Hello. I want to say thanks ahead of time to all the wonderful helpful people here.


Complete Timeline is as follows (This entire timeline occurred between August 20th 2020 and now, Sept 7th 2020


-Used, neglected, 1997 Maxima purchased 111.7k miles (now at 113,500)


-During my prepurchase overview the car had trouble starting


-It was driven 5,300 miles since January 2018

-Replaced starter with remanufactured Oreiley Ultimo 10 tooth. Still trouble starting with new starter.

-Old battery that it came with was over 2 1/2 years old, only rated for 525 CCA / 655 ambient amps. Battery tester was showing it testing below the rating and saying it needed charging, even after I drove the car over 150 miles.


-Replaced the battery with new Walmart battery rated at 725 CCA / 900 ambient. Charged it overnight before install. Battery tester tested it as well over both ratings

-I damaged the MAF sensor by spraying the circuit board with cleaner, CEL light for that as well, I replaced with Delphi MAF.

-At this point, my trouble starting issues were fixed.


-Check Engine light for downstream O2 sensor Bank 1 Sensor 2 & Knock sensor


-Paid mechanic to replace fuel filter with K&N, 6 spark plugs with NGK platinum, both valve cover gaskets, upper intake gasket & knock sensor and the harness


-Took to exhaust shop for O2 sensor, they basically rebuilt it, replaced flex pipe between the front cats and back cat, and replaced everything after the back cat. They replaced O2 sensor with Bosch claiming that that was the OEM for the vehicle.


-All issues fixed? Or so I thought.


-I drive 1,000 miles straight on road trip to visit terminally ill family, no issues


-Idling in a parking spot on a steep incline, CEL comes on for P0174 System Too Lean Bank 2


-Drove back home 1,000 miles, light still on.


Questions:


Is it possible to get this code because I was parked on an incline and the fuel pump was working against gravity? Or is that nonsense?


Additional information:

Fuel pressure control valve/hose not full of gasoline when checked


My tachometer gauge is intermittently all over the place, according to this forum the capacitors are failing? I am assuming this is 100% unrelated to my problem but I am providing this information just in case.

 

Regarding MAF... It is generally recommend to replace with a used factory unit as aftermarket replacements are sketchy in working correctly.

I believe SES lights won't clear on their own. You should try resetting the light manually and see if it pops back up. I believe i do get that code (was it front bank lean?) often when idling in place for long periods of time. But my case is probably different since I am supercharged.

 

If the problem has gone away/been fixed, the check engine light will go off by itself after a while. Exactly how much time is a while is unpredictable for mere mortals and is based on what Nissan calls drive cycles. How you drive the car plays into this drive cycle stuff. However, after 1K miles, the check engine light should have gone off if the problem no longer existed.

You most likely have a bad O2 sensor. A bad MAF, a cracked/ripped flexible collar between the MAF and the throttle body or a bad fuel pump could also cause this, but usually you would then have a code for both banks (P0171 & P0174). Parking on a hill had no part in this unless the fuel pump was sucking air..

The knock sensor code (P0325) will show up any time the engine is not running correctly. Fix the P0174 and the knock sensor code will go away.

 

The knock sensor code went away after I had the knock sensor and harness changed. All of the codes I mentioned are gone except the lean fuel 0174

I wasn’t simply parked on a hill I was idling on a hill, the reason I thought it was connected is because I drove over 1,000 miles with no light on, then I made several smaller mile trips to stores and such with no light, then suddenly I’m sitting on a STEEP hill, idling for 10+ minutes and the light comes on during this time after driving it so much with seemingly no issues.

Well just to be sure I cleared the code to see if it comes back on.

I’m tired of spending money on this car at this point. At this point I regret buying a Nissan. A Toyota with mileage this low wouldn’t be giving me any problems. I normally only buy Toyota’s but I’ve heard good things about 90s Nissans but so far I’m not seeing the good but only time will tell. I’ll check for leaks between the MAF and throttle body.

 

I just clear the code when it comes up from idling too long. Other than that annoyance, it doesn't affect the way my car runs. Though i do wish I could figure out if there was a solution. For me, I replaced all the O2 sensors and it didn't entirely eliminate it from occasionally coming up (it's extremely rare I idle for long periods of time).

 

My 98 maxims currently has the same issue. Its throwing a P0305 (cylinder 5 missfire). I'm not sure if the cylinder 5 missfire is causing it to throw a P0174 code but I will update once I replace my coil packs. It's not throwing a knock sensor code or an 02 sensor code and I checked stored codes and this was all it showed. My tachometer doesnt even know what life is and does what it wants to. I was told from previous owner it needed 02 sensors and it had a ses light on when I bought it. My question is if cylinder 5 is misfiring would it cause a P0174 code?

 

I cleared the code and it didn't come back.

@Nissan4 if I were you I'd do a compression check on that engine before you start throwing money at that car. If it's losing compression you're wasting your time.

 

You’re are incorrect.

The purchase of any 23 year old vehicle, even a Toyota, that is ... how did you put it? ...” used, neglected” is risky and an expectation that such a vehicle will be both cost-free and hassle-free, is an exceedingly unrealistic one.

 

Tell that to my 1996 Corolla. That generation is one of the best and simplest vehicles ever mass produced. Non-interference engine. Water pump is not driven by the timing belt. It needs virtually no maintenance. Easy access to everything unlike the rear cylinders of a front wheel drive V6. My 1999 4Runner is also bullet proof.

Meanwhile I'm having more problems with this Maxima. It doesn't want to stay running after a cold start.