I have a 2002 nissan sentra..the check engine soon light went on and then about a day later the horn stopped working. so today i went to autozone to get a free diagnostic and the guy said it could be the catalatic converter ..i don't know what that is or anything about it, also i bought a relay for the horn but there is NO diagram to put it in. help!!
2007-12-20 06:13:52 · 10 answers · asked by thegatoradegirl 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First, let me preface this with the following statement; I think the guy who helped you at Autozone is an idiot.
When you went to Autozone, I assume he plugged a scanner into the OBD-II port under your dash? That scanner would give him a series of codes. Did he tell you what the codes were? If no, just take it back and get it scanned again, but this time write down the codes. That will help us get you SPECIFIC help. Because without those codes we can't help you. Don't ask him for his opinion, just get the codes. He's a retard.
The catalytic converter is a device that is in the exhaust system. It's halfway between the engine and the muffler, and what it does is cleans the exhaust of a lot of the materials that an engine belches into the air. Considering your car is only 5 years old, I highly doubt it would be a catalytic converter. Since there are no sensors on a Sentra AFTER the exhaust headers, the ECU (the car's computer) would not read a problem with the catalytic converter, unless it was severely clogged. It might throw a CEL then (check engine light), but you'd notice it LONG before then because when the catalytic converter goes bad your exhaust STINKS BAD!!!
The horn issue seems unrelated. It's possible that it's simply a blown fuse.
2007-12-20 06:25:17 · answer #1 · answered by This is SPARTAAAA! 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had a 2000 Nissan Sentra. I went through four horns before I traded it in for a Saturn. Try just replacing the horn itself. That should work. Esp if you have that "wounded duck" sound now. Don't mess with relays, and start there.
The converter you speak of is something in the exhaust. It goes between the engine (manifold) and the muffler. It's to reduce how much carbon your car pumps out. With a lot of cheaper model cars ( and I don't cheap as in junk, i mean cheap as in under $50K ) A lot of the sensors are just oxygen sensors. I've seen sensors go bad a lot and give out error readings. Overall try replacing the horn first. That's easy. unscrew, plug in, screw in. It should be by the front of the car under the hood. A round guy maybe the size of a coaster. As for the converter thing, I would take it to Nissan and let them check it out. If it's a 2002 hopefully your still under warranty
2007-12-20 14:28:15 · answer #2 · answered by dirty_jerzee99 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
On the Diagnostic Read Out, Find out what it Said not what he thinks! How does the Engine Run? If the read Out Says Bad o2 or Mass Sensor then it Could Be the Catalytic Converter and/or Muffler. Get to a Good Engine Shop "With The Read Out!"
2007-12-20 23:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by sidecar0 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The guy at Autozone is a dork. For stating that.
The Check Engine Light means take your car into the mechanic and have it checked by a pro. and as far as the relay you purchased, it may not even be the problem, could be a fuse, wire harness issue or contact on the steering wheel is bad....
Just take it in and pay the .5 diagnostic time for an independant shop to take a look at it and give you the estimate for whatever the repair cost will be for parts and labor.
2007-12-20 14:24:28 · answer #4 · answered by aylatroy 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Cat converter could cause check engine light but not the horn. Check your fuses.
2007-12-20 14:25:41 · answer #5 · answered by Barcadcadacada 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are completely unrelated problems.
As for the horn, check the fuse first.
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As for the cat converter, get a second opinion. You never know.
Good Luck
P.S. I help to get a repair manual also - especially if you are new to car repair..
2007-12-20 14:22:08 · answer #6 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
02 sentra has 2 catalytic converters. bank 1 and bank 2.
SES light might be p0420(bank 1) or p0430(bank 2). should be easy to figure out by a tech that knows some stuff.
2007-12-20 22:23:37 · answer #7 · answered by Chris D 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The horn and oxygen sensor are defective or the computer
2007-12-20 14:22:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Take it to a repair shop. They can fix the light and they know where to put the relay.
2007-12-20 14:21:15 · answer #9 · answered by BFH 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
autozone are not mechs,it could be your oxygen sensor or your comp.
2007-12-20 14:23:56 · answer #10 · answered by Ciccio S 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