Infiniti M37x slip light and SES

[klin000]

Hey Guys, I own a 2011 M37x that had the slip light+SES problem before. I had the engine codes pulled and it ended up a MAF sensor problem so I replaced both of those. Was driving fine for 2 weeks when today I drove it out, parked and went to dinner. Coming back I started the car and it sounded like it had trouble starting at first but then ramped it up. Immediately after the slip light and SES light came back. I shut it off and after a couple tries finally got the slip light to disappear. Reset the ECU and now it's driving fine but I think it's a temporarily fix. Anybody got any answers?

[Debonair]

You need to get a scanner hooked up to it to pull the diagnostic codes from the ABS/VSC system. This will tell you what is triggering it and point you in the right diagnostic direction.

[ibc]

Have you checked whether your brake fluid is low?

[klin000]

I pulled the codes the first time it happened and it told me MAF. Brake fluids seem to be at normal levels.

[ibc]

What codes you get? That's the only clue that matters. Everything else is just a guess.
It's intermittent (or borderline), cuz your codes go away in just a couple of drive cycles.
So it can't be anything serious.

BTW, MAF sensor itself is seldom the real problem, cuz it's usually just an air leak (eg, vacuum hose). Or sometimes MAF is just dirty. So don't be too quick to blame it.

[klin000]

It was P0101. I also went to autozone to pull the codes if that says anything.

[adeedpb]

That's a MAF issue, although it may not be a bad MAF it just went out of range.

[Debonair]

A P0101 is an engine code. You may have additional codes in the ABS system. I am not sure but I doubt they have a scanner capable of getting into the additional vehicle systems like ABS, Airbag, etc. Most of the time they only have a Generic OBDII (engine and emissions only) scanner.

[klin000]

I'm thinking it could be a bad cam shaft/crankshaft sensor. All the symptoms match up with the descriptions. Anybody know how to test for this?

[Debonair]

I'm thinking it could be a bad cam shaft/crankshaft sensor. All the symptoms match up with the descriptions. Anybody know how to test for this?

This would set a unique code in the engine system, like P0335, P0340, or P0345.

For the P0101 go back under the hood primarily on the passenger side and check for cracked / crushed / disconnected hoses, loose connections, loose connection at the air filter box and the air intake. You also need to check your air filter and make sure it is not torn, excesivly dirty, or has a leak at the seals on its edges. Any issue that causes the the passenger side MAF sensor signal to be out of range can set the code.

It is also possibe you got a defective MAF sensor. You will need a scanner, a multimeter, and factory level diagnostic instructions to proper diagnose this.

[klin000]

Yea it happened today and i took it in to get codes read. MAF again P0101D. Looks like i got a defective one, any recommendations for replacement besides dealer?

[ibc]

First, there is no such thing as code p0101D.

See FSM starting on page EC-202. There is either p0101 (for bank1 = passenger side) or p0101B (for bank2 = driver side). So let's assume you really meant to say p0101B. That means unmetered air (ie, air leak) on driver's side. IOW, extra atmospheric air is entering the engine intake on that side, without passing thru the MAF sensor (ie, the air meter).

There are 2 MAF sensors, one for each air-filter. Before you blow whopping $600 on a MAF sensor, you might want to check a few things:

Some vacuum hose maybe slipped off its nipple, or cracked, or got pinched, or whatever?
The intake tube between MAF and TB might be loose? Is tube mounted correctly, and clamp is tight?
The air filter might have popped out of place, allowing dirt to get past it, and into the MAF housing?
The tiny weensy MAF filament heater wire might be dirty (NOTE: Autozone sells special aerosol cans of MAF cleaner). A dirty MAF behaves erratically. It measures the temperature of a fine wire as air passes over it, just like you blow on your spoonful of soup to cool it. A simple speck of dust will make it misbehave.
Youtube shows you how to clean and/or DIY replace the MAF in under 5 minutes, with a simple screwdriver.
Try swapping your 2 MAF sensors, and see if the problem switches over to the OTHER bank (ie, code switches from P0101B to P0101).

Replacing MAF sensor is usually the LAST resort, is very expensive, and seldom is the real problem.

But if you've got money to burn....

[Mjkkb2]

I pulled the codes the first time it happened and it told me MAF. Brake fluids seem to be at normal levels.

For what it's worth - when you say normal I assume you mean between HI/LO marks. I would suggest topping off the fluid. For this car below the HI level mark it is too low.