MOM needs help, I bought my son a lemon :(

[Pathofinder]

So I feel as if I got hosed on a deal we recently made for a 2001 Nissan pathfinder.

We bought it for my son for college as a reliable commuter and that it is not. Aparently the last owner took out some light bulbs so a new owner would not know the check engine light was on.

I brought it to a mechanic to get it looked over and the bill was going to be so much I had to halt repairs. It is throwing a few check engine codes. I purchased a OBD2 reader from autozone which is helping, and replaced the bulb.

The car has some driveability problems, first off it needs a little gas upon startup or it will die, it will start and jump up to 1400rpm or so, but it would just fall down and turn off if you didnt give it gas. Idles pretty nice after you feather the gas for a moment.

As of right now, after only 140miles of driving it (son took my car for now) it is throwing these codes

P1165
P0505
P1110
P0138

I cleared them but they came back after 20 minutes of driving the last time I did this.

The mechanic did a general tune up on the car, new ignition coils and spark plugs, oil and fixed a leaking brake line.

Im having trouble finding even what these specific codes mean, and if they are specific to Nissan.

I can do alot of work myself, but I may have some questions. If anymore info is needed to get this baby running right Id love to type more. I cant help but feel stupid for not checking if the check engine bulb was there.

Thank you guys

[PapaSmurf2k3]

If you're into doing your own work, you should download the factory service manual. A link to all Nissan factory service manuals is in my signature. I'm going to look up those codes for you and post them up when I get them.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

P0138 - Rear O2 sensor- Right hand bank (passenger side)

P0505 - IAC-AAC Valve (probably has a lot to do with your idling problem)

P1110 - Intake Timing Control Sensor, Right side (could also be messing with your idle)

P1165 - Swirl valve vacuum check valve

I would think your OBDII scanner would come with a reference book for the P-codes as well...

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/pathfinder/2001/ec.pdf

[Pathofinder]

Thank you for that. I did download a manual but it was no were near indepth as the one you posted.

Do all those codes all mean different problems?? Or could they all be caused by one malfunctioning part??

When I say I'll be doing the work, I kinda mean I'll be helping haha, my partner is very handy just not with computers or newer cars, so labour shouldnt be a problem if I know what is going on.

The idle problem Id love to get fixed right away though, its quite a hassle and the remote start obviously is useless if the car cant start on its own. It SEEMS to run fine, but I havent driven it much, and I havent really put the foot down to test acceleration.

Thanks for the help so far!! Looking forward to getting this fixed. Is there a donation section for this website?? That manual you just gave me alone has got to be worth alot!!! Wouldnt mind giving back

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Nope! We're a free website, but we do ask that all things being equal, you purchase parts from our sponsors.

Its possible that some of those codes stem from the same issue, but most likely not. You also might want to try seafoaming the car. A lot of times components can get gummed up from sitting, running crappy gas, or from running in a state of disrepair (as it seems your car has been). A writeup of that process can be found here:
how-to-seafoam-your-engine-the-right-wa ... 26583.html
Seafoam can usually be found in your local auto parts stores. Please let us know how you make out with your repairs/your progress, as well as any additional problems you might have so that people can read this thread and benefit from it in the future.

[Pathofinder]

I just noticed you had a lot of vendors. Im not HOPING to buy alot of new oem parts but whatever I have to to give my son a safe ride I will do in a heartbeat, hes driving my car right now and I suspect having a bit to much fun with it!!

[Pathofinder]

While driving my other son home from his friends I decided instead of clearing the codes right when they appear, I should drive with them active for a bit and see if anymore come up

Sure enough, I let the light stay on for the whole 25 minute drive and the car threw a P1130

P1130 – Lack Of HO2S-11, Fuel Trim At Limit

Im at a loss here, I didnt even clear the codes, should I keep driving it or should this vehicle be parked??

I dont know if any other codes are looming or that is the end of them!!!!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

You should try and fix them as quickly as you can, but if the vehicle isn't leaving you stranded, then I'd most likely keep driving it. Lack of HO2, fuel trim at limit almost sounds like an extremely clogged fuel filter.

Question- If you turn the key to "ON" for a few seconds before starting up, does it stumble as badly? This should give the fuel system a little while longer to prime.

[Pathofinder]

The fuel filter is new, but it is not a nissan brand, we bought it at a generic parts store. But it is brand new.

I tried when starting it up to let the system "prime" as you said for about 5 seconds before actually engaging the starter, but it didnt affect the car starting at all, it still stalled out immediately. Little gas for one second and its fine on its own though.

[Beamerme]

To fix your idle, your probaly going to have to replace your iac-aac valve (your idle air control valve-IACV) your idle air control valve controls your idle when the engine is cold. When the engine is cold it raises the idle to heat up faster. When the engine heats up enough, it bypasses the IACV (the air) and goes straight to the engine. Now thats not the official way of how its works, but thats generally how it does it. Now your iacv might not be messed up and its just gummed up with something, so dont replace it right away. Ask a mechanic to look at it first. It could save you a couple hundred dollars.

[Pathofinder]

How do you clean the IACV?? I have located it to be a blue circle held in by 2 screws under the throttle body assembly, is that what is malfunctioning??

What code would this fix??

My boyfriend can help me with that as some engine pieces need to be removed it looks like, but can you just spray it with carb cleaner, or do you have to soak it or test it?

