Today i went to warm up my max and notice the service engine soon (SES) light was on, so i took it to autozone for a code check, the SES code was for the EGR system, the guy at autozone told me the valve is probably stuck in the open position.

Has anyone ever cleaned a EGR valve before, and will doing so release the valve .

 

Yay me too, mines at the dealership and not sure as to whats causing it but should find out tomorrow.

 

keep me posted on any info you can get about this service

 

Could be serious, I had it happen to mine. If I remember the code was P1402 or something.

Basically pieces of catalitic converter have entered the valve and effed it up. The dealership changed the valve for me.

There is a TSB for it that calls for inspection and possible replacement of catalitic converters.

 

Well I just heard back from the dealership and looks like I had the same problem as xoomer. Cat fragmented and made the EGR valve stick open. It also caused a cylinder 5 misfire. I am at 59k miles and they are replacing everything for free under warranty.

 

BTW heres a thread that helped me decide to go to the dealership.

http://www.6thgenmaxima.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3527

 

Thanks for the info guys i think this happend because i was using 87 and 89 octane off and on,today i took out the EGR valve, and check it for build up it was clean,and i open the valve with a small screwdriver,i cleaned the valve with some brake cleaner and reinstall it, i still have a SES if it dosen't go out after a couple days, i'm going to have purchase a new one.

This stuck my car only have 40k and no warranty.

 

It should be under the 60k powertrain warranty. I'm at 59k miles, bought used, and the dealership still took care of it. I emailed them and it goes with the car not the owner. Take it in and see what they say.

 

sound like a plan, i will take it to the dealership in the morning

 

VQPRO - Bezzle01 is correct. This should be covered under the 60K power train warranty.

The use of 87 or 89 gasoline should have no effect in the area of your problem. There may have been very small pieces of the catalytic converter you didn't see. Or something else. But if the problem continues with 87 octane, then changing to 93 shouldn't fix it (although some novice techs might suggest this).

By the way, you mentioned switching between 87 and 89 octane. The owners manual says it takes the 6th gen system approximately one full tank of driving before it fully recognizes and adjusts to a new octane. During that tankful, it is not properly adjusted for the octane being used, and is not running efficiently. I wouldn't recommend changing octanes more than a few times a year, like say using one octane for cool season driving and another for warm season driving. I have not changed octanes a single time in the 3 1/2 years I have owned my '04.

 

yea im going to stick with 93 for now, i'll have to wait until after christmas to get my EGR valve replace

 

I think they have to change it for free if under 80K but could be mistaken

 

Just remember to take it easy while you are having this problem. You dont want to cause any more. I read somewhere that if you are having this problem and you floor it all the time you could blow your engine.

 

Did you go to the dealership today? What did they say? I suspect the SES light won't clear on it's own but I could be wrong. Dealership can check it and clear it for you.

 

today i went to the airport, to pick up someone and my SES light went out before i got home.

 

I also have the same code. The guys at autozone told me to run a test. I'll take to a local mechanic to take a look at it. I hope its nothing too expensive.

 

out of warranty? could be expensive, lets hope not.

If the mechanic is not a dealer and they don't know how to apply the TSB, the fix they'll provide will only be temporary. If there are any loose pieces in the catalitic converter they will continue to do the damage to both the EGR and possibly to the engine as was the case with Kam's car.

 

If the problem is just the EGR valve , replacing it might not be too expensive ,but if the catalitic converter is causing the problem it could cost alot to get it fix .you can check out the EGR valve price on buynissanparts.com

 

I'm at 120k miles so warranty is out of the picture.. Once I get my 120k maintenance, I'm gonna get the clicking noise and this issue resolved. i'll keep you guys updated..

 

I would have to add here that if he takes it to any mechanic he will not know to check for loose pieces in the Cats. So my advice is print out the TSB and then take it to the mech.