Hey im driving a 97 Nissan Maxima. As of late I have noticed a bit of engine pinging. Its light, usually in second gear under a mild load. Doesnt always happen but im concerned.
It sounds like a metal like rattle almost. My service engine light is on. I checked the codes and the EGR hi/low flow code is on. I did a search online (im no mechanic) and did a small bit of reading, but I came across some info that says pinging will destroy/kill me engine.
Is there any truth to that ? And does is sound like my egr system (whatever that is has gone bad/clogged ?) How much money to replace the egr ?
Anyways, as you can see, I dont know much about the mechanic side. But the car is very well maintained. The local nissan dealer does all the work regular oil change, tune ups, etc.
Also when I connect the upgraded ecu the pinging is much more noticable. So I have taken it out. Going to let the dealer have a look and wanted some thoughts.
Other info:Injen Intake: could be sucking up hot air off radiator adding to problemVehicle Speed Sensor code: this code is on too 01 04Knock sensor, o2 sensors never replaced144,000 milesLast 1/4 mile run: 14.39 @ 95.31 mph all motor
Noticed a bit of engine ping ? EGR question
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ceasars chariot
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pinging can cause damage to engine. it is pretty common on the max for some reason. There are a few things that can cause it. 1 Is the use of lower octane fuels. that car is designed to run on premium fuel.2 One or more of the ignition coils could be breaking down.
The thing about your concern is you have an egr code that basically means your car is flowing egr when it is not suppose to be. This can also cause detination(pinging). You have an electronic EGR valve. This valve has a motorized pentle that opens and closes by ECM command. The ECM makes the desicion to open it based on engine load,throttle position,and speed. The EGR valve,s motor could either be stuck open or have carbon build up on the pentle seat. The knock sensor code is most likely related to the EGR problem. Your knock sensor is there to protect the engine from detination. It does this by retarding the ignition timing in your case it is finding it can not stop the pinging so it throws the code because it thinks it is malfunctioning. Now your speed sensor code is not really related to what is going on. With that code you have one of 2 problems either your speedo head has a problem or the subharness connector to the speed pickup on the trans has a problem at the main harness side of the subharness. The way to tell if it is the harness or the speedo head is while driving does your speedo ever drop to zero. If not that means your speedometer head in the dash is bad. The side of the circuit that feeds the ECM speed info is loosing contact and that happens at the speedo's circuit board itself. you would need to replace it. But if it does drop to 0 occasionally it could still be the speedo but it could also be the sub harness mentioned above.
I recommend you have your EGR valve checked out at your dealer then go from there.
Scott
The thing about your concern is you have an egr code that basically means your car is flowing egr when it is not suppose to be. This can also cause detination(pinging). You have an electronic EGR valve. This valve has a motorized pentle that opens and closes by ECM command. The ECM makes the desicion to open it based on engine load,throttle position,and speed. The EGR valve,s motor could either be stuck open or have carbon build up on the pentle seat. The knock sensor code is most likely related to the EGR problem. Your knock sensor is there to protect the engine from detination. It does this by retarding the ignition timing in your case it is finding it can not stop the pinging so it throws the code because it thinks it is malfunctioning. Now your speed sensor code is not really related to what is going on. With that code you have one of 2 problems either your speedo head has a problem or the subharness connector to the speed pickup on the trans has a problem at the main harness side of the subharness. The way to tell if it is the harness or the speedo head is while driving does your speedo ever drop to zero. If not that means your speedometer head in the dash is bad. The side of the circuit that feeds the ECM speed info is loosing contact and that happens at the speedo's circuit board itself. you would need to replace it. But if it does drop to 0 occasionally it could still be the speedo but it could also be the sub harness mentioned above.
I recommend you have your EGR valve checked out at your dealer then go from there.
