service engine soon

I have a Nissan Altima 2000. After a long trip the "service engine soon" light turned on. I took the car to a mechanic. He reset the light and said that the code is for "fuel evaporation system". Since then, the light comes on and stays for few weeks (I guess 50 rounds) and goes off. Then it comes again after few days for no reason, and so on...

I called the Nissan dealer. Apparently, they will charge me too much to just diagnose the problem.

Any idea what is the problem?

Thanks.

Buy a new gas cap and see if the light will stay off. If the gas cap corrects the problem (there's no way to know or test the old cap) the light will eventually go out by it self. 50 rounds would be right. It takes 100 starts.

We have a 98 Altima, and we've had the same problem for the past four years. Initially, we took the car in for diagnostics and it was simply reset. We pursued the matter to find the problem, but not even replacing the gas cap solved the mysterious re-occurring "check engine soon" light problem. We grew tired of paying out money to have people tell us they can't figure out the problem, so we now just live with it.

It has been 4-5 years now, and the check engine light comes and goes every few weeks.

Sorry that this post doesn't provide a solution, but at least we can say that we've put over 120,000 miles on the car since the light first starting coming on and we haven't had a problem at all during this time.

There are six different codes that help diagnose the evaporative emission control system. The fuel cap is the most common and least expensive part that causes a problem. The hose at the charcoal canister could be split, loose, or leaking. The control valve on the canister may have a slight leak. The cause may be the same on both cars... or maybe not. Do either of you know your exact code? P1440-P1448? Do you know federal law sets warranty on every part of every emission system at 5 year and 50,000 miles? Both have probably past warranty now?

hey ive got a 2001 and its got the P1448 code on it. can you tell me what that means?

Since no one gave an answer to the last reply I hope I'll have better luck. My 2003 3.5 has 2 codes P0455 and P1448. Gas cap was replaced last time. Where is the charcoal canister located? Either I do not know what I'm looking at or what I'm looking for. Thanks for any guidance.:banghead:

HELLO. Any help?:confused:

Since no one gave an answer to the last reply I hope I'll have better luck. My 2003 3.5 has 2 codes P0455 and P1448. Gas cap was replaced last time. Where is the charcoal canister located? Either I do not know what I'm looking at or what I'm looking for. Thanks for any guidance.:banghead:


The vent control valve is located behind the l/r rear tire on most Nissans.
It is a black box with several hoses going to it. The valve screws into it. I replaced mine a few years back and this year I removed it and found a moth nest blocking one hose. You can buy a Haynes manual for $20 which has alot of info.
Your car should have an emissions sticker under the hood with component locations.
If you read this link you can find many diagrams on the last pages.
I have 2 nissans and had evap problems on both. If you have more than one code fix the evap one first, clear the ecm and drive the car for a few days, odds are the other codes will be fixed also.

http://www.nissanforums.com/sr-series-engines-de-ve/18227-evap-canister-vent-control-valve-closed.html

The vent control valve is located behind the l/r rear tire on most Nissans.
It is a black box with several hoses going to it. The valve screws into it. I replaced mine a few years back and this year I removed it and found a moth nest blocking one hose. You can buy a Haynes manual for $20 which has alot of info.
Your car should have an emissions sticker under the hood with component locations.


There is no emissions sticker under the hood on my Altima which I bought new and the haynes manual says this model and newer is too complicated to get into discussing here. However I did locate my black box in the center of the car above a cross member and some connecting rods. If anyone has this and has performed this work, am I going to have remove these to do what needs to be done. With these in the way all I can see is three hoses and nothing else, I do not even have sight of the vcv.:shakehead

The vent control valve is located behind the l/r rear tire on most Nissans.
It is a black box with several hoses going to it. The valve screws into it. I replaced mine a few years back and this year I removed it and found a moth nest blocking one hose. You can buy a Haynes manual for $20 which has alot of info.
Your car should have an emissions sticker under the hood with component locations.


There is no emissions sticker under the hood on my Altima which I bought new and the haynes manual says this model and newer is too complicated to get into discussing here. However I did locate my black box in the center of the car above a cross member and some connecting rods. If anyone has this and has performed this work, am I going to have remove these to do what needs to be done. With these in the way all I can see is three hoses and nothing else, I do not even have sight of the vcv.:shakehead

According to my library website car info you have a evap canister near the rear crossmember. At Autozone.com you can enter your vehicle info and locate your evap cannister and other items. I posted some photos here. My 98 had a detailed emissions sticker under the hood and my 2009 Murano has none. I guess they want you to go to the dealer. The photo is from my 98 Altima, most evap hoses go to this plastic part. It can get a hairline crack where the hoses connect to it and it will be very hard to notice and bingo the light goes on.


http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/mrbizness1/evap35.gif

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/mrbizness1/evap.gif

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/mrbizness1/Altima009.jpg

additional info here

http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/feb2006/techtips.htm

http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1g/bl972g.htm

This site also has good information about engine codes: http://www.helpforcars.net/

Thanks for the info Mr.Bizness. The plastic part (vacuum cut valve), where can i find it? Not having any luck in searches. I removed old one, hoping this is it. No room for my hands to remove the other piece to check it with battery( blood pouring down both arms from squeezing hands in that little area above connecting rod). Thanks for any reply.:runaround:

Thanks for the info Mr.Bizness. The plastic part (vacuum cut valve), where can i find it? Not having any luck in searches. I removed old one, hoping this is it. No room for my hands to remove the other piece to check it with battery( blood pouring down both arms from squeezing hands in that little area above connecting rod). Thanks for any reply.:runaround:

Most of the emissions parts will only be found at a dealer. There are some aftermarket sensors at auto stores and ebay but the plastic stuff like valves and small electric motors are mfg. items. The plastic part in the photo was for a 96 Maxima, it was $95.00 and the Purge Solinoid was $125.00 from Nissan.

Today I installed a new Nissan gas cap and a new vent control valve (the white plastic piece with all the hoses going to it). I drove it for a little while, of course the engine light is still on but now there is another code. All together 4 came up : P1448,P0455,P1448, and P1490. :crying:

HELLO. Any help?:confused:
just take it to a nissan dealership

just take it to a nissan dealership

Not much help there. Nissan and all other dealerships want too much just to check codes. Dealership is 57 miles away and when I called for the vacuum cut valve(Nissan's name) they could not find it in computer or figure it out from description. Had to drive to dealership and show them the part then a mechanic told the parts man what it is in there terms. So, not much faith there.:banghead:

Not much help there. Nissan and all other dealerships want too much just to check codes. Dealership is 57 miles away and when I called for the vacuum cut valve(Nissan's name) they could not find it in computer or figure it out from description. Had to drive to dealership and show them the part then a mechanic told the parts man what it is in there terms. So, not much faith there.:banghead:


According to Auto Zone's web site they have a store near you. they will check codes for free. Also if you change a emissions part you need to clear the ecm code or remove the battery cables for a few minutes to clear the codes. If not it can take more than a week and 35+ miles of driving for them to clear on their own.

According to Auto Zone's web site they have a store near you. they will check codes for free. Also if you change a emissions part you need to clear the ecm code or remove the battery cables for a few minutes to clear the codes. If not it can take more than a week and 35+ miles of driving for them to clear on their own.
Oh, I have been using AutoZone for code reading, was just replying about the go to dealer comment. The codes were reset once more after the part replacement and in just a few driving cycles SES light on once more with 2 codes though both were the same number P1490.:runaround: