2001 Nissan Maxima SE from North America - Comments

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.

Thanks for the writeup! I'm sure you'll save a lot of people a lot of money! Yes, we have a 2001 Maxima and it too runs like the day we bought it. We have replaced 1 O2 sensor. Not bad considering it has 110,000 miles.

I too had my SES light read at the local autozone for free, ordered the replacement 02 sensor for the Bank 1 reading for around $80 and worked with a buddy to replace it. Removing the heat shield wasn't bad, sensor was hard to access with a wrench, but eventually got it out. putting heatshield back on was a "fun" little exercise trying to line up the tiny holes.

Overall, about a 45 minute job. My problem is that as soon as I replaced the sensor, the SES light would not reset. Got the free reading again and this time not only was there another Bank 1 but also a bank 2 issue. Before I waste $$ to buy the other 02 sensors (other ones are about $110 each because of additional heating wire) I'm going to get the catalytic converter checked 1st. Nissan dealer already replaced one of them a few years ago (there are 3 total) under warranty and I am fairly certain the problem is not be the 02 sensors themselves. Other Nissan forums have a whole mess of people with the same SES/O2/emissions issues. Here is a link to some of those comments:http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_93932.html

I’ve had the same problems, check engine light, went to AutoZone and got the usual 02 sensor reading. The car ran fine but I had the check engine light on almost all of the time! I have to have this car inspected yearly. A check engine light does not fair well. I took the car to the inspection center (knowing it would not pass because check engine light) and dog-on if that light went off right before I entered the testing sight. The check engine light would occasionally go off and on, Yes it passed, but the check engine light returned to haunt me. Now for the good news! Somehow I stumbled upon techniques that stopped the check engine light from coming on.

1. Make sure that you turn off the car before refuel.

2. Make sure the fuel cap is tight after fueling!!!

I swear I’ve never had a check engine problem since! It may take a couple of times to refuel but the internal computer eventually resets.

Which O2 sensor in the Nissan Sentra or Maxima is usually the one that creates the problem?