SES light came on, made a fix and now I'm lost.

[erpcayne7]

I have a 2011 Infiniti M37 base with about 86,000 miles. I bought it mostly outside of warranty and I've done nearly all the maintenance myself - but now, I'm lost and hoping I can find some help on here for what I thought was a seemingly simple issue.

My car was giving me a service engine soon (SES) / check engine light, so I decided to check the code. The code the car was giving a P0106 code (MAP sensor). After getting this code, I replaced the sensor with an OEM replacement from RockAuto. After it was replaced - I cleared the code and went on my way. After driving all day in standard mode, and no light coming on - I was feeling pretty happy. I parked the car for the night, and lo and behold, I start the car in the morning and the light is back on. I got out the code reader and received the same code. After doing even MORE research, I found some things going on about an ECM reprogram.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? Is my *only* option for an ECM reprogram the dealership? I'm not a fan of the dealership, mostly because it's not easily affordable for me. A diagnostic alone is $200. I'm hoping I can find a way to fix this myself - but if it's not an option, that's okay too.

My inspection stickers are up, and I'm driving on borrowed time, praying I won't get a ticket.

Sorry for the long post, and sorry if I missed anything - this is my first post here ever.

[Ilya]

Hi there, welcome to the forum. Sorry you're having trouble with your car.

I haven't seen the newer V6's...this has to do with manifold pressure...perhaps you have a vacuum leak somewhere? Smoke testing the car at a local shop may be an option...

Any other symptoms?

[erpcayne7]

Hi there, and thank you! I thought about that, my code reader shows some real-time metrics, and while looking at them, a vacuum leak didn't seem apparent. But that's a good idea. Someone also mentioned to me that it could be an O2 sensor somewhere, although I'm not entirely sure how it's related (maybe emissions > SES)?

One thing I have noticed, is that while driving in standard mode - the car seems to have a bit of a rough idle, not in the sense that it feels like it's going to die, or makes any noises, but at points you can see the RPMs dip pretty low (main point being that the idle isn't steady), and sometimes a very, very slight shudder while idling.

After replacing the MAP sensor, the idle problem seemed to clear itself right up - but then after the SES light came back on, the idle problem magically reappeared.

[Debonair]

Nissan only lists three causes for a P0106 on your car. I doubt an O2 sensor is involved.

• MAP Sensor
  MAP Sensor Circuit (harness, connectors, wiring, etc.)
  Intake Air Leaks

[M37rinh]

does your car idle alot higher then usual? or does the revving seem rough?

[erpcayne7]

does your car idle alot higher then usual? or does the revving seem rough?

Not at all, if anything the idle dips a bit *lower* than usual if there are any symptoms of note.

[M37rinh]

i had a problem like that and it was supposely my MAF sensors and they said they would have charge 600 to change them the parts i checked were only around 200 so i was like NOPE! so they cleared the light hasnt come up since. they said it could have been the after market drop filters that i put it becasue it might not have fit perfectly and f*** with the MAF sensors check your MAF sensors or your filters to make sure there arent any gaps in your filter inside the housing.

[erpcayne7]

Nissan only lists three causes for a P0106 on your car. I doubt an O2 sensor is involved.

• MAP Sensor
  MAP Sensor Circuit (harness, connectors, wiring, etc.)
  Intake Air Leaks

Where you see the list of causes, do you see any recommended fixes, or diagnostics? I saw a list of recommended fixes at my local O'Reilly's, and the only thing that was listed was a reflash/reprogram of the ECM.

[erpcayne7]

i had a problem like that and it was supposely my MAF sensors and they said they would have charge 600 to change them the parts i checked were only around 200 so i was like NOPE! so they cleared the light hasnt come up since. they said it could have been the after market drop filters that i put it becasue it might not have fit perfectly and f***ed with the MAF sensors check your MAF sensors or your filters to make sure there arent any gaps in your filter inside the housing.

What kind of drop filters did you install? Were they K&N's?

[M37rinh]

i dont remember i installed a g37 tadeka intake on ym car but ill run to the garage and check my oem intake boxes

[M37rinh]

i think the dealership changed out my filters so i dont know sorry. what debonair said about the problem "intake air leaks" maybe check your filters for fitment and and clean the rubber seal around them?

