Was the CEL lit before you took it in for diagnosis to Firestone?

Regardless, I don't have confident diagnosis for the root cause this
time. I would *guess* that it is likely to be one of the following
three items (in order of likelihood):

1. Bad TPS
2. Bad MAF
3. Failing coils

Cheers,
Nirav
96 Max GLE, 118k

The CEL was lit before the diagnosis. One of the battery cable ends were
also corroded and was replaced. The battery terminal had came loose a
couple of times prior to the diagnosis.

Firestone also mentioned a vacuum leak on the intake, would this be a
cause as well?
Thank you for any help/guidance you can offer.

What codes were pulled from the ECU (when the CEL was lit) ? Is it
still lit?

I don't think the vacuum leak will cause the type of driveability
issues you are describing (needless to say though, you should fix it).

All I got from firestone was the recommendations and was told they had no
record or printout of the ECU codes that were pulled.
My family and I recently moved here to Medford, NJ from Daytona Bch, FL
and I'm not familiar yet with the local service shops (which are
trustworthy).
Also, the CEL is still lit but I'm unfamiliar with how (if any) way to
retrieve the codes myself.

You have two options :

1. Go to yo ur local autozone - they will pull the codes for free. Be
sure to note down exactly which codes are retrieved - there may be more
than one. Each code will 4 digits long, e.g. 0302.

2. Look here for instructions on how to retrieve the codes yourself:

How to get the code:
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html

What the code means (not a complete list):
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecudecoder.html

Regards,
Nirav
96 Max GLE, 118k

Nirav,
Thank you for the ECU guidance,
I retrieved two codes, got an 0707 (rear heated O2 sensor) and an 0302
(EGR system Hi/Low Flow. Both have been replaced and the car continues to
do the same. The car has 130,000 miles on it also,..is this problem common
on 95 GLE Maximas?

Is there something else that wouldn't show up on the ECU that would cause
the same problems?

This is the only car I presently own and if I keep losing time at work to
get this car fixed I'll probably get fired from my job. Can you help?

Where do I start...

1. Are you sure the correct O2 sensor was replaced? (There are 3 O2
sensors on your car). 0707 points to the sensor behind the catalytic
converter.

2. The EGR hi/low flow code can be caused by many different components
(including the EGR valve). Unless the shop did some troubleshooting to
determine that it was the valve, you have likely wasted your money
replacing that part. My car popped the 0302 (EGR hi/lo flow code) and
it wasn't the valve or solenoid - it was the EGR guide tube and plenum
port were severely clogged. This might have been the case for you too
(in fact, those two items might still be clogged - unless you know that
the mechanic cleaned thse out).

3. Finally, once the problems that tripped the ECU have been fixed, the
ECU needs to be reset. Follow the procedure on the page I linked in my
previous post to reset the ECU. This will clear the CEL. If the light
reposts, pull the codes again and see what you get.

As already mentioned, neither of those two problems are likely to be
causing your driveability issues.

Hopefully Nisstech will be back in here to give his diagnosis - which
will more than likely be spot on.

Regards,
Nirav
96 Max GLE, 118k

Nirav,
I'm certain the post Cat (rear) O2 sensor was replaced and the EGR valve
was replaced,.. I'm not certain the EGR guide or plenum was cleaned.
Chances are they were not cleaned and only the EGR valve was replaced,
they made no mention of unclogging anything.

Your help has been most appreciated and has helped me to narrow down the
culprits, I suspect it may indeed be a clogged condition.Is there anyway I
can do this myself?
again, thank you and NissTech for such knowledgeable advice.

the erg valve is easier to get at if you remove the throttle body

you should be able to get the "shop" manual at your local library
this will have the specifics of the job... as I remembered from doing mine a
while back the erg valve was held on with 2 bolts (12mm ??) any how I
removed the tube feeding the erg valve & cleaned it along with the erg assy
& the port in the side of the engine. at 130,000 miles you are do for a
cleaning on the port & the tube. It is however not unheard of for a "new"
part to be bad, and this would explain the code re appearing on your
dashboard idiot light.


"MadNeighbors" <hfaeroexpert (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

Just got my 95 Max out of the Nissan dealer's shop.

The EGR passages were clogged,
-cost for repair---$475.75

One Air Filter,
-cost for replacement---$14.00

knowing how to do the repairs yourself,
-PRICELESS

Also the Nissan Service Tech said the Air Flow Meter failed and needed
replacing, he read no conductivity through it and figured the clogged EGR
system initially caused its failure.

-cost for repair---$606.00

cant afford that repair right now,
any suggestions on replacing the part myself?, does anyone know if the job
would be too intense for the average do-it-yourselfer?

The Nissan technician seemed to have suggested the labor was fairly simple
and relatively quick but the part was the bulk of the expense.