Scott
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ceasars chariot
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scott thanks, thats what i will do. with your post on the egr valve it will at least give me enough information to share so i will not seem like a complete fool.
anything else you can share on the egr ? Is this an expensive job to fix ? also i just put in there that the knock sensors and o2 sensors were old but im not getting a code concerning them. they are working fine as for as i know. well once with the 96 upgraded ecu i got a reaer heated o2 sensor but when i switch back to the 97 ecu it doesnt show up ?
thanks again
anything else you can share on the egr ? Is this an expensive job to fix ? also i just put in there that the knock sensors and o2 sensors were old but im not getting a code concerning them. they are working fine as for as i know. well once with the 96 upgraded ecu i got a reaer heated o2 sensor but when i switch back to the 97 ecu it doesnt show up ?
thanks again
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ceasars chariot
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hey,
took my max into the dealership today, and i told them to check the egr valve like you said. this afternoon i get a call and i dont guess they did anything. Said they were busy and didnt really have time to dig into/take things apart ?
He did say the car passed some tests than ran ? but that doesnt really tell me much at all.
i have decided to take the car up to another dealership. what specifically should I tell these people to do ? How much would I be looking at paying if they take things apart to look at the egr valve ? One thing, I have no idea where the egr valve is so, im going to try to win a haynes manual off ebay and see if its something i can look at ( no mechanic skills)
But again, I dont mind paying, I had the egr hi low flow code with my 96 ecu thats upgraded from technosqaure, but my 97 ecu doesnt seem to throw this code.
Basically i dont want to kill this engine if i can have some things fixed and im worried this pinging will do just that with time.
Question: what am i supposed to tell the dealership to do ? jump in and tear things done and have a look, and that I will pay ? And if so, how much money just to look ?
thanks
took my max into the dealership today, and i told them to check the egr valve like you said. this afternoon i get a call and i dont guess they did anything. Said they were busy and didnt really have time to dig into/take things apart ?
He did say the car passed some tests than ran ? but that doesnt really tell me much at all.
i have decided to take the car up to another dealership. what specifically should I tell these people to do ? How much would I be looking at paying if they take things apart to look at the egr valve ? One thing, I have no idea where the egr valve is so, im going to try to win a haynes manual off ebay and see if its something i can look at ( no mechanic skills)
But again, I dont mind paying, I had the egr hi low flow code with my 96 ecu thats upgraded from technosqaure, but my 97 ecu doesnt seem to throw this code.
Basically i dont want to kill this engine if i can have some things fixed and im worried this pinging will do just that with time.
Question: what am i supposed to tell the dealership to do ? jump in and tear things done and have a look, and that I will pay ? And if so, how much money just to look ?
thanks
what was the tests they ran? ask them for print outs. any tests they ran they should have used consult and printed info out. they may have tested your egr and found it to be ok at that time. if they have any printouts,scan them if possible and post them. or type out all info on the print out strips.
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ceasars chariot
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scott what is so bizarre is that, i went out for about an hour, testing the car and trying to cause the ping and could not. im almost wondering if it may have been something small, or something they saw and fixed without even charging me.
im not getting my hopes up, so i will be prepared for a money visit ! i appreciate your help on this deal. i have made up my mind not to go back to this dealership if at all possible. i was offered no real information, or any clues .. i probably should talk to the guys who do the work rather than the desk guys.
anyways, maybe they just unclogged something and didnt charge me i have no idea. for now i will keep my fingers crossed. another odd thing is the car seems to be running very,very strong/great.
if all continues well i may try the upgraded ecu and see it goes.
thanks
im not getting my hopes up, so i will be prepared for a money visit ! i appreciate your help on this deal. i have made up my mind not to go back to this dealership if at all possible. i was offered no real information, or any clues .. i probably should talk to the guys who do the work rather than the desk guys.
anyways, maybe they just unclogged something and didnt charge me i have no idea. for now i will keep my fingers crossed. another odd thing is the car seems to be running very,very strong/great.
if all continues well i may try the upgraded ecu and see it goes.
thanks
your egr may have been hung and if they did the consult functional check on it they may have inadvertantly cleared the problem with out knowledge. and their tests would have came out ok. might wanna keep that in mind before you condem them. if that was your reason for it.
BTW if you know where your brake master cylinder you will be able to find your egr. when standing on the drivers side of the car look past your brake master and down. the egr is mounted at that corner of the engine right above where the trans meets the engine.
BTW if you know where your brake master cylinder you will be able to find your egr. when standing on the drivers side of the car look past your brake master and down. the egr is mounted at that corner of the engine right above where the trans meets the engine.