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96 Maxima O2 problem?

I have a 96 Max with over 285k miles. I have never really had many issues with it beyond the usual maintenance and wear and tear. However, for the last 3 years, almost all of my emission sensors have been replaced. I thought I was through with all that for another

200k when my "Check Engine" light just recently came back on. It was 0503, the RH Heated O2 Sensor.

I purchased the normally $80 part online for about $50. It was an SNG sensor. I replaced it, reset the computer and drove. I also replaced my fuel filter and added a short-ram intake kit all on the same day. Almost a week later, the light came back on. It was the same code. I cleared it, and it came back on the within miles.

I have reset it a few times. Since all of this, my car has been getting less MPG, from about 27MPG to 18. Moreover, it has now started to hesitate when I am accelerating from a stop or from less than 20mph. It is almost acting as if it is not getting gas or something.

It drives fine on at highway speeds. It accelerates a little faster to 60, 70, 80 and so on. In addition, I have been able to drive at

80, 90 and even 100 without the car going over 3,000RPM. I attribute that to the air filter mod, but I could be wrong.

Therefore, Nissan community, what do you think the problem is? Is my new O2 sensor bad? If I had bought it locally, would you have suggested I returned it already? On the other hand, is it the mod or something else?

  • I will let you all know that I am no expert but I have done most of the work on my car (CV axle replacement, radiator and such), so I am no slouch. However, I am lost on what I should do next.
Reply to
Charlie 3
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Have you replaced the knock sensor? It will not throw a code by and in and of itself, however it will give you BAD gas mileage, if bad. What about plugs? changed them lately? I just put a new knock sensor on mine (about

Reply to
Bitsbucket

Oh, and knock sensor from dealer is VERY expensive, however there is a guy on ebay that sells them for around 60 bucks, they are almost 3 times that from the dealer, if not more, depending on who you buy it from. I got mine from ebay and it really increased my mileage....

Reply to
Bitsbucket

Thank you for your response. I had the knock, post-cat and another sensor changed about a year or so ago. I had changed the LH O2 sensor before that. I purchased a BOSCH sensor from AutoZone today. I went ahead and did that so I could return the SNG from the Net. The BOSCH is $40 more.

I was asked about changing the plugs as well by the AZ salesman. I had thought about that but I have also noticed irratic timing, the car either idles normal or a little below 1000. Also, the gas consumption is irratic. It seems normal since my last fill-up. But it was a drinking it up before that.

At the very least, I will have a new sensor by a company I trust. I think if the code didn't take a week to come back initially, I would have moved on to something else.

Reply to
Charlie 3

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