dspangler0129

I have had a 2004 sentra past 3 years. It has had issues with check engine light (MIL) and hard time starting when engine is warm.

3 yrs ago air flow sensor to fix MIL (under warranty then). Last year air fuel sensor to fix MIL. This year head gasket job as antifreeze was in cylinder 4, then air fuel sensor again as it got corrupted by anti freeze. Also tweaking of cam sensor, finally the MIL went off to pass inspection.

What is wrong with this car? I change the oil regularly. I have my mechanic service it. It has never overheated. Yet I had consistently had MIL and hard start when engine is warm issues.

I am not the original owner. Was the car abused in the first year of its life before I had it?

I came very close to getting rid of it because I could not get MIL off to pass inspection.

Now, however, it runs real nice. does not hard start when warm.

However, I am concerned that problems will arise again. Should I be concerned?
What can I do to take care of the car so that I do not put it at risk?


I appreciate any and all responses.

Thanks,

dspangler0129

Doja

It happens. Maf sensor is pretty common failure, And air fuel sensor? Im not sure what that is unless your talking about an oxygen sensor. Cam sensor is common, actually thats a recall I thought. The head gasket ive never seen go bad, but can happen usually when you get overheated. Howmuch you want for it?

dspangler0129

Air fuel sensor is the oxygen sensor, indeed. Gone through two of them. I'm going to keep the car until around next year this time I believe, when I'd have to inspect it again for another year. Who knows? Maybe the car will surprise me and be great. I hear MIL is more common in Nissan than in other cars, so I remain only cautiously optimistic about the car.

Doja

Well to tell you the truth 02 sensors dont typically go bad unless you hav another problem causing a rich(too much fuel/air) or lean( too little fuel/air) condition. You probably have about the same luck as I do with my sentra. I still love mine and I take good care of it. The more you know about the sensors and what they do the more you undersand why they can go bad. The Mass Air Flow sensor is on most cars just a very small wire that air passes on the way in. The amount of air and its temperature change the needed voltage across that wire, this is how it works. Its not hard to understand how that can go bad since it is just a little thin wire. Especially when every "quick" lube place likes to "check" your air filter, opening up that air box without a care shaking that sensor around cant be good....
not only that but high flow air filters that are over oiled can also add to the fun. Thats why I prefer speed density sensors, or MAP manifold absolute pressure sensors. just my 2 bits

dspangler0129

Thanks for the input. Best of success with your Nissan. Fortunately, mine is running really well for the moment.