I know this question has been brought up many times before. I wanted to let everyone know what happened with my dealer, so hopefully no one overpays. I have a 2000 SE.

My "Service Engine Soon" light came on at ~49k miles on the odometer. The car was running fine, all fluids/temperature was fine, but I did notice a decrease in gas mileage (it happened during an 8 hour drive). I took the car to Autozone, they pulled the code for free. Indication was bad rear O2 sensor (Bank 1, Sensor 2), my car is fed spec emission.

I took the car to Nissan questioning the need to update the ECM software and the bad O2. They knew about the 8-yr/80k mile emissions warranty. They updated the ECM and replaced the O2 sensor under warranty. I was prepared to give a speech about how it should be covered under powertrain, thinking they would say I was out of my 3-yr/36k mile warranty and/or tell them about the emissions warranty. Luckily, I didn't have to say a word, they knew about the 8-yr/80k warranty and said it was covered.

Of course they tried to sell me the $100 fuel injector cleaning and told me I needed an alignment. I just put new tires on 2 weeks ago and had an alignment done with the tires so I know I do NOT need an alignment. But that's a different story. I'm guessing they were suggesting the alignment purely by looking at miles on the odometer.

 

Hey Nuke,

I have the same car, 2000 SE, with 56k miles on it, bought it exactly a week ago! I love the car but just got the "service engine soon" light today.

You mentioned the 8/80k emmission coverage. I kinda see it in the manual but it doesn't seem very clear as to exactly what it covers. Could you tell me exactly how it works and what I should tell the dealer if they try to tell me otherwise? Further, does that cover just the parts or labor as well? Do you have to know exactly what is wrong with the emission system and tell them exactly what to replace - in your case oxygen sensor - to get around the diagnostics charge? Is the ECM something that gets constantly updated that I should request the dealer to update it once in a while?

You said Autozone guys pulled the error code for free. You mean they actually brought the reader to the parking lot and read the code for you?

Finally, you said your car is fed spec emission. That's opposed to California emission or is there something else?

I just ran across this site and I'd like to say it is AMAZING! I've been reading countless threads imagining how my car would look and perform after a year of modding... I guess I need to take care of the emission prob first :P

I need to make a 500 mile drive in a few days. Any comments from anyone are welcome.

 

Welcome aboard!
ENJOY THE RIDE!

 

Is this true?? 8years/80k mile emmissions warranty?

I don't have the manual in front of me but I thought it was much less.

I've been driving around with the SES light on for a few months now and have noticed a bit of a drop in mpg...from around 27 to 25-25.

I've been holding off going to the dealer as I don't want to part with 300 or dollars just to have them plug in a Consultant II and say "yep" bad o2 sensor. Looks simple to replace...part is that expensive?

I have just over 77k on my 2000 so if the above is true I'd like to have that verified.

 

If you look at the page 6 in the warranty booklet, under the "How Long is the Defects Warranty", it states: "Additionally ,the engine control module/onboard diagnostic device and catalytic converter(s) listed below and indicated by ab "O" under the caption "Warranty Parts List" are covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first."

The "Warranty Parts List" is on page 8.

However, to me, it doesn't seem like oxygen sensor is included in the warranty. I need clarification from GTNUKE. And oxygen sensor typically costs $80-100, the cheaper ones, which shouldn't be too bad if you're replacing yourself. The autostore in my area (Advanced Auto Parts) don't have the sensor in stock, nor do I know if the sensor is to blame, so it'd be nice if the dealer will do it for free

 

I just spoke to 3 dealers and they all concurred that the O2 is only covered under the 3yr/36k plan. I asked about the 8yr. emissions coverage and was informed that it did not apply to the 02 sensors.
If the dealer did it for you you are one lucky guy.

 

I might have gotten lucky. Here's a few more details of my experience to answer any questions.

I was on a long trip (500 mi), and 1 hour into my trip my SES light came on. I stopped and spent about 30 min checking all fluids, checking the temperature, and checking hoses, etc. I decided it was probably an O2 sensor or something with the emissions system and decided to finish the trip. Keeping a close eye on temp, and listening for any strange sounds. My usual gas mileage is about 28-29 mpg on long trips. I only got 23-24 on that trip so that confirmed it was probably an ECM or O2 sensor problem. I also probably had less power, but didn't notice.

When I got home, I logged onto the .org and checked for descriptions of this problem. I confirmed what I thought (O2 sensor) and also read about most 2000s needing an ECM update. This was not a recall, but something that the dealers would do after replacing an O2 sensor, or when some people had indications of a bad O2 sensor. I also read that Autozone would pull the code for free.

