I'm told by the mechanic that the fuel tank pressure sensor is faulty. After spending a couple of days searching online, I'm not sure this model even has one. On other cars they're located on top of the fuel pump. In all of the videos I found online it's nowhere to be found. Does anyone here know where it's located? Maybe there's another name for it?

 

Fire your mechanic.

 

Does this part not exist? The one they reference and the one i found online says it costs around $290. I've looked through the Haynes manual as well and can't find how to replace this phantom part.

 

Link to the part you're referring to? There's a mechanical pressure regulator, and there's a temp sensor and fuel level sensor, But pressure sensor???

What is the car in the shop for?

 

Sure. Wasn't certain on the rules for linking here.
EVAP fuel tank pressure sensor

It's in the shop for emissions issues. They recommend a new vapor canister and fuel tank pressure sensor.

 

The fuel pressure regulator is located on top of the fuel pump.
The fuel tank pressure sensor is located down under the car right by the EVAP canister, look for a hose going from the EVAP canister (close to the purge valve) upward toward the fuel tank and you'll see it.
To give you a sort of idea where it is, this video is for replacing the purge valve on a 4th gen Maxima but he points out the fuel tank pressure sensor at about the 2:45 mark:

 

Now here's something fairly interesting though...
If you search on rockauto for a 2002 Maxima fuel pressure sensor, it only brings up one option: an NTK (apparently same company as NGK) for $273:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...re+sensor,6385

However, if you look up the fuel pressure sensor for a 1999 Maxima, it brings up TWO options, the exact same NTK sensor OR a Standard Motor Products sensor for WAAAY cheaper ($68):

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...re+sensor,6385

I have no idea why the Standard sensor doesn't show up on the 2002 Maxima search, since the exact same NTK part shows up for both. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work the exact same... personally for $68 I'd try it and see if it gets me past inspection.

 

Thanks for the info!. It is greatly appreciated! I found that very odd as well. When I look the SMP AS200 up for some reason it works with other Nissan models up to 2002, but not any Maxima past '99. I get a similar result from CarID and SMP's main site when trying to search. I may have to pay a visit to the salvage yard.

Rock Auto


CarID

 

I would still try the SMP one first. To me it's an "If A = B and B = C then A = C" sort of thing- if both brands show up as options for the 99 year model, they must be exactly the same. And since the NTK shows up as the option for the 02 model year, the SMP must work for the 02 as well. The SMP will be brand new for a great price, and it's returnable if it doesn't work, whereas the salvage yard one could be every bit as faulty as yours since it's been sitting out in the elements in the EVAP system maybe with fuel leaking into it... your call though!