2001 Nissan Maxima SE review from North America

I recently have seen several post concerning Oxygen Sensor's on 2000/2001 Nissan Maxima's.

I myself have owned my Maxima since February of 2001. Now, in 2006, I still have it and it still runs just like the day I bought it...

Recently, at 93,000 miles, I also had an Oxygen Sensor (O2 sensor) (1 of 4 O2 sensors on the car by the way) begin to go out and I noticed the cars performance was not its usual self nor was the RPM's working properly. This being the first time the car had had any "problems", and me not being much of a mechanic, I took it to Auto Zone and had a computer test done on it for FREE... It read out the location of the bad O2 sensor, Bank 1, sensor 2...So I went ahead and had the part ordered (although the sensor itself costs $80-100 dollars, its better than spending 400 to the DEALER!!!)

When the part came in, I found out the location of the bad sensor by matching up the "Color code" from the 4 O2 sensors to choose from... and also the shape of the sensor, which are located right on top of the engine (just ask a mechanic if you can't find it, not hard though)

(you cannot get it wrong if you match the NEW sensor to the old one, very simple!)

After matching the sensors (at the top), I followed the wire to the Bottom where the actual mechanical part of the sensor is located (very easy)...After finding the sensor (underneath the heat shield), which is 3 small bolts to take out... I put a wrench that fit the sensor (standard wrench), and with a little muscle, out popped the sensor... (It has threads like a screw, so be careful when screwing on to make sure it is a nice fit)...

I then screwed the new sensor in nice and snug, put the heat shield back on, and ran the wire to the top of the engine where the other half of the sensor is located... Popped that on, and BOOM!

I was done...

Total Spent:

$83.67.

Total Time:

30 minutes.

My suggestion to those paying $400 dollars for 02 sensor replacement...

DO IT YOURSELF!

It is very simplistic, and I'm not even a mechanic... I just change my own oils and keep the fluids topped off...

PS - After I done the O2 sensor myself, I went ahead and had the SPARK PLUGS (all 6) replaced at a local mechanic that I trust to the fullest extent... I bought the Spark Plugs, took them in, and he did the WHOLE JOB for $107.00.

(I heard someone say they spent $800 at the dealership)

SO STAY AWAY FROM THE DEALER PEOPLE... Either do it yourself or find you a good/honest mechanic you can trust to the fullest...

Oh yea... My maxima is running like the day I bought it again... Topped out at 140 MPH just the other day ;-) :D Shhhhh!

Love it.