Hello guys,
I'm new at this but I did go through all the steps before I became a member and started posting threads. Recently purchased a 2000 max gle, I've had it for 2.5 months and the ses light comes on i took it to a mechanic to pull the code and it was po217. I found it's the coolant over temperature enrichment protection don't know what that means so mechanic says maybe thermostad since I'm not getting any heat in the cabin, but the temp gauge raises up to h when going uphill and goes back down when downhill. Nissan tells me that it needed coolant and they put a gallon of it in and the problem should be fixed. next day on my way to work it started again. So nissan doesn't want to tell me what's wrong with it or they don't know or they want to rip me off. I'm new at this please any suggestions would help. Has anyone had this problem? how did you fix it? what was the problem?
sorry for the lenght, but I wanted to give as many deatails as possible,
thanks.

 

FSM says....
I'd test your coolant ratio(cheap $.99 tester at Walmart/autoparts stores) and make sure your cooling fans are working. Then I'd replace the thermostat.

 

thanks for info, but I already replaced thermostad I haven't check the fans or ignition timing (i'm don't know much about these things so can you explain this one in more detail?)

 

Cooling fans should kick on/off regularly especially after driving hard and stopping to idle. Just make sure they both are on.

Also, maybe they need to rebleed/burp your coolant, since sometimes a trapped air bubble can cause overheating. However, you saying you don't have any heat into the cab really makes me think your radiator/thermostat is closed not allowing coolant to flow into/out of the engine, ie what happens when you cold start the vehicle in the mornings.

You should take it to a mechanic...this is going to lead to a blown engine or damage shortly.

 

thank you all for your help, I took the car to the nissan dealer and after an entire day of calling them about the car they finally came out and told me I had a blown head and that the cheapest way to go would be to get a used engine. Needless to say I'm not very happy with nissan right now since I took the car to them right after the light came on and they filled it with coolant and sent me on my way. Now i'm stuck with a lemon after 2.5 months of ownership. Does any of this sound suspicious to anyone?

 

blown head on a VQ ? Thats a 1st, and I have alot of friends at Nissan dealers, and even a ex VQ engineer whos now a Nismo engineer. How do they know the HEAD is blown ? Head gasekt is more of a posibility, but a HEAD ? wtf..... Call up 800-Nissan1 and tell them your story. Demand to talk to the dealers service and parts manager, if they sold you this car- make them fix it.

 

I'm trying mike but I've been dealing with the service manager who's a real *******, he won't even return my calls, he has someone else call me and tell me. they tell me that they will pay 25% of the cost. I find that an insult, what's the deal with the 1800 nissan1? can anyone tell me the what I should be expecting to spend to replace the gasket? they are charging me over 2grand, can I take legal action? Help!!!

 

hey dude never even heard of that code--work at a dealer and never ran across that b4--could be a coolant temp sensor code--well now u have got me curious to see what that code is--but it does sound like u have a bubble in the system

 

so does everyone feel the same way, I'm getting ripped off by the nissan dealer that sold this car?

 

Does anyone else have any other comments regarding my problem?

 

Your symptoms are indeed consistent with a blown head gasket or cracked head. While not a common problem in the Max, it could have been caused by an extreme overheating event exprienced by the previous owner (hence the pervious owner's sale?). The overheating is caused by exhaust gases migrating into the coolant system.

 

so basically there's nothing I can do.

 

has anyone heard of the after warranty assurance program???

 

There is something you can do -- get it fixed. You stated you bought your Max 2.5 months ago from a dealer. Warranty? If so, keep calling them.

 

I wasn't offerd an extended warranty, all I got was 30days/1000miles

 

I'd take the car to an idependent ASE shop and have them perform a compression test and if that's bad, leak down test.

If either of those show abnormal, I'd have the ASE shop quote you for installing a junkyard motor you provide them. Then go to www.car-part.com and pick an engine and have it directly shipped to your shop.

BTW, you're past the powertrain 5yr/60K mile warranty, right?

 

yes, I'm past that warranty