I drive a 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE with about 95,000 miles. Last Saturday I was driving on a highway when the "service engine soon" light started to blink. At the same time I noticed the engine would rev up to much rpm's than normal. At the first stop sign the engine almost stalled. I parked the car at my home and noticed some smoke from under the hood. I called AAA to tow it and I just had them take it to a garage close to home. They told me it was an "ignition coil" and it was causing the number two cylinder not to fire. They replaced the coil and the spark plugs. While driving back to work, the "service engine soon" light came back on but solid this time. I called the garage and they told me to bring it over so they could read the code. They told me the code indicated a two bad oxygen sensors. They thought this could be related to the contamination from the one cylinder not firing so they reset the indicator. After about 25 miles the indicator came on again. They replaced both of the "down stream" oxygen sensors and told me it should be okay now but they also cautioned me that the light could come back on and then they would need to replace both of the "up stream" oxygen sensors. Needless to say, the "service engine soon" light came back on after a few miles. By the way, the mechanic said all of the oxygen sensors were close together.
My question is, does all of this sound right? Should I spend more money getting two more sensors replaced or should I take the car to Nissan? Does a bad oxygen sensor code always mean a bad oxygen sensor or could it be something else? Could my catalytic converter be bad?
Welcome to the lovely world of the sentra GXE....this happens to be a very widespread problem amongst this brotherhood of cars...honestly i don't kno the fix...i too am a victim of this Oxygen sensor nightmare...i replaced my catalytic converter and my bank 1 sensor and now it says my bank 2 is bad..
my only advice is to read the other posts on this forum about oxygen sensors.. they are very helpful...but other than that i LOVE my sentra... but i am starting to think that this engine light thing is a conspiracy lol GOOD LUCK!
Could be the converter, or maybe the sensors, or who knows. I dont think Missan even knows the answer. Take it to the dealer and you will get robbed blind. You may want to read over some of the other posts as suggested by KAB above. GOOD LUCK, and keep us posted on the progress.
I might have an answer, or at least for my 2002 sentra gxe. Bought my car at dealership. gave me 1000 mile warrenty. light was on. tested it and said o2 sensor. went in a week later and they told me the SKINNY on the problem. If i was to replace one sensor, another would have shown up as bad. They troubleshooted it with nissans top pros and found it to be a bad ecu or "brainbox". told me it would be 600 dollars but they would replace it for free. they did and the car runs great. no more check engine light. I hope that helps you guys all out...Believe me i know where your comming from. luckly i didnt have to pay for a o2 sensor, then another. till they guessed what part it was. I would try and go to a real nissan dealer and talk to them about the ecu and tell them your problem and about how mine was fixed. The part isnt real cheap but it should cure your illness.... Farwell my sentra brothers...
HOLY MACKEREL! 600 shingles for a goddamn engine light to function properly?!? Man, this is a really turning out to be a bunch of crap. My next car is gonna be a Hyundai, with a good ole 100,000 mile warranty. Nissan just lost my confidence and loyalty. Think I'll write the bastards a letter and tell em how I REALLY feel......
yea man i don't have that kind of money .... but i don't kno about that hyundai idea lol they aren't too reliable themselves... i think i'll just drive around with my new found friend " check engine light"
Service engine soon, Ignition coil, Oxygen sensor - 2001 Nissan Sentra GXE
For my car had the same problem.
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