[Buckshot]

Try taking the air boot going to the throttle off and cleaning the throttle plate off with cleaner and wipe with a rag clean
U will probably have to replace the rear u2 sensor also. After u do these two items cleared codes and drive again and see what comes back some time po506 can be caused by dirty throttle body you will also need cam sensor replaced

[Pathofinder]

The throttle body and gold plate inside it was cleaned by the mechanic, he said it wasnt bad but he vacuumed the air filter box area when the filter was replaced aswell

What 02 sensor exactly is it talking about for that code?? I was told I have 4 of them

[Buckshot]

Po138 is right rear sensor will be on passengers side.If you get under truck behind front tire and crawl under it you will see the sensor down there in pipe hooks up under the hood back of valve cover area

[Pathofinder]

I can see the 02 sensor, but its harness goes WAY up and out of my view, where exactly is the connector for it??

How come the FSM doesnt post the part number for parts after the diagnostics. Id like to buy that 02 sensor tomorrow, its a start. And I dont know if there is more to the IACV than just the small blue circle unit below the throttle body. And if its serviceable or just needs to be replaced.

[Pathofinder]

I fixed P0505 I think and got it idling perfect. I did 2 things so I dont know which made it happen. I took off the iacv and cleaned its connectors aswell as the iacv itself with carb cleaner. I also tightenned its electrical pin connector. The car starts up and idles on its own now

Still throwing:
P1110
P1130
P1138
P1165

[Beamerme]

okay sence u have that down lets work on the next important thing which i think is the o2 sensor, to get that off is pretty easy usually on nissans its either a 17mm or a 19 mm, take off the o2 sensor, its going to be pretty hard (cause of corrosion and rust) and follow the wire up the wiring harness and find the connector for it. It shouldnt be to hard to find on most cars it will be by the o2 sensor or close within a foot. Go to autozone they should be able to tell u which oxygen sensor to get and get bosch, dont go cheap on your car it will lead to trouble down the road.

[Beamerme]

okay sence u have that down lets work on the next important thing which i think is the o2 sensor, to get that off is pretty easy usually on nissans its either a 17mm or a 19 mm, take off the o2 sensor, its going to be pretty hard (cause of corrosion and rust) and follow the wire up the wiring harness and find the connector for it. It shouldnt be to hard to find on most cars it will be by the o2 sensor or close within a foot. Go to autozone they should be able to tell u which oxygen sensor to get and get bosch, dont go cheap on your car it will lead to trouble down the road.

[Pathofinder]

Bosch is a good brand?? I asked my husband to soak both rear 02 sensors last night in a penetrating lube, so I dont think we will have to much trouble. I just havent bought eh part yet.

Is there a part number?

From what Im reading, its my rear 02 sensor, and it may not even make an effect in how the car runs??

[Beamerme]

well..... it could it could not, it depends on the car, the o2 sensor reads the air coming out of the exhaust ports, the rear o2 sensor comes after the catalytic converter, the one before it is more important, you see theres 2 one after the cat and one before the cat. and there both important, and its still important enough to fix probally, i mean u could get by for a couple months.... but your car would run better with all 02 sensore working right. And autozone should have the part number or oriellys or any major car parts distribution center

[Pathofinder]

I did order a bosch sensor offline, they wanted $200 at Oreillys and almost 325 at the dealership.

My husband thinks it may be a broken wire to the swirl valve is causing the instant P1165, the vacuum hose is brand new, but the clip that holds the swirl check valve in place is broken, so it kind of just sits there loose, is that a problem??

Does anyone know the wiring or how to test the swirl control valve to ale this P1165?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah that's probably it. In the future, you might want to check out www.sprakplugs.com for O2 sensors... they tend to be a bit cheaper, and offer NGK O2 sensors (typically better).

Is the wire on the sensor itself, or on the big harness? Basically, can you replace the sensor and fix the problem? If not, and everything else is running fine, you can probably just let it go.

[Pathofinder]

Well we dont actually SEE a broken wire, its only the clip that attaches the solenoid to the shock tower bracket that is broken, and not securing the solenoid tightly to the bracket so it kind of just sits there

I was unsure if there was a test for the swirl valve

[PapaSmurf2k3]

There very well may be. Have you checked the Factory Service Manual?

Also, seeing as how the valve is on the intake manifold, it could be coked up with gunk. You should try seafoaming the engine and see what happens.

[Pathofinder]

I have scoured the manual but am a 42 year old mother it makes little sence to me other than the maintenace section. I was unabale to find little info at all on the swirl valve solenoid, and nothing indicating a test, or resistance test to check its function or wiring

The engine was seafoamed last week, smoked like a leaf fire, no change in codes

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The engine was seafoamed last week, smoked like a leaf fire,

Yeah, it'll do that. You typically want to clear your codes after you do that (among a few other things).
And by factory service manual, I don't mean the owners manual that came with your car, I mean this:
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/pathfinder/2001/

Each one of the links on that page is a chapter. For example "AT" is Automatic Transmission, etc.
That link is for a 2001 pathfinder, but there's also a link for a 2001.5 pathfinder. Let me know if you have any questions.

The section you probably want is "EC", for Engine Control.
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/pathfinder/2001/ec.pdf
Looks like page 460 is for the swirl control valve.

[Pathofinder]

thanks I was unable to find that section in the FSM before. Its still quite technical for me, but Im sure with your help I can do these 2 tests that seem relevant. I dont have the Consult II tool that they talk about alot I figure that is for dealerships. The first test I see is a simply voltage test of the swirl solenoids electrical connector. Is this as simple as it seems??



Then 10 pages later (which all seemed to be the same test as I posted above) I see this MAF voltage check, I dont quite get where it is saying to test though, do I actually have to find my ECU and disconnect its connectors to test pin61?? I would like to do this test aswell



Thank you for pointing me to page 460 in the FSM, like I said it is a little advanced for me but I would love to have me and my husband try this tomorrow. Is there any other relevant tests?? The vacuum lines are new that why I would like to test these voltage to make sure they are getting the proper signals

Thanks so much so far!!