'96 240SX SE - 2 Error codes

[96240sxse]

I bought the car last week, and took it to the shop (Nissan dealership) this past Monday. Got the car back today, it now has new belts, and I have the knowledge that a previous owner appears to have never changed the oil. At least not regularly. The technician showed me what the oil sludge (not sure it even still qualifies as sludge) build up looked like. I wish that I had taken a pic of it..just wasn't nice. The tech opened the valve cover to check on an occasional 'creaking' noise at idle coming from the engine. The tech. thought it was the timing chain guide.

That was the back ground info. Now to the rest of the story.

I get the car home today (still gunked up because the tech wouldn't recommend trying to flush the engine to clean the oil out because it was soo dried). The odd part is that the engine runs great! There is no indication of what's going on under that valve cover with out seeing under it.

But as I get home today the check engine light comes on. When I figured out how to check the codes, I came up with 2 codes. Code 25, with 2 long lights followed by 5 short lights. I also get a code 116, with 11 long lights and 6 short lights.

I don't know if the two are related to one another - much less if they are related to the oil crud issues. I'm just not sure where to go with this one.

I have decided to try to treat the engine oil crud before throwing in the towel and hunting up a new engine. But have no clue what to do about the error codes I'm getting.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!
Modified by 96240sxse at 11:30 PM 10/7/2004

[96240sxse]

Ok, so I found out what the codes mean....but I'm not sure where to go or what to do next. Here's what I have found, and what I have observed for each code respectively:

Code 25 - or 0205 - Idle speed control function - The idle speed control function does not operate properly.

While driving today, the car seemed fine. The only thing I noticed is that once the engine warmed up, and I shifted from neutral or park into drive, the engine would 'hunt' for just a moment before it leveled off at a steady idle.

Code 116 - or 1106 - Improper shifting to 4th gear position or TCC - A/T cannot be shifted to the 4th gear position or perform lock-up even electrical circuit is good.

I don't know what this is about either. Again, while driving today, I noticed that the transmission went through all 4 gears nicely.

I'm at a loss about what to do next. Anyone have any suggestions for quick checks/fixes I can perform here at home? Or am I stuck with taking it to a shop? Let me know if you need anymore info, and of what type of info you would need.

Thanks!

[96240sxse]

No one can help out with these error codes??

[s13sr20chris]

the idle code could be an idle control valve that is getting slow and gunky over time. it is not lubed by engine oil but will weaken over time.

the trans code is wierd. do you notice the torque converter locking up? after shifting into fourth while accelerating you should notice one more drop in revs right after the shift into fourth. it would be like a fifth gear. that is the torque converter locking up for gas mileage and stuff. does that happen? may be hard to notice as it is usually smoother than the real shifts.

[574-240sx]

I don't think they want to flush it because the sludge may be the only thing keeping up compression. How many miles? That looks really bad. Looks like baked on ATF. I would try doing oil changes a little more often. Maybe fred may see this post, hes the oil expert.

[s13sr20chris]

once you have bad sludge you just leave it alone unless you feel like rebuilding the motor.