Last night my '97 SE with 44k on it decided to flash me the infamous MIL light. I'm about to manually check the blink codes to determine what the cause of the error light is, before going into the dealership. While browsing through the forum, I've seen numerous reports of people whose MIL lights came on as a result of faulty O2 sensors. In many cases, these people were able have the sensors replaced for free at the dealership, as part of a factory recall. However, I can find absolutely no evidence of a factory recall on anything related to '95 - '99 Maximas at the NHTSA recall site ("http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/")

Is the recall an "unofficial one," and really the Nissan service Dept's discretion, or what?

If some folks have had to pay for the 02 sensor replacement, what were the approximate costs of the repair?

I realize that there could very well be other causes of the error light, but I'd like to explore my options before taking the car into the Dealership's service Dept.


Thanks.

 

Well lets see.. i have a 97 also.. i didn't hear anything about the recall.. but anyway.. mine was intentionally screwed up during the y pipe install..

Ok.. i bought my O2 Sensor for $82 .. for which service tried to charge me $175 .. I installed it myself .. for which service wanted 1 hr and half worth labor..

I have seen O2 sensors as cheap as $60

Vester Nissan in NC
Southpoint Nissan in TX
Extreme Nissan in For Sale Forum

 

You are getting way ahead of yourself. Carry out your stated plan of doing a Diagnostic Trouble Code readout. Your MIL may have nothing to do with Oxygen Sensors.

 

I was at my nissan dealership yesterday and asked they said it was only for 95-96 max's mine's a 97 so no worry

 

There was a recall. My MIL lights came on a couple of months ago and it was the O2 sensor. Took it to the dealer and Didn't ask them if there was a recall! To told them that I was here for the recall. He took all my info and told me what day to bring it back. Said it took like a hour and a half because there some other things that need to be replaced also...it took the about 2 hours.

 

Either I mistakenly reset the car's ECU when I was trying to determine the blink code, or the MIL light coming on was a fluke in the first place. I followed the vbxmaxima instructions to a T ("http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html"), but when turning the ECU selector screw, I never felt an actual "stop." The screw turned fairly easily to the right and to the left through several rotations, without resistance. I only stopped turning the screw because I assumed that I had gone way past the intended stops. The blink codes read "5 long and 5 short," which apparently correspond to "No Failure Recorded/Detected." Took the key out of the ignition, replaced it, started the car up, and the MIL light no longer comes on. Though this contradicts the vbxmaxima directions, I think the black and blue lines that are written on the ECU sticker actually correspond to the right and left stops.

Either way, I'm assuming that if a problem comes up again in the cars emission system, it'll trigger the MIL light again. I'm betting that by design, the MIL light is a sort-of systems monitor that runs at all times.

Any thoughts, Mr. Martin?

 

Almost. The Engine Control Unit is a systems monitor that runs at all times (at least, at all times when the engine is running). The Malfunction Indicator Light is the visible signal that the ECM found something it didn't like.

Yes, sooner or later. Probably sooner.

 

its funny.. a bit off the subject..

when we had my O2 sensor problem.. i reset it .. and it tripped 2 days later 100 miles..

then i reset it again and it tripped same day , after 5 miles..

I guess my engine was upset with me