I called Autozone to verify they would pull the code, they asked me the make and year of my car and said, "Sure, bring it in and we will pull the code". The guy at Autozone came out with a handheld code reader, crawled up under the steering wheel, plugged it in and ran it. It came back with "O2 sensor, Bank 1 Sensor 2, not responding", or something like that.

I then called my Nissan dealer, and told them I had an code indication of bad O2 sensor. The Cali spec Maxs have 4 sensors (two front and two rear). The Fed spec Maxs have 3 sensors (two front and one rear). Mine was the rear sensor. I also asked about the update for the ECM over the phone. He said, "yeah, we will do the update when we replace the O2 sensor". I asked if this would be covered under powertrain warrenty (it seemed to me that the ECM, which controls the powertrain, should be covered under powertrain warr.) He told me he thought it was covered under the 8yr/80k emissions warranty, but that he would confirm and would let me know when I brought the car in (I already knew about this warranty from the .org, but didn't tell the guy at Nissan).

I brought the car in and talked to them about having just the ECM updated under warranty, suggesting that the O2 sensor might not really be bad. They said they would probably need to replace the O2 sensor. I told them to call me and let me know if there was going to be any cost (anything not under warranty), and I would decide what I wanted to do (I was considering ordering an O2 sensor and replacing myself if it was going to be costly through Nissan).

They called me to suggest other things, alignment (which I didn't need), fuel injector cleaning (which I didn't need), rear brake pads (which I didn't need), and the two engine belts replaced (which I may need, but I'm having my mechanic check them tomorrow). They didn't say anything about the O2 sensor. I told them I wanted a second opinion on the brakes and belts, and told them I didn't need the other things.

When I picked the car up, there was no charge for anything, labor or parts. I looked at the invoice and it said they replaced the O2 sensor, I asked the service rep to verify and he confirmed they updated the ECM and replaced the rear sensor.

My SES light hasn't came back on, and I didn't pay a dime. Needless to say I was very happy. So happy that I will probably take my car to them to replace the belts, if I need them. I'm a little dissapointed that they were suggesting things I don't need, but I'm guessing they were only going off mileage for the alignment and brakes.

I know I've already written a novel, but for those interested....I had just put Michelin Pilots on my car about 2 weeks prior and had an alignment check then. Everything was well within spec. Also, there is absolutely no tire wear, so I know they didn't diagnose the alignment by looking at tire wear, or by putting it on the alignment machine. Also about 4-5 weeks prior, I had the front rotors turned by my mechanic. He had check all pads and rotor thoroughly and said the back rotors were fine and all pads were about 50% worn. So I know that the back brake pads do not already need replacing.

So like I said, I was disappointed at their "mis-diagnosis" about alignment and brakes. But I was very happy about the free ECM update and O2 sensor. So I still might have them replace the belts if I need it. (even though it will cost me about $50-$75 more) This is, I'm sure, what they were counting on by giving me great warranty service. If I had done everything they recommended (align, injector cleaning, brakes, belts) they would have charged me $400-$450.

So maybe I got lucky because they thought they would get some money and threw in the O2 sensor under warranty. But still, I left without paying a dime.

I was already happy with this Nissan dealer, because when I first bought the car (used, it had 35k on the odometer) there was a small bubble in the dash in front of the passenger seat. They ended up replacing the whole dash with a brand new one (~$600 part, and it took ~10 hrs of labor) under the 3yr/36k warranty. Needless to say, that made me very happy!

I'm sorry this is about 10 pages long, but please let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Oh my gosh!!!

It took me less time to read Gone With the Wind than this thread.

 

At least the movie version had an intermission!

 

One other thing, Autozone did not have the O2 sensor for the 2000 Maxima. They had one from Bosch listed in their system, but it was not currently being manufactured. I think Nissan still has the rights to be the only one to sell the O2 sensors. And yes, they are $80-$85 a pop.

 

Ummmmmm Intermission............

 

Ok, Ok...a bit more than I wanted to know...

 

Actually I only went to the movies before I was married.....so my smiley should have been.......

 

That is DEFINITELY more than ANY of us need to know!!

 

Intermission



Could I have a cold beer with this popcorn?

 

\


Quit Post Whoring

 

 

 

I hate when the server locks up halfway through a reply!!!!

 

 

 

 

I have a 00 Infiniti I30 which has essentially the same engine. After reading your posts, I had Autozone read the codes and it was the same diagnosis, the back 02 sensor was malfuntioning. I called the local (Rowswell, GA) dealer to see if they would cover under warranty but was told that this would only be covered under the 4yr/60,000 mile warranty. I have 66K on my I30. Any ideas as to how to approch them. The wording in the manual is too general to make a case. Thanks.

 

I think the person who wrote this thread got lucky in his situation. I called three Nissan dealers that I have worked with and they all said no, it is part of the 3yr, 36k warranty.

 

*bring me the head of the post ******