Crackling noice in engine + ServiceEngine Soon came on

[Koojo]

I was going to work this morning and my eye caught a wierd something on the panel that wasnt there before. It was the 'service engine soon' lamp. I stopped the car, turned it off, waited for a few seconds and turned it back on, but the light was still there. I got to work and opened up my hood to check the oil levels, everything was fine. I then put the car in the ON position for about a second and then took the key out, and about 4 seconds later I heard the a crackling noice somehwere in the engine that lasted for about 2 seconds. Now it does that all the time (maybe it used to do that before but I just havent noticed it untill now). I dont even have to turn the car on and off for the noice to occur, just putting it in the ON posittion and off makes it do that. Im taking it to the dealer tomorrow morning, but this is very wierd. Any ideas? The fuel cap is on tight, I use 89 octane fuel, and all the fluids seem at the right levels.

[kenchan]

yeh, that crackling sound is there. you can't hear too good unless the hood is open, but mine makes that noise too after shutting off the engine. it sounds like the throttle cable is winding up or something, right?

kinda funny how the car's kinda alive even after the key is taken out. oh yah, about your service engine soon light... they might tell you to drive around as is for a couple days. mine came on for no apparent reason and went off about a week later. it came on after a fillup and did some hard launches on it. seems like that bogging makes the light come on or something...

I hear dat if you work on your air filter it comes on sometimes, but the computer re-learns its environment and turns off the serv. engine light.

[Koojo]

I read in the manual earlier today that there has to be 3 clicks when you close the fuel cap. I usually do like 1 or 2. But how come it never came on earlier? I also dont usually mess around with the air filter, just a usual cleaning once in a while.

[kenchan]

yah, I did 3 clicks all the time on the gas cap. still came on. not sure wat is causing it to come on, but unless your service engine light starts to flash, infiniti says not to worry.

car has to many sensors, I guess. there are other cars out there that have this symptom... my car ran fine and still does.

[Koojo]

Ya well if it will start flashing then it will probably be too late and ill have some sort damage that I could have fixed earlier.

But wait...so your saying that noice that you hear when you turn off your car happens in all G20s and is normal?

[1PNYBOY]

Kenchan,
I would stay away from the dealership that told you the service engine soon light will flash. That's wrong info. The light won't flash. Take the car in if the light is on. In almost seven years of working in an Infiniti service dept., I have never seen a service engine light flash. If the car is under warranty, take it in.

P.S. Did you ever take it in for the sulfur smell. They just updated the T.S.B. about a week ago. So, take it in for the ECM reprogramming, if you haven't already.

[Koojo]

I brought it to the dealer today and they told me that the oxygen censor was defected so they ordered the part and it should come in a few days. But for now they reset the ecm so I dont keep starring at the "Service Engine Soon" light which I dread. Im not really bothered much by the sulfer smell because I dont smell it much anymore. Hopefully it wont come back. Ill keep you posted.

[kenchan]

1pnyboy- thanx for the info. I have an appointment on thursday morning first thing to get the computer adjusted... it does have a pretty bad sulfer smell depending on the fuel I use. I put in 87 octane today just to make sure the car doesn't smell after the adjustment.

my service engine light went off automatically. did the bulb burn out? heheheehe. I really dont care too much about this car (although I take good care of the appearance) as its only my commuter and if it does break down, I can convince my wife so that I can get the IS300...the car that I originally wanted but shyed away because its FR and only had the butterfly AT shifter. get me the 6MT. btw, snow is a big factor for FR around here...