Service Engine Soon and Idling

graydj · 07-12-2007, 01:52 PM

Hello all,

Today my Titan with 39,213 miles on it decided to turn on the service engine soon light. I noticed this past weekend that it was struggling while idling - almost like the engine was going to cut out, but it never did. I checked the gas cap and it is always tightened more than 3 clicks (experienced that once). Has anyone else seen this problem?

Like I said, I noticed the cutting while idling this weekend, but the SES light did not come on until today.

Any help will be greatly appreciated before I take it to the stealer (I mean dealer).

Ourbaby · 07-12-2007, 01:56 PM

Did you just fill it up with gas right before this all started?

37L1 · 07-12-2007, 01:59 PM

Check your intake, air filter and MAF?

graydj · 07-12-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ourbaby

Did you just fill it up with gas right before this all started?

No. The gas light is on now. It needs gas in it.

4wheelpeel · 07-12-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 37L1

Check your intake, air filter and MAF?

This would be my guess also.
I am almost sure its the MAF or the intake is loose. do you have a CAI?

Steamguy · 07-12-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

The gas light is on now. It needs gas in it.

If the fuel level is extremely low, you can't get good fuel pressure to the injectors, the pressure sensor will set a fault code, and you'll have trouble getting an idle out of it - especially on an incline.

I've seen this before when a customer brought one to us for an intermittent bad idle that the dealer had no idea what was happening. We took a look at it and the fuel pressure was WAY lower than the lower limit. I leaned inside to turn the key off, and here the LOW FUEL light was on, and the needle was buried out of sight in the bottom of the dash somewhere. I stood up and said, "Hey, let's put five bucks' worth of gas in it before we do any more testing, OK?" (You can tell how long ago THIS was) The customer said, sure, go ahead. We put the gas in, restarted, retested, and - viola - good fuel pressure! Oh, and the idle was perfect. A little lumpy because of those early emissions controls, but reasonably good.

Asked the customer how often they ran the fuel down that far. The answer was, "Oh, I thought you weren't supposed to put gas in it until you saw the light come on..." We all just looked at each other - and here we'd gotten a TSB from one of the Big Three at the time warning not to run the fuel too low because the mixture would go way lean, you'd run the risk of maybe messing up the catalytic converter, and possibly doing damage to the fuel pump because it uses the fuel flowing through it to cool itself.

Tell you what - put gas in it and let us know how it does then...

graydj · 07-12-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheelpeel

I am almost sure its the MAF or the intake is loose.

Well I dropped $20 bucks in the tank. Before and after doing this I did not notice the cutting out while idling. I drove it over to the local AutoZone. Guy came out and ran some diags for free (Nissan wanted to charge me $104). Diags reported that I needed to change the MAF sensor ($219). Ordered it and it should be in in 2 days. Went ahead and bought a new air filter while I was there so I could replace both at the same time.

Thanks for your help everyone!

graydj · 07-24-2007, 04:46 AM

*** Update ***

Well, I ordered the MAF sensor, but I was told that it would not be delivered until August 8th (PartsAmerica via Advance Auto Parts)! I went ahead and canceled the order thinking that I could get the part from someone else quicker. I forgot about it for a couple days and then my Service Engine Soon light went off!

Now I don't know what to do. I know that before the light came on, my wife was eating a ton of dust from country roads while following me (probably 20 miles of dust at 55mph). Could this have messed with the MAF sensor? I have not felt the idle sputter as much if at all. Should I go ahead and reorder the part? I need some advice here. Thanks!

val · 07-24-2007, 05:37 AM

take it to another auto place & recheck---then decide

Wiscdave · 07-24-2007, 07:47 AM

Before buying a new MAF, I'd try cleaning off the MAF first. Might be some buildup on it from your driving type. Another possiblity would be that Nissan would "goodwill warranty" the part? Give the service manager a call, this sounds like a rare occurance of this problem, but then again there could be TBS out on it somewhere...try searching.

Justintoxicated · 07-24-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiscdave

Before buying a new MAF, I'd try cleaning off the MAF first. Might be some buildup on it from your driving type. Another possiblity would be that Nissan would "goodwill warranty" the part? Give the service manager a call, this sounds like a rare occurance of this problem, but then again there could be TBS out on it somewhere...try searching.

There is a TBS Throttle Body Spacer for this? lol.

I'd clean off the maf and see if the problem goes away. Do you have a stock intake? if not it is most definately your problem.

tazstitan · 07-24-2007, 12:32 PM

What code did Autozone get ???
Important before just guess on parts...
Seen a few proplems with Dirty throttle body butterflys & cause a few idle problems...

graydj · 07-24-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justintoxicated

Do you have a stock intake? if not it is most definately your problem.

I do have a stock intake. Nothing custom about this rig!

graydj · 07-24-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazstitan

What code did Autozone get ???
Important before just guess on parts...
Seen a few proplems with Dirty throttle body butterflys & cause a few idle problems...

The guy did not give me a code...The slip said something like:

01 - MAF sensor needs replaced
02 - Replace air filter
etc
etc

I am going to clean it out and check it...Thanks!

goosemst · 07-25-2007, 06:53 PM

I dont know if this has anything to do with your problem but it might. Do you travel in dirty conditions alot. dirt, gravel roads ect. If you do you problem may be the purge valve canister on the fuel tank. it vents into your framerail and after miles of dusty conditions it will get stopped up and throw the check engine light. As it gets worse you will have problems gettin your fuel tank all the way full. I farm so at the present time mine is stopped up and will cost almost 350 dollars to fix or more i think. Its a pain in the azz