Blueboy28

My 2003 Maxima GLI cut out completely while driving at a low speed. After pulling over I managed to start it again with several attempts and having to pump the accelerator. After this the VDC warning light came on and could not be switched off. I took it to the local mechanic who ran the computer scan on it (manual after system would not detect automatically - so he tells me). During scan, lights and radiator fan were running which I found strange? Scan ran for approx 10 minutes after which no fault could be detected. Sure enough when the car was restarted (easily with no priming necessary as is normal) the VDC warning light had gone off. Although it has not cut out since I have just experienced a couple of brief "power loss" events before car again ran as normal. Has anybody experienced anything similar or have any suggestions as to what the problem could be? Many thanks for any advice received. (I am no mechanic!).

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

typically cam/crank sensors

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

100% cam sensors, and they dont always throw codes. hitatchi or oem and replace all 3 sensors and you will be good.

i had symptoms like that and they were random, some weeks apart.

Blueboy28

Thanks people. Taking it to the Mechanic again today so might save him a lot of time and me money! Hopefully sensors and fitting thereof not exorbitant given the age and 235,000ks on the clock. Has been a brilliant, reliable car since new and apart from replacing 4 fuel injectors recently has not missed a beat. Fingers crossed.

Blueboy28

Update. Engine warning light also came on while driving to mechanic. He ran the computer scan which fortunately produced errors, not all of which are a concern apparently. He is now replacing the 2 cam sensors on Bank 2 in accordance with scan findings. I mentioned 3 sensors as per your advice but he was not sure where the 3rd would be?

I35GEEK

There are 2 cam sensors and 1 crankshaft position sensor in our cars. You need to find the 3rd sensor which is the crankshaft position. It is located on the oil pan. I can crawl underneath my car and replace it even without jacking the car up.

See 2:00 min mark in this video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rtR5zvqwOpo

Does this mechanic that you are using really know what he is doing?

Blueboy28

I believe the error code was P0345? He has replaced the two camshaft sensors but not changed the crank shaft sensor at this stage. Car is running like new again so I am happy. Post works scan all clear so will just drive for the time being until next service. Total cost A$300 , A$260 of which was the replacement sensors. Thanks everybody for the advice and the excellent diagnosis.

I35GEEK

Congrats on fixing the car.

Tip: when 1 CAM/crank shaft sensor becomes defective, the other 2 may fail soon after. That is why experts recommend replacing all 3.

These sensors failing is very common in our cars especially if the mechanic did not use OEM sensors. I personally don’t use OEM either because replacing sensors is an easy task - as easy as changing a light bulb. I also don’t want to spend tons of $ to keep an 18 year old car going. I keep an extra set of cheap sensors from Amazon in my garage just in case.

You can tell your crankshaft sensor is going bad because the car is hard to start or won’t start at all. It can also lose power and / or run rough. It may or may not throw a code.

Learn to change your own sensors. It will save you thousands of dollars over the course of owning a car. You will also get the satisfaction of fixing a car yourself. Lastly, knowledge is power. You will never fear again whenever your old car is acting up. The above video is your best friend. I watched it many times over the last 20 years of owning my Max. It is a great reminder of where to find these sensors when things go wrong.