Service Engine soon

[XTerra D]

Hi,

I just had done timing belt on my XTerra 2000, XE, V6. Oil change,oil filter change was done at the time of time belt only. It is only about 700 miles after that and today when I was on a long drive, I got SERVICE ENGINE SOON indicator. Worthy to note that I was doing some dust clean up from the machine sometimes before.

Could it be the dust that have caused this problem? Any easy solution? I don't want to rush to the mechanic and get ripped off for nothing! Any way we can reset that flag?

I have a exhaust manifold crack too, just to note.

Thanks.
XTerra D

[Schludwiller]

The manifold crack shouldn't have anything to do with it. You can get the error codes pulled at PepBoys for cheap. That might help you diagnose the problem before going in to Nissan at $60/hr.

[XTerra D]

Thanks.

I went to a local shop nearby and the scanned the code.

Found that there was an engine misfire. But did not happen in the shop. They checked the cables also, for ths spark plug. They are like new. So they suggested me to wait. Costed me 25 bucks to get it checked. The code is now reset so I am happy.

Although, I was wondering why misfire could happen...

[Schludwiller]

If you're under warranty, make sure you get that manifold crack fixed. Take some doughnuts or pizza over to the service guys when you do and maybe they can help you figure out the fault-issue without charging you an arm and a leg.

[chubbybubba1]

Possible misfire causes:
Improper spark plug
Insufficient compression
Incorrect fuel pressure
The injector circuit is open or shorted
Injectors
Intake air leak
The ignition secondary circuit is open or shorted
Lack of fuel
Drive plate or flywheel
Heated oxygen sensor 1 (front)
Incorrect distributor rotor

Have you replace spark plugs, wires, distributor cap & rotor? Do you ever run a fuel system cleaner? I would start with the easy stuff. Hate to take it to a shop and find out it was something stupid like a worn rotor in the distributor. Buy all OEM parts. Use NGK plugs. My guess is though in the end you have an injector screwing up. Let us know.

[XTerra D]

Thanks for the nice reply.

Yes, I have a new spark Plug, wire and distributor cap and rotor.

I ran fuel system cleaner just last tank fill up. Would it cause the issue?

I have a little knocking on the accelerator. Looks like the accelerator is giving up. Machine runs fine though. Could it be the faulty fuel injection? Basically, even though my pedal is down, I feel something is hitting the accelerator inside the engine. It could be just the exhaust pipe loose or something? This just started to happen since my car came from timing belt replacement.. It was running very smooth before..

[chubbybubba1]

You should have 6 new spark plugs/wires. Did you install the parts? Do you have the correct gap on the plugs? When is the last time you changed the fuel filter? I had an injector replaced under the powertrain warranty a few months ago on an 01' V6. The diag. code was P304 or something like that. In other words, it was an engine misfire code.

[amodea1]

hate to dredge up old forums, but i didnt wanna start a whole new one without reading into it, but my service engine light came on. i jsut got it and im not totally stupid about cars, but i asked the local shop and they said that it trips itself every few hundred/thousand miles for routine maintenance and that there is not necessarily a code that they can read. they said to just do the random things that are routine. so the oil is fine, got a K&N put in , just wondering if i should have them run the code check anyway jsut in case or just reset it(not that i know how) thanks ya'll.

[OffroadX]

No, there is no regular service/maintenance interval light on Nissan vehicles.