2001 - I30Check engine light probelm - Urgent answer required - Help

[abmind]

Hai I am new to this forum. I am a pride owner of 2001 - I 30t. I bought this car last year at 104000 kms.. After a couple of days I bought this car I noticed check engine light is on. I verified with the dealer that no warranty is available. So I asked the dealer to diagnise. He said one O2 sensor in bank 2 was defective and he also said unless we change both the O2 sensors, they cant give any warranty on that. Being new to this car I asked him to change both, and he did and billed me about ca$ 800/- . It ran for 11 months and again light came on. From the beginning I noticed the pickup is bit slow and once it crossed 60 kmph it runs well. Civics, Acura's and even any car for that matter picks up in front me from any signal. I thought this car is more safe and heavy in construction thats why like this. So with this light on again I went to a private mechanic, who is young and talented but never did any infiniti's before checked with OBDII and noticed bank 2 lean mixture - one of the sensors are not reading fequently as other 3. He told me it could be a bank 2 - O2 sensor. He put off light and adivised to watch again. It came 2 days after. I knew I got them changed last year and I am using PetroCanada Plus gas all this time, I feel I am unlicky with this car. I called my dealer for warranty as it run for 11 months only but he refused to offer as I crossed his 20,000 kms mark. I called my mechanic, told about sevice light on again. He verifed the code P0114 , and told me he need to look other things before changing o2 sensor like air leak or faulty injectors etc.

Expert guys, My question to u all is,

1.Can a private meachanic can check other things and change sensors and reprogram ECM? Is he able to do or Do i need to take to dealer again - which I dont want to. 2. Is the sensor go so quickly? or the dealer cheated me by changing one and billing for 2?

3. Is there any specific or general reason for this light and delayed pick up as I mentioned above?

4. Are all I-30's are slow in pickup like this before even Civics. I have a feeling that these are better than Acura's, but they just race in front of me.?

Ur answers are a great help to me as I have to take a decision immediately. Thanx in advance.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Welcome to NICO!

The new sensor should definitely not have failed so soon. The sensor they installed may have been bad, they may have only done one as you said, or it's possible that there's another problem with the car that's causing the O2 sensors to fail like this...

A private mechanic can definitely change the o2 sensors. In fact, there's a writeup in the FAQ thread at the top of this forum that will help you change them yourself if you want to do that. A private mechanic MAY be able to reset the ECM, depeding on what equipment they have.

The chech engine light and symptoms match the bad O2 sensor diagnosis you've been given.

I30s are definitely NOT slow on pickup when working correctly. They've got a fairly potent engine and lots of torque. You should definitely not be getting left in the dust by the likes of civics when taking off from lights.

[abmind]

Thanx for the fast and useful reply. I think now I can go with the private mech. I booked appointment for tomorrow and I will publish here the outcome.

What equipment a mechanic need to program ECM? From the beginning I suspect this car can never be designed like this. May be a faulty spark plug or a clogged fuel filter too, as I am getting good kilometres ie., 12 for every litre I put, I didint care much for the initial 7 secs. Now I cant let it go.. Keep me infomed for any other reasons if u guys could think of.

Thanx once again

[MinisterofDOOM]

To reprogram your car's ECM, the mechanic will need a Nissan Consult.

Bank 2 lean mixture could also indicate a faulty fuel injector. I don't think it's fuel pump or fuel filter related, as that would affect both banks.

[abmind]

Got it Thank u. Your help is much appreciated.

[MinisterofDOOM]

No problem, glad to help.

[abmind]

He changed spark plugs with NGK platinum as they are bit dirty. Took off CElight. Now I can see lil improvement as low engine noise, improved pick up. I dont know whether the light comes up again. But B2 sensor lean mixture has nothing to do with spark plugs. But he says the mixture readings are not as static as before. I have to wait and see whether this will click. By the way he charged CA$ 116/- for 6 sparks, $70/- labor and $ 35/- for for scan tool, total $ 220/-. Is there any extra amount paid for above repairs? .

[abmind]

I forgot to ask u. What kind of fuel does I30 take? Regular or Premium. Is it matters?

[Beancooker]

Even with the outrageous gas prices I refuse to use anything less than Chevron premium. My timing is advanced over stock, however even before it was, I used premium.

[abmind]

After changing Spark plugs the pick up dramatically increased and all civics are now trailing behind. I am amazing by seeing the pick up. But I CEL again came on. I believe it is P0174.What I have to do before changing o2 sensor? Are there any other checks to be done like ignition coil, injector pressure for a possible throwing of that code? or I have to go for sensor change directly.

Expert advice requested pl.

Regards

[Beancooker]

PO174 is fuel injection system running lean bank 2. Maybe fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump. When you triggered the light were you stomping the gas pedal? Could be an o2 sensor but I'm not so sure about that. I would definitly check the fuel system pressure before I bought an o2 sensor.

[abmind]

Would u mean fuel pump pressure are injectors pressure to be checked?

If so what are the values? Is there any repair guide available in this site for I - 30's?

What will be the approximate repair cost I am looking at rt now?

Thanx for help.