| darrylburke |
Story:
I'm on the Highway, and the MO dies.. there is no acceleration, and and engine sounds like it's being starved of air.. I manage to pull to the side, and it stalls when idling... then it will only start for 1/2 second before dying.. I can start it with the foot full on the gas, but the engine won't really run, and sounds like it's starved for air..
I get it towed to the dealership ($200), and they call me the next day..
"We found a bug with the air flow sensor.. OOps.. I mean we found a bug ALL OVER the air flow sensor".
I somehow managed to suck in a big ass bug, and it splattered all over the wires for the airflow sensor, and caused a short on the wire (with the Goo..) they removed the Goo, and put a better shrink wrap on the wires going to the sensor..
Total cost $300 for on big ass bug!!! DAMN!!!! |
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| Warhammer |
SAY WHAT?!?!? :eek:
How in the hell did that happen? So the bug got through the air box piping, through the filter, through the screen, and onto the MAV sensor? And on top of all that...it was going at such a speed that it splattered on the MAV sensor thus shorting it out?
Was there even an air filter in your air box?
Something is seriously wrong with this picture... :D |
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| darrylburke |
The invoice gives a better description
No Codes, Vehicle No start, Disconnected Air Flow Meter. Inspected Connector, Found dead insect stuck in hot lead, causing blow out. cleaned connection, reattached. Runs good.
I think that the problem was not INSIDE the air flow, but on where the electrical connections connected to the outside of the houseing/sensor.
I found the location of the MAF in the service manual, and it's "kinda" in the air path if a bug can managed to sneak in the front, top, right of the grill.. I can see where they put on more shrink wrap.. |
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| Warhammer |
Still founds fishy...but...whatever works. :D
It kinda sounds like the bug crawled into the connector and got shocked when he hit the power and ground lines. Then...nothing but goo.
At least your MO is working normally again. That's one expensive bug! |
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| njjoe |
darrylburke-
There have been 131,625 posts on this forum covering everything from CVT replacement to dead mice in the cabin air filter. However, this is the very first time that someone has mentioned a failure attributed to a dead bug shorting out the MAF circuitry. :confused: In fact it sounds so unbelievable that I just do not believe it. :ucrazy: I would think a shorted lead would at least throw a code and trip the CHECK ENGINE light.
Oh well, at least it is fixed.
-njjoe |
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| darrylburke |
Well. the easiest way to prove this is to take the send wire (the host according to the service manual) And short it out (to which other wire i'm not sure as the housing is plastic so it must have shorted two wire).
then the engine should react the same way..
I may have to try it out some day..
There where codes that where reports but no check engine light showed.. now I only need an ODBII connector.. (one of my items on my "wish I had list") |
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| Warhammer |
Try one of these:
http://www.scangauge.com/
Use it twice for reading trouble codes and it pays for itself! A very good investment. |
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| Eclipse1825 |
quote:
Originally posted by Warhammer
Try one of these:
http://www.scangauge.com/
Use it twice for reading trouble codes and it pays for itself! A very good investment.
I agree! It has saved me a trip to the Stealership about 4 or 5 times and it can go from vehicle to vehicle. |
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| Eric L. |
| I'm not sure how a bug could get past the air filter unless you had a leak somewhere else. I've heard of MAFs being fouled by excess oil on cone type performance filters, but never a bug. I guess its possible though, if it could get in somehow (it did not get past the airfilter thats for sure). |
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| zebelkhan |
quote:
Originally posted by Eric L.
I'm not sure how a bug could get past the air filter
I think the connector sits on the outside of the air box and the hoses so I imagine bugs can get to it. But so can water and dew. Very interesting.... |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Eric L.
I'm not sure how a bug could get past the air filter unless you had a leak somewhere else. I've heard of MAFs being fouled by excess oil on cone type performance filters, but never a bug. I guess its possible though, if it could get in somehow (it did not get past the airfilter thats for sure).
