Friday March 29th I bought a brand new 2002 Maxima SE.. (this is the third Maxima I've owned). It had a little under 3 miles on it when I pulled out of the dealers lot. That night and about 40 miles later we noticed the Service Engine Soon light was on. (it was daylight when we left the dealer, and night time when we noticed the light). It's very dim.. but is noticable. I took it to the dealer today to have the undercoating, the top coat and the scotch guarding done. I had them check out the Service light, they informed me that there was nothing wrong with the car. That the light being on must be normal.

Anyone else who owns a 2002 SE have this? I find it to be a problem, because if it is always on.. how am I supposed to know there is a problem?

Any help would be appreciated. I'm heading up to pick my car now, I should be back in a few hours. I'll check back then

Thank you

 

Jenn,

There is no way that the light being on full time would be normal! I would call the service manager and give the techs name that gave you that bs! Give them hell!

Congrats on the car btw. Too bad it had to start like this

 

Save your ammunition for the big fights!

Go back to your dealer and tell them that you contacted Nissan North America. Tell your dealer NNA informed you that it was not normal for the SES light to be on and suggested you return your vehicle to them to have it diagnosed. That should keep them busy for awhile.

It's easier to attract bees with honey than with a baseball bat.

 

True but this is so retarted. I can't believe the tech gave her a line like that. I mean c'mon just because their dealing with a lady? I just dont see any reason why someone would have to go through all that just to get the ecu diagnosed and reset esp with only 40 miles on it??

Nissan, love your cars but your service stinks!

 

I just got back from the dealer, I talked to a different guy this time. He said he has never heard of it.. and was going to wait until after dark to check the other cars on the lot. They ran it through some tests and the computer didn't tell them that there was a problem. He said he would look around a bit and contact Nissan themselves and see if this is a problem, or maybe a crossed wire of some sort (because it's only noticable when the lights are on). He said it could also be a faulty gas cap..

I will find out more tomorrow. In the mean time, the car is parked in the drive way.. won't drive it unless I have to.

Thanks for replying everyone.. I really do appreciate it.

 

Wow...that's some service at the dealer. No one seems to have a clue about the light. I wonder how they got there SAE certifications, hmmm..... Anyhow you can drive the car with the light on for so many miles. It won't damage the car. The only time you will potentially damage the car if the light is flashing on and off, that's when you have a REAL problem. So there are a couple things you can do...

1. Take it to another dealer that actually knows what they are talking about.

2. Disconnect the battery (both positive and negative terminals) and leave it disconnected overnight (at least 6 hours). This should reset the light as well.

3. Keep on driving the car. After about 40 or 50 starts the light will automatically go off.


I would suggest doing taking it to another dealer first. If still no go, then try disconnecting the battery. If it's a serious problem the light will come back on and then take it back to a dealer. Bummer the car has to be like that, but the light can come on with little things that are easy to miss.

 

Yes, but if the SES light is on, it should be throwing a code. The fact that the ECU isn't picking up the code leads me to believe that it may actually be a fault in the light itself, particularly as it doesn't seem to be illuminating fully.

You've got an interesting condition there, Jenn. I agree with foodmanry's recommendations although if it were me, I'd probably disconnect the battery overnight and reset the ECU first to see if that makes the problem go away.

 

Mine came on today. i have 1,300 miles. Very disappointed now. it's gonna take a few days to schedule an appointment, if not weeks

 

Ok, Just a little update.. I have driven the car now for a total of 600 miles.. atleast an hour per drive on the highway. The light is still on, but only when the head lights are on at night. We noticed when you turn the lights on and off the light goes off. It seems to be a switch, crossed wire or something of that nature.

I will try disconnecting the battery tonight.. to see what that does.

(Already thought about the "other" dealer.. to bad the closest dealers are all owned by the same people. I'm going to have to go a long ways out of my way to get this damn thing fixed. )

Thanks everyone for your input

Jenn

 

i think perhaps light back there is leaking where it shouldnt be and partially illuminating the SES. especially if it only turns on when you turn you lights on. if it doesnt appear in the daytime when lights are on OFF, well, you can figure out the rest!

good luck!

