97 Maxima SE EGR and Knock Sensor

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garycarp - 16 Oct 2004 14:35 GMT

My 97 Maxima has over 160k miles. Latley, I've been getting the SEL about
every 300-400 miles. Codes 0302 (EGR insufficient or excessive flow
detected) and 0304 (knock sensor fault or circuit fault). After replacing
the EGR valve, I only get the SEL every 1000 miles or so. Still get both
codes every time the SEL comes on. Are the two codes somehow coming from
the same cause? I checked the knock sensor for resistance at the harness
connector and got an open circuit (indicating a bad sensor according to my
Haynes manual) so I replaced the knock sensor. Noticed that there is only
one wire at the knock sensor end of the wire harness. Is this right? The
knock sensor has two prongs, but the connector only has one mating prong
and one wire. the opposite end of the wire harness has two wires. What's
the second wire for? I get the open circuit reading at the harness end of
the connector with both the old part and the new part. I read resistance
across the two prongs of both knock sensors. I believe I've replaced a
knock sensor that wasn't bad and I'm assuming something is wrong with the
wiring. Any help? Thanks.

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John Doe - 17 Oct 2004 05:12 GMT

The knock sensor will not activate the light on that car. Even though the
connector has two holes, there is only one wire to it. Concentrate on fixing
the EGR problem to turn the ligth off for good.

> My 97 Maxima has over 160k miles. Latley, I've been getting the SEL about
> every 300-400 miles. Codes 0302 (EGR insufficient or excessive flow
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> knock sensor that wasn't bad and I'm assuming something is wrong with the
> wiring. Any help? Thanks.

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filesiteguy - 17 Oct 2004 05:12 GMT

>My 97 Maxima has over 160k miles. Latley, I've been getting the SEL about
>every 300-400 miles. Codes 0302 (EGR insufficient or excessive flow
>detected) and 0304 (knock sensor fault or circuit fault). After replacing
>the EGR valve, I only get the SEL every 1000 miles or so.

Just a thought - when's the last time you had your fuel injectors
serviced/checked? If there's a leaky injector, you could be getting
extra-rich mixture into the cylinder and goofing up your EGR valve and
the knock sensor.

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Steve T - 17 Oct 2004 07:34 GMT

> My 97 Maxima has over 160k miles. Latley, I've been getting the SEL about
> every 300-400 miles. Codes 0302 (EGR insufficient or excessive flow
> detected) and 0304 (knock sensor fault or circuit fault). After replacing
> the EGR valve, I only get the SEL every 1000 miles or so.

Because the valve wasn't the problem, the passage in the intake manifold is
plugged up.

> Still get both
> codes every time the SEL comes on. Are the two codes somehow coming from
> the same cause?

Nope, the knock sensor needs a new connector on the end of the harness most
likely and doesn't set the CEL, you just find it when you check for the CEL
problem which is a plugged intake manifold passage. Bitch you wasted your
money buying an EGR valve it didn't need!

> I checked the knock sensor for resistance at the harness
> connector and got an open circuit (indicating a bad sensor according to my
> Haynes manual) so I replaced the knock sensor. Noticed that there is only
> one wire at the knock sensor end of the wire harness. Is this right?

Yes.

The

> knock sensor has two prongs, but the connector only has one mating prong
> and one wire. the opposite end of the wire harness has two wires. What's
> the second wire for? I get the open circuit reading at the harness end of
> the connector with both the old part and the new part.

Again you wasted money buying parts the car didn't need.

> I read resistance
> across the two prongs of both knock sensors. I believe I've replaced a
> knock sensor that wasn't bad and I'm assuming something is wrong with the
> wiring. Any help?

Let someone work on it who knows what they are doing?

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Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

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garycarp - 18 Oct 2004 02:18 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions.

Steve, FYI - Every "Mechanic" I've every taken a car to charges at least
$50/hr, if they have a clue what they are doing. I get all my parts at a
very reasonable price due to a connection with the local auto parts store.
I've replaced both half shafts, the EGR valve, the knock sensor, the water
pump and both drive belts for under $300. The water pump job alone would
cost more than that at any mechanic. I could take my cars to a
"mechanic", leve it with them for a week or so, pay them to guess at
what's wrong with the car, pay them an arm and leg to replace the parts,
pay them the other arm and leg for the parts and still end up with
something not working right.

Armed with my Haynes manual and a few tools, I figure I've saved myself
a few hundred (or maybe thousand) bucks. If replacing a part on a car with
162,000 miles doesn't fix any problems, at least I know I've got a new part
that should last a few more miles.

Thanks!

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Steve T - 18 Oct 2004 07:29 GMT

> Thanks for the suggestions.
>
> Steve, FYI - Every "Mechanic" I've every taken a car to charges at least
> $50/hr, if they have a clue what they are doing.

Sure they do. I charge $75 a hour.

> I get all my parts at a
> very reasonable price due to a connection with the local auto parts store.
> I've replaced both half shafts, the EGR valve, the knock sensor, the
> water
> pump and both drive belts for under $300.

And you still haven't fixed the problem it has and installed some piss poor
quality axles. If someone was mantaining the car right, it would have just
needed some boots replaced on the MUCH higher quality original axles long
before the axles crapped out. I'm sure you also used some "made in USA"
garbage belts which will last 1/3 as long as the originals. Cheap parts
aren't a "bargain".

> I could take my cars to a
> "mechanic", leve it with them for a week or so, pay them to guess at
> what's wrong with the car, pay them an arm and leg to replace the parts,
> pay them the other arm and leg for the parts and still end up with
> something not working right.

So now you're going to insult all mechanics because you can't fix this
simple problem?

> Armed with my Haynes manual

LOL, no wonder you can't fix the problem!

> and a few tools, I figure I've saved myself
> a few hundred (or maybe thousand) bucks. If replacing a part on a car
> with 162,000 miles doesn't fix any problems, at least I know I've got a
> new part that should last a few more miles.

Then keep throwing parts at it, wait you know what you're doing because you
have a Haynes manual! :-)

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Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

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Codifus - 25 Oct 2004 21:45 GMT

>>Thanks for the suggestions.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> Then keep throwing parts at it, wait you know what you're doing because you
> have a Haynes manual! :-)

So then, how do you clean the passages in the intake manifold. . . .
.without removing it from the engine:)

CD

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