All,
The CEL set on my Max two weekends ago showing DTC 0210 (P0174). This
indicates that the system detected the left bank was running lean.
Possible faults:
1. MAF
2. Injector(s)
3. Air Intake leak
4. Bad O2 sensor
5. Exhaust leak
My diagnosis:
1. MAF
-> Nope - would likely affect both banks - car runs and pulls fine.
2. Injector(s)
-> Nope - listened to each injector (left bank is the front 3
cylinders on the VQ30DE) - each clicks normally and at the same
frequency. Also, I didn't get any misfire code or feel any
hestitation when driving - so I'm pretty sure it's not one or more
injectors...
3. Air Intake leak
-> Nope: I had the top of the engine off two years ago when replacing
the valve cover spark plug seals and I replaced the upper-intake-
manifold gasket as well as all other intake assembly gaskets. Also
I'd expect this to affect both banks.
4. Bad O2 sensor
-> Most likely. O2 sensors are 60k old - mileage has been down about
10% over the past few months (before CEL tripped)
5. Exhaust leak
-> Nope: Didn't feel anything upstream of the O2 - no noise.
So before I order myself a new O2 sensor to swap in -> anyone else
have any thoughts or comments on my reasoning, or experience with this
fault? I'm too lazy to swap the two front O2 sensors around to see if
I can move the fault to the other bank :)
I know on the 5th Gens, system lean codes for both banks would show up
at the same time, and that was usually the MAF...
Note: Resetting the ECU (to clear CEL) keeps it off for sometimes a
few days, sometimes a few hours.
Thanks,
Nirav
codifus - 22 May 2007 12:53 GMT
On May 21, 1:44 pm, njm...@gmail.com wrote:
> All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
> Thanks,
> Nirav
When I had my 98 Maxima, I put a performance catalyst into it, and I
vaguely recall getting a similar CEL code. Putting the OEM cat back
resolved it. So maybe there's something going on with your cat.
CD
njmodi - 22 May 2007 15:23 GMT
> On May 21, 1:44 pm, njm...@gmail.com wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 53 lines]
>
> CD
CD - I don't think this is the problem in my case since there is no
way after the y-pipe for the ECU to know which bank is lean - there is
a single shared O2 sensor after the catalytic converter - but no
longer any differentiation per bank.
I still have the factory exhaust on the vehicle.
Thanks for the input.
Nirav
codifus - 22 May 2007 18:55 GMT
> > On May 21, 1:44 pm, njm...@gmail.com wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 64 lines]
>
> Nirav
That's the thing. It was a bizarre error. Even my situation should not
have caused the CEL to come up, but it did.
Sometimes computers set off the wrong or very closely related code.
CD
njmodi@gmail.com - 22 May 2007 19:38 GMT
> On May 21, 1:44 pm, njm...@gmail.com wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 53 lines]
>
> CD
CD - I don't think this is the problem in my case since there is no
way after the y-pipe for the ECU to know which bank is lean - there is
a single shared O2 sensor after the catalytic converter - but no
longer any differentiation per bank.
I still have the factory exhaust on the vehicle.
Thanks for the input.
Nirav
Al Moodie - 22 May 2007 15:27 GMT
>All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>Thanks,
>Nirav
How about a leaking vacumm hose. Perhaps one that connects to left
bank, or affects the left bank.
Al Moodie
njmodi - 01 Jun 2007 20:56 GMT
Follow-up for the benefit of those that are interested:
Swapped out the O2 sensor over the weekend and all is well.
Cheers,
Nirav
96 Max GLE, 144k