Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-58
The "Service Engine Soon" light has been on for about a year. I tolerated it for a while, but then I had a mechanic check into it last fall. I was told the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. That cost me about $300. The light stayed off for about a week after that repair and then came on again intermittently for the next month or so. The mechanic said it could be due to any number of possible problems, so I again tolerated it for a while. Last month I received a notice from the State of Connecticut that it is time for my vehicle to have its emissions checked, so I decided to have a different mechanic check out the light. (I've heard that the car won't pass emissions with the light on.) This new mechanic told me that the light is on because the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. Apparently, the converter is only available from Nissan, there is no recall for it and it costs $2,700. Has anyone else experienced this problem or encountered such an exorbitant cost for this part?
Yes, I'm currently having the exact same problem with my 2000 Maxima SE. It first came on a month or so ago, and I was told the master air-flow sensor needed replaced. I had it for about a week after it was fixed and then my 'service engine soon light' came back on. It stayed on for several days and then went off. I was told that that "sometimes happens" and that the computer is simply cycling through and can't find a problem so it turns the light off. Well, now the light has come back on yet again. Its been a week now and it has not turned back off, so I have to take it back. I certainly hope its not my catalytic converter... but I do have an extended warranty on my car that will cover that.
I too have experienced this problem with my 2000 Maxima SE. The service engine soon light came on-the car died on me, but I was able to restart it and get it to the dealership. Paid $730.00 Canadian for repair only to have the car die on me again the next day. Took it back to the dealership and was told that now it was an air flow problem which is about a $900.00 repair. However I only have to pay another $81.00 for the second visit!! Being a female with little knowledge of the workings of a car leaves me pretty much at the mercy of those working on it.
I've been have the exact problem (s) the other have described. And, have had the Oxygen sensor replaced only to have the "Service Engine Soon" light come back on.
Now, the Maxima has started to run rough. I have to let it idle for about a minute before putting it in gear. If I don't let it idle the car will fall way down in RPMs and stop in the middle of the street. It has not died, yet, but just about does. Engine runs very rough.
The current mileage is around 57,000, but the "Service Engine Soon" light has been coming on, for unknown reasons according to service people, since about 18,000 miles.
We've just continued to run the car with the light on. One of the servicemen even told us to do that.
Let's say your way over due for an oil change, Would this cause the service engine light to come on???
I have had the same problems that all of you have listed above. I have a 2000 Maxima SE with about 55,000 miles on it. I had an oxygen sensor replaced in the summer of 2005. It's not October and the service engine light just came back on yesterday. I haven't noticed any performance issues. I have read where it might be a problem with the gas cap not being tightened. Well... mine is tight. The Oxygen sensor ended up costing me over $300 and I don't want to have one replaced again if it keeps happening. Also, I really don't want to take it to the dealer. I bought the car used with 36,000 miles and I did not purchase the extended warranty. What I would like to hear is what ended up happening with the above posts.
I have a 2000 Maxima se and the service engine light has been on for a year, I replaced all of the sensors as well and the light just keeps coming on. I think it is a plot by Nissan.
FYI, I bought a used 2000 max for my daughter about 2 yrs ago. It had the engine check light come on about 6 mo. later.
It turned out it was the ignition coils going bad. Another known problem that Nissan knows about. It will cause the engine to "miss-fire". It only takes one or two coils to go bad. There are 6 of them. She got them replaced under the warranty we had bought with the used car. I think the coils are about $55 bucks each, but having the shop do it runs about 500 to 600 bucks.
Hey guys! I feel you. I've been having just about the same problem. i have a '00 maxima GLE and its been about 6 months now that I let the "service engine soon" on, (so far nothing really has gone bad mechanically with the engine) and two weeks ago I had it check by a mechanic, he did a diagnosis on his scanner. he told me that it was the oxygen sensor. the first time I went he said that it was okay to run my car until I had the money to replace it. two weeks later the light is back on again, he checked it and it was the same thing. the only problem though is that three of them needs to be replaced and its going to cost me $650.00!!. hold on guys, nissan dealer would charge me even more, ready for this, a whopping $950.00. yup! holy cow!. anybody else experiencing the same problem, pls let us know.
Hi...we've had our 2002 Maxima for a few months now - bought it with 91,000 kms on it. The "service engine soon" light came on last night. Now I'm scared to take it in after ready all of your comments! Has anyone had a positive experience with this problem? Should I just ignore it? Yikes!!
11/10/05
I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima that I bought in 2001 with low miles on it at that time. It now has 99,600 miles on it & has been the best car I have ever had. My service engine soon light came on a few days ago. It went off yesterday. I do know that at 100,000 miles they recommend a tune up & I do know that I need one. I plan on trading this weekend only because I need something bigger. I am a grandma now & the car seat takes up a lot of room. As far as the Maxima goes though I would recommend it to anyone. I have not had to spend any money on my car in the 4 yrs I have had it.