[erpcayne7]

i think the dealership changed out my filters so i dont know sorry. what debonair said about the problem "intake air leaks" maybe check your filters for fitment and and clean the rubber seal around them?

No worries! Thank you for checking - I'm going to have to try that tomorrow after work. I can trace for a bad seal myself, but if that doesn't fix it, I don't even know how I'd begin to check the harnesses and/or wiring.

Thanks for your help m37rinh!

[Debonair]

Nissan only lists three causes for a P0106 on your car. I doubt an O2 sensor is involved.

• MAP Sensor
  MAP Sensor Circuit (harness, connectors, wiring, etc.)
  Intake Air Leaks

Where you see the list of causes, do you see any recommended fixes, or diagnostics? I saw a list of recommended fixes at my local O'Reilly's, and the only thing that was listed was a reflash/reprogram of the ECM.

The ECM reprogram is really where you need to start. It's very likely there is nothing wrong at all and the software just needs to be corrected. If your scan tool is capable of reading the ECM Part Number you can check it against the list below. If it is NOT on this list it already has the update. If it is here then you need the ECM update, Throttle Valve Closed Position [Learn?], Idle Air Volume Learn, Accelerator Closed Position [Learn?], and DTC erase.

1MA0A, 1MA1A, 1MA2A, 1MA3A, 1MA4A, 1MA5A, 1MA6A, 1MA7A, 1MA8A, 1MA9A, 1MA0B, 1MA1B, 1MA2B, 1MA3B, 1MA4B, 1MA5B, 1MA0C, 1MA1C, 1MA2C, 1MA3C, 1MA4C, 1MA5C, 1MA0D, 1MA1D, 1MA2D, 1MA3D, 1MA4D, 1MA5D, 1MA1E, 1MA2E, 1MA3E, 1MA4E, 1MA5E, 1MB7A, 1MB8A, 1MB9A

TSB Reference Number: ITB12-026e

[erpcayne7]

The ECM reprogram is really where you need to start. It's very likely there is nothing wrong at all and the software just needs to be corrected. If your scan tool is capable of reading the ECM Part Number you can check it against the list below. If it is NOT on this list it already has the update. If it is here then you need the ECM update, Throttle Valve Closed Position [Learn?], Idle Air Volume Learn, Accelerator Closed Position [Learn?], and DTC erase.

1MA0A, 1MA1A, 1MA2A, 1MA3A, 1MA4A, 1MA5A, 1MA6A, 1MA7A, 1MA8A, 1MA9A, 1MA0B, 1MA1B, 1MA2B, 1MA3B, 1MA4B, 1MA5B, 1MA0C, 1MA1C, 1MA2C, 1MA3C, 1MA4C, 1MA5C, 1MA0D, 1MA1D, 1MA2D, 1MA3D, 1MA4D, 1MA5D, 1MA1E, 1MA2E, 1MA3E, 1MA4E, 1MA5E, 1MB7A, 1MB8A, 1MB9A

TSB Reference Number: ITB12-026e

Thanks for the detailed reply, Debonair - is this something I should try myself? The TSB reads like this is a pretty risky procedure, almost like I run the risk of bricking my ECM?

[Debonair]

You need special equipment to do it. The factory Consult-III+ scan tool or a PassThru Device is required for the flash. Plus a highly capable scan tool for the follow-up Learn procedures. I would guess $2000 investment minimum for the hardware and access to the programming software and flash files from Nissan. Not terribly hard but not like updating a cell phone either.

I do almost all my own repairs and diagnostics but with this I say let the dealer or an experienced repair shop do it for you.

[mexillis]

does no one have the steps for the ECU reflash and Throttle Valve Closed Position, Idle Air Volume Learn, Accelerator Closed Position? I know with the older M's, nissans, etc you can do this with the ignition and gas pedal method.

[Debonair]

I have the idle air relearn info. But the flash requires a factory tool or a J2534 PassThru programmer, and software subscription with Nissan to get the flash.

[erpcayne7]

I tried the ignition and gas pedal method. It got the SES light to go away, but the P0106 code is a "permanent" code that only goes away with measurements within acceptable ranges over the course of whatever Nissan defines as a "drive cycle".