QuestionI recently had the oil changed in my 2004 Nissan Xtera which has 20,000 miles on it, by a Nissan dealer. They said my air filter needed to be changed, and I said I could do it myself. When I went to change it, the clips holding the air filter cover were not hooked. It was necessary to disconnect the MAFS connector to get the air filter cover off. I changed the air filter, hooked the cover down and now get a check engine light. The dealer now tells me I need to replace the mass air flow sensor. Could the air filter cover not being fastened down have caused this? I had no problem before the oil change.
AnswerHi Karen,
On todays highly electronic engines, it is not recommended that you disconnect anything in the process of a repair or replacement, especially since it is too easy to forget to hook it back up and if you attempt to run the engine w/o the MAF sensor or any sensor attached, it could potentially cause engine damage.
Perform the following procedure carefully.
Your fix should be pretty simple. Sounds like you need to hard-reset your ECU. To do so, MAKE SURE any connector you disconnected, has been reconnected properly. Turn the ignition key 'ON'. Disconnect the NEGATIVE battery cable for a minimum of 15 minutes. Turn key to the 'OFF' position before reconnecting the battery. After the battery is reconnected, start and run the vehicle for about ten to fifteen minutes regardless if the check light is still illuminated. The light, if on, should go out within this time.
If you don't mind my asking, how cruddy was the old air filter element? Initial filter replacement, recommended by Nissan, is 35,000 miles for the air-filter so I was just curious as to why the dealer recommended you change it 15,000 miles before it's recommended replacement interval.
My advice on finding a new technician. In my experience, I've not found an honest dealer. They don't care if they fix your car right the first time or not because they KNOW you will be back. I say get out while you still can! Steer clear of 'chain' stores like Firestone, Sears, Pep Boys, Monro Muffler/Brake, Midas, etc. as they usually only employ ONE ASE Certified Tech just so they can say they do and chances are, that guy is the asst. manager or manager and is not in the store to diagnose/repair vehicles anyway. Find a service location in the link below or get some names out of the yellow-pages and do a drive-by. Garages that employ ASE Certified Technicians will be marked with the 'Blue-Seal' insignia. If unsure about whether a place employs Certified Techs, just ask to see their credentials. ALL ASE Certified Technicians will be PROUD to show and display their certificate(s).
Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
www.knucklebusters.us
570-453-0910
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