 

I agree with ICF, sounds like a leak of light...or some voltage is being fed into the the SES light from someplace in your gauge cluster. You're ECU is probably fine, but you need to demand that the dealer fix this.

 

Jenn,

I've got the same thing happening with my car. Took delivery 2 weeks ago and noticed it for the first time last weekend. I've driven it at night 5-6 times now and on 2 occassions have noticed the 'service engine soon' light faintly illuminated. It is not noticeable in the daylight. I am going to keep my eye on it but I believe it to be a lighting issue more than anything, and your trip to the dealer (no codes) confirmed it. If you want to see how bright the light should be, just leave the gas cap off and start your car (j/k). Keep us posted.

 

My light has been on and off and on for about 1 1/2 years now. Nissan blames my intake, but the light was comming on way before i started modding my car. Light is still on today as we speak, but im going to try to disconnect the neg battery pole and see if that does the trick. This is a 2K Automagic with 58,765 miles.

 

I think, it's not an "ordinary" SES light which indicates problem with a car - that one you wouldn't miss even in a daylight. It normally can be either "ON" or "OFF", not "dimmed". Also it causes ECU to store some error codes which you dealer would definetely pull out with his computer. Seems like some electrical problem that you dealer should fix anyway not giving any excuses that it's "normal".

Mike.

 

Exactly what I say. But for some reason they don't want to fix it. I think I'm going to set up camp in their service department. They have a wonderful selection of cookies and free coffee.. the couches look comfy. I may take my 6 year old daughter with me also. They will fix it fast.. I'm sure

 

And then, of course, there's always the magic word . . . ESCALATE. Ah yes! If your Service Writer doesn't know how to fix the problem, tell him that you want to "escalate" the issue to Nissan North America. That should get some part of his anatomy tied up in a knot! If he refuses to cooperate, tell him you'd like to speak to the Service Manager. Continue up the food chain as necessary until you get what you want.

 

Jenn,

having had my SES light come on in my 2k2 SE recently, I can reassure you that it can be seen during the daytime under the brightest of sunlight. It's impossible to miss if you even glance at the guages. I agree with the others who say it's light leak.

Albert

 

If any one is experiencing this dificulty (SES light comes on dimmly and is really only visible at night- with or without the lights on)there is a problem registered with Nissan tech. and the fix is to replace the entire inst. cluster--Speedo tach. ect.

So don't let your dealer tell you that it's not a problem.

 

does that make your mileage mismatched? that will kill your resale. even on a low mileage car..

 

I have the same dimly glowing SES light at night as well. I have about 800 miles already and it's been doing it since day one (or should I say NIGHT one. ) I really can't see it being leaking light from another light, b/c there is no other light around it! Furthermore, a code probably woould NOT show up b/c I believe the fault is in the wiring or the light itself. Neither of which would throw a code.

My dealer is just a clueless as the next. It's very difficult to diagnose in the daytime. I'll probably have to wait until it gets dark sooner.


Cheers!

 

ive taken mine to the dealer
they said they don't know either
i was like wtf
i got so ****ed...i just bought mine as well...

 

man... 2k2s, problem ridden?

 

about the service engine light
mine came on a while ago but i realized my gas cap was loose
i just replaced it, and after a while (few mintues) it turned off, and never turned on again

good luck

 

Guys--
I know I'm new to this fourm but you don't have to ignore me!I have the same problem w/mine and luckily my tech cared enough to look into it.
My post was to inform you that there is a fix from Nissan---they must replace the Inst. Cluster.
You have to insist that they (your dealer) log on to their tech. line w/Nissan.
Nissan America is aware of the problem and the fix.

I hope this makes it more clear.

 

i dont think anyones ignoring you. this thread is just old.

 

i called a nissan dealer and this is the 2nd time ive went in and im like have u heard of maxima.org and hes like yeah...and i go im not the only person with this problem, theres atleast 30 other members with the same problem. So i know this is not anything ive done...and hes like bring it in tommorrow morning again and we will find a way to take care of it

 

I have 2002 SE, and at 100 miles, I started getting the dim SES light. The service manager said as long as it isn't bright and on all the time, then it is not a problem. He said just drive it a little more, and it will go away.

 

I've got 1200 miles and it is NOT going away.