LOL at least I know I'm not the only one.. I have a 2001 Maxima SE.. I got it less than a month ago, and the "Service Engine Soon" light came on today. I planned on calling the dealer and using a few 4-letter words, but they're not open on Sundays. I took it to AutoZone and they told me it was my oxygen sensor. When I got the car, I had them pull a CarFax report, and it said that it failed emissions last year due to the engine light (the dealer told me they had to replace the oxygen sensor). The car drives fine, and thankfully, I do have a warranty. Was there a recall due to this type of thing?!?!?!?! It seems to be widespread.
I have the same problems as all of you except the grandma. I wonder why she needs a bigger car. Think about it. But I did purchase my used 2000 nissan maxima in january of 2005. About a day later the check engine light comes on. I brought it back and they told me it was the mass air flow sensor and they fixed it for free. It would have cost me about $400. About two weeks later the light came back on. It been going on and off for about a month. Now its just on and I think its the catalytic converter. If you buy the Catalytic converters from nissan (keep in mind there are 3 of them) they will run you over $600 dollars for each one. I've found 3 websites that carry the catalytic converters and I think they are the only 3 websites because nissan is one of the only companies that make it. There is only a few companies out there that do. the websites are http://www.import-catalytic-converter-warehouse.com/?source=overture&OVRAW=2000%20maxima%20catalytic%20converters&OVKEY=catalytic%20converter&OVMTC=advanced
and
http://www.catalyticconverter.net/view_product0.asp?make=35&makename=NISSAN
and
http://www.convertergeek.com/
This should save people with the notorious maxima some money and if anyone finds anymore websites please post them.
Common issues with 2000 max:
1. Original ignition coils are of poor design/quality. Replacement cost for each is $75 (x6). Plus labor. Good ones have a gray dot. Defective coils are heat sensitive and will intermittently fail. Do it yourself scale (1-5) - 2
2. MAF - Mass Air Flow Sensor - subject to failure. Like the coils, Nissan made improvements, but no recall. Do it yourself scale (1-5) - 2. Part - about $100
3. O2 sensors... typically #2 fails... $300 w labor. 02 sensor costs $30, nissan $130 (because of harness) - splice wires, save money. Do it yourself scale (1-5) - 3 (tight space and O2 is recessed)
4. tps - Throttle position sensor... rough idling when cold, etc. may want to do more homework...
Check engine light will go off and point to a trouble code which can be read by Autozone for free.
There is a snowball effect which can cause numerous failures. Bad coils foul sparks (expensive platinum). This causes rich condition which causes O2 failure which causes catalytic failure. Blown MAF will make the engine run poorly all the time. Fix may include several if not all items.
Tips.
1. Catalytic is part of emissions - 8 yr / 80k warranty
if need to replace and pay yourself, get aftermarket part. As cheap as $150 (better than 3k).
2. Car eats a lot of air. check air filter regularly.
3. change sparks when you change coils. do not use regular sparks. Platinum only.
4. reset check engine light at Autozone for free or... unplug battery (carefully) for 1 minute. This clears code along with clock, radio presets.
4. you will not pass emissions with a light on and a bad O2 sensor.
5. Nissan never did any recalls on this car, however improved oem replacement parts. you can save at least 50% by doing it yourself... The space is cramped.
I have a 2001 Maxima Anniversary Edition. First cold day in Chicago and the service light came on on my way to school. Dealer says they charge $95 just to diagnose it. After reading all of the above I wonder if its worth it. It just passed emissions with flying colors. Plus being in college I'm broke anyway...
I have a 2000 Maxima SE, purchased used in 2002. Love the car, BUT, the check engine light haunts me. I've had the catalytic converter replaced under warranty before 80,000.
Went round and round with the dealer while it was under the extended warranty about the O2 sensors. The light kept turning back on after they replaced one then another. Their mechanic finally called Nissan directly and they resolved that issue, but it was months and months of service visits.
Also had one ignition coil go during vacation last year, barely made it home as the car was misfiring so badly. Got the repairs and then found out if the coil is bad the longer you drive it the more likely you are to foul the cat and need to replace one of the 3, which cost about $700 each, plus labor, through the dealer when not under warranty. This year at the beginning of vacation another coil failed. Luckily I found a dealer who replaced it for $195, part and labor.
In late October another one failed. My son is a mechanic so the part was $55, labor $0 (well he is my son) but he is insisting we replace all of the coils to avoid more problems. Poor design as the coils are subject to a lot of heat where they are located. This past w/e the oil light came on and we are awaiting a diagnosis. There was plenty of oil in the engine so we're hoping that we haven't ruined the engine as the car just stopped running. We're hoping that the car is designed to have the fuel pump cut out when the oil light comes on. I have 87,000 miles on the car right now. If anyone knows if that fuel pump feature is on the 2000 Maxima can you let me know?
The car handles like a dream although I would never get a car with low profile tires again simply because of the cost of each tire. When the check engine light isn't on I love my Maxima. (My mother has a 1997 with 43,000 miles on it and has never had a check engine light come on!)
Bottom line is if the light comes on see if you can find someone who will check out the code as soon as possible who won't charge you a lot, because it seems like when something fails the car just doesn't run well. Diagnostic checks for the light in my area are about $35.00.