Pretty successful teaching moment this weekend

[slag]

As most of you know, we bought a beater 2000 maxima for my 15 year old to drive to school. It needed a lot of things and I used this as an opportunity to teach maintenance to my son. He's already handy with tools, but I wanted to show him how to work on cars. We've replaced all 4 strut assemblies, brakes, a tie rod end, tie rod end boot, rock shield, inner fender liner, engine mount, some exhaust components, etc.

The most recent things we've had to do are replace the fuel filler neck and, this weekend, he said the car is surging. Because the P.O took the check engine light bulb out (I knew this when I bought it), it doesn't show a code. I took my ELM scanner and android phone out and it showed a P1320 and a code that shows, misfire, cylinder 4. I showed him how to diagnose a bad coil pack by switching it out with another near it, and the misfire moved, which shows the coil pack is bad. While we were in there we changed the plugs and oil as well and also found a heated O2 sensor is on the fritz. I thought it might be related to the fuel dumping into the cylinder, but think its more than that, so we will be changing out the 02 sensor in the very near future as well. All in all, not too bad, and he's learning a lot.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Wow. Nice.

Don't forget to do an alignment after all that suspension work.

 

[SearchMaster]

As most of you know, we bought a beater 2000 maxima for my 15 year old to drive to school. It needed a lot of things and I used this as an opportunity to teach maintenance to my son. He's already handy with tools, but I wanted to show him how to work on cars. We've replaced all 4 strut assemblies, brakes, a tie rod end, tie rod end boot, rock shield, inner fender liner, engine mount, some exhaust components, etc.

The most recent things we've had to do are replace the fuel filler neck and, this weekend, he said the car is surging. Because the P.O took the check engine light bulb out (I knew this when I bought it), it doesn't show a code. I took my ELM scanner and android phone out and it showed a P1320 and a code that shows, misfire, cylinder 4. I showed him how to diagnose a bad coil pack by switching it out with another near it, and the misfire moved, which shows the coil pack is bad. While we were in there we changed the plugs and oil as well and also found a heated O2 sensor is on the fritz. I thought it might be related to the fuel dumping into the cylinder, but think its more than that, so we will be changing out the 02 sensor in the very near future as well. All in all, not too bad, and he's learning a lot.

If it's anything like my '00 Maxima, you might be changing the O2 sensor again in another year. In fact the PO probably got tired of the check engine light coming on constantly for P0420 (I believe there was a TSB that the computer was overly sensitive and throwing the code even though nothing was really wrong).

 

[slag]

If it's anything like my '00 Maxima, you might be changing the O2 sensor again in another year. In fact the PO probably got tired of the check engine light coming on constantly for P0420 (I believe there was a TSB that the computer was overly sensitive and throwing the code even though nothing was really wrong).

I had that problem on my 2000 infiniti and had a little device that spoofed the sensor. However, I can't find any more items like that anymore.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I had that problem on my 2000 infiniti and had a little device that spoofed the sensor. However, I can't find any more items like that anymore.

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...k-plug-anti-foulers-remove-ses-cel-light.html

 

[desy]

Ugh you make me look bad
I had my 15 yr old help change the brake lightbulb and I couldn't figure out how to get the panel off to get at it
He said lets youtube it. .. . .
Yep flatblade to the middle of the fastener to pop out the middle . .. . .