faulty. Oil shorts out the sensor.

 

Finally drove my Maxima after replacing the cam sensor, and now getting a P0021 code?

 

https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...any-ideas.html

 

P0021 indicates a problem with your Bank 2 IVT (Intake Valve Timing). So your bank 2 Cam/Crank/other is still messed up.
You should download the FSM for your car (http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/2003/EC.pdf ). It lists the following as possible causes: Harness or connector; Intake valve timing control solenoid valve circuit is open or shorted; Intake valve timing control solenoid valve; Crankshaft position sensor (POS); Camshaft position sensor (PHASE); Accumulation of debris to the signal pick-up portion of the camshaft.
I would start with the last two and work from there.

 

Is this typical of a Maxima to start throwing codes once it hits 100,000 miles? I'm afraid to drive it anywhere now after the car dying from the bad cam sensor and now this p0021 code coming on back to back.

 

Replaced the cam and crank sensors. I cleared the codes, but the P0021 code is back again. Should I go ahead and replace the Intake valve timing control solenoid?

 

yes, those solenoids go bad...usually the one on the bank2 first.. Check oil level before u change it.. Low oil usually triggers it.

 

My car went into "Limp Mode" and would only rev to 2000 rpm.

I just had this same issue...P0101 and P0103..MAF sensor was bad.

Reset ECU after replacing MAF sensor and all codes...GONE.

 

Here we go again, I put in the new intake valve timing sensor (one closet to front bumper) and new cam and crank sensors. I make it about 10 miles and car shuts down. After I sit for a good 30 minutes the car starts and dies again about 5 miles down the road. I give up and have it towed home, because it is too dangerous to drive. I'm getting the same p0021 and p0035 codes again. This car is driving me nuts!