E-
It's even more bizarre that that. The highly conductive bug did not enter the intake. Supposedly the bug impacted on the exterior of the intake and shorted the wires on the outside. :rolleyes: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. That's just a bit too far-fetched. :bsflag:
-njjoe |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
E-
It's even more bizarre that that. The highly conductive bug did not enter the intake. Supposedly the bug impacted on the exterior of the intake and shorted the wires on the outside. :rolleyes: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. That's just a bit too far-fetched. :bsflag:
-njjoe
Oh I see! Well I suppose its a one in a million shot, but a bug suddenly dying and liquifying its conductive innards onto the MAF connector. A very odd occurance to be sure. And I'm not sure how cleaning out the connector should cost $300, but as I have found out the dealer is one big rip off operation. |
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| Warhammer |
Okay...so let's break down the technician's work shall we:
Plugging in OBD-II Reader: $85.00
Picking nose while accessing codes: $65.00
Scratching nuts after reading codes: $70.00
Inspecting MAV sensor: $20.00
Cleaning MAV sensor: $1.00
Strain to pas gass: $59.00
Watching the customer pay for your hard work: PRICELESS
Sounds justified to me! :D |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Warhammer
Okay...so let's break down the technician's work shall we:
Plugging in OBD-II Reader: $85.00
Picking nose while accessing codes: $65.00
Scratching nuts after reading codes: $70.00
Inspecting MAV sensor: $20.00
Cleaning MAV sensor: $1.00
Strain to pas gass: $59.00
Watching the customer pay for your hard work: PRICELESS
Sounds justified to me! :D
I think you pretty much nailed it.
:D :D :D :D :D |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Warhammer
Okay...so let's break down the technician's work shall we:
Plugging in OBD-II Reader: $85.00
Picking nose while accessing codes: $65.00
Scratching nuts after reading codes: $70.00
Inspecting MAV sensor: $20.00
Cleaning MAV sensor: $1.00
Strain to pass gas: $59.00
Watching the customer pay for your hard work: PRICELESS
W-
I've watched the techs at my Nissan dealership. They don't strain to do anything. :12:
-njjoe |
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| Eric L. |
An amusing aside. The last time I was at my dealership I noticed the board on the wall where the techs pick up their repair orders. One of the techs was called "Captain Magic."
I'll see if I can get that guy to fix my seat tomorrow, when I am supposed to bring my MO in again. Nissan Consumer Affairs said they would call me back tomorrow to tell me their decision on whether to comp the repair or not. |
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| BEACHN |
| Well in defense of the dealership, only $100 was for scratching themselves with one hand and cleaning the bug with the other while the other $200 went to the tow truck for him. Speaking of wasting money on a tow truck, reminds me of when my wife was driving her Euro spec '89 BMW 535i in Japan while I'm here in the States, she hears a helicoptor noise but doens't know what it is so she keeps driving down the highway. Then she says the engine starts smoking and forces her to the side of the road. Can't afford at that time to take it to the BMW dealership to get it looked at and fixed so she gets the tow truck and several hundred dollars later it's towed home. After I woke up she told me what happened. I knew exactly what that helicoptor noise was before she could explain more. If she had just woke me up and asked before continuing to drive would have told her that her fan was shot. Sure enough, since she kept driving, needed two new fans, belts, radiator and I don't know what else she replaced. Ahh, I hate wasting money. Helicoptor noises and bugs, little things that become such a big pain in the ass.....and wallet. |
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| Warhammer |
Next time you see a bug...step on it. This will potentially do 2 things:
1) It will give you a chance to vent some frustration.
2) It will give you the satisfaction that you saved someone else $300.00
Not only are you taking care of yourself...you're performing a public service! :29: |
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| darrylburke |
I ended up picking one up.. anything particular I should look at configuring on it? (eg any of the Xguage?)
thanks
quote:
Originally posted by Warhammer
Try one of these:
http://www.scangauge.com/
Use it twice for reading trouble codes and it pays for itself! A very good investment.
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| Warhammer |
I'm not sure about the XGauge. I purchased mine before they came out with the new firmware. I've been telling myself that I need to return it, pay the $25, and get it reprogrammed.
It would be handy to have the O2 sensor read capability. If you get it to work, let us know what code you used. |
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