Was wondering if any has ever had their Check Eng. light turn itslef off.. Mine has been on for about 2 months now, blown O2 sensors, go figure. But today iw as driving around down, and i looked down and Walla it was gone, just the seat belt light (buckle up for safty). could be that the light just burnt out or something after all, but Im still prog going to get the ECU tested just to make sure things are on the up and up. Ive never seen it turn itslef off, is this possiable?

 

Mine has done this before on me about 2 months ago. I checked the codes and they were still there. The codes meaning the knock sensor. Just when I thought that I wouldn't have to stare at the light any more for a while, it came back on.

 

I had the same thing happen to me last summer, the CEL (caused by O2 sensor) would stay on for about a week or 2, then turn off by itself

 

same thing happened to me...I don't think that sensor is very important if that engine light keeps turning on and off. I just had one of those sensors replaced last month. Seems like too much of a hassle to keep em?

 

According to the 3-gen manual:
1) if the ecu sees an out of spec voltage from one of the sensors, it will throw a code.
But to eliminate false codes:
2) after about xxx turns of the ingition key(I think it's 50), the ecu doesn't see the error again, it will reset the check engine light.

 

thanks for the info, ive prob. had way more then 50 starts then it went on, more like 500, but i might as well go get it tested, im sure those O2 sensors are the originals and need replacing. Thanks again

 

My check engine light just recently came on for the first time (96 Max 5sp 94K). How does one find out for sure what the problem is? Is the cause usually this "O2 sensor" or are there many other potential causes? (read that it could be caused by not tightening the gas cap...but no such luck for me)

Thanks.

 

your engine fixed itself

 

Same thing happend to me, i was changing out my filter and I turned on the car and forgot to plug the MAF back in and the check engine like came on, it was the o2 code. So i put my MAF sensor back in and then engine light stayed on for the next 500 miles. 500 miles is when the ecu resets itself and checks to see if everything is back in place, then the light will go back off if the problem got fixed and you didn't reset the ecu with the light turned on.

 

go here... http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=104931

will tell you how to get your code, and then what the code(s) mean.. takes all of 15 min... you could go bring it to a shop and have it tested but that will cost you about 50-90 big ones... why spend the cash when you can do it for free..

also in reguards to the Gas cap, you could have also just picked up a bad batch of fuel. make sure your using 91 or better

 

Norel...many thanks for the tip and info. Had no idea this even existed or that one could extract these codes without some type high $$$ equipement. Will check it out tonight!

 

I just drove about 50 miles without a gas cap and no lights turned on. Anyone know why it didn't turn on and sometimes it does?

 

Easy way to check if its burnt out... with the engine off, turn the key to the "ON" position. CEL should come on, if it doesn't, the light is burnt out.

 

many of the codes require 2 back to back trips to turn the Light on. The ecu programming takes the previous 27 or 28 startups to arrive @ it's settings. 1 startup is from complete cold to normal temp. It doesn't count if your car is already warmed up and you start it.

If the check engine light is sporatic, i'd get it checked out. if it only comes on once in a very long time, then it's probably something minor and you can check it @ your leisure.

Jae

 

My light has been on for about 2 months. It went off for about a week in the middle of this 2 month period. My service tech. tried too pull codes but none were stored. He thought the gas cap my be loose. I always tighten it to 5-10 clicks. How can you tell if you have a bad gas cap, and should the computer send a code for a gas cap failure?
He also mentioned that my car mat be sensitive to winter gas with MTBE.
He reset light last night, but it was back on this morning.
Any one have any ideas?

 

If its back on now, pull the codes yourself and see whats going on.. Ill put money on it being your O2 sensors.

As for testing the gas cap, with my old accord, when i got inspected the guy told me it needed to be replaced, i think they put it through some sort of vacume test or something, but im not 100% sure.

 

Just a little comment on this... 3 clicks is sufficient for gas cap tightening. Since the cap is a torque sensing device, it won't tighten any more with 5 or 10 clicks than it will with 3. With 3 clicks, you are sure to have overcome any discrepancy in the ratcheting mechanism and will have a normally tightened cap.