Three days ago I had new valve cover gaskets put on my 2000 Nissan Frontier XE King Cab V6 by a reputable shop. When I got the truck back I added a bottle of some fuel system cleaner made by Preston to a tank of gas. the truck was driving great until tonight when the check engine light came on. I bought this truck new and this light has never come on. Also, about three years ago I had a timing belt put on the truck by a different but reputable shop. When i got the truck back I noticed that the electronic idle (or whatever you call the thing that makes the engine rev up and down at idle) was not working. I tried to reset it using directions from a vehicle specific manual that I bought at a parts store. The mechanic told me to bring it back to see if he could reset it but his shop is forty miles away and I never bothered. I have 180K on this truck and need it to last as long as possible. Please help!
2007-03-29 15:52:32 · 2 answers · asked by The Professa 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Nissan
I don't believe in coincidence. It takes two failed OBD II system performance tests to turn on the MIL (Check Engine Light). The tests don't run everytime you drive the vehicle, only when the test conditions are met. By the system logic, that would mean that what is causing the light to come on happened three days ago; same day the valve cover gasket was replaced...
It is not due to the fuel additive. However, you may have left the fuel cap off or loose. That will cause the light to trigger from a vacuum leak. You can tighten the cap and drive the vehicle for two-three days and see if the light goes off. You can drive the vehicle with no chance of damaging the catalytic converter as long as the check engine light is not flashing. If its flashing, then get it to service right away. if the light goes out 2-3 days after tightening the fuel cap it was a loose fuel cap and that's that.
If the fuel cap is tight, then my recommendation is to take a good look around the engine compartment where the work was done to replace the valve cover gasket. Look for any wires that may be loose or disconnected that weren't hooked back up during reassembly. Look for any vacuum lines or hoses that may have been pinched when the valve cover was put back on. If there is nothing obvious, then you'll need to take it back to the shop that put the gaskets on. If they're reputable, they'll fix what they caused.
If you're near a parts store like an Auto Zone or near and AAMCO transmission shop, they'll pull the code and tell you the general area that you should look at, If it is a fuel cap code, then they can clear the light for you. If its anything else and if you don't know much about what you're looking at knowing the code won't help you out too much.
I'd run the truck back to the repairer for anything other than the fuel cap
2007-03-30 07:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by honda guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it to an authorized Nissan repair shop, I know it costs more but they know the cars much better than your "do it all" mechanic
2007-03-30 04:39:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