How do you reset the 'check engine' light in a 2000 Maxima?

Answer 1

My service engine soon light just came on for the third time. The first time is was something valve related in Jan 2004. My regular guy thought it might be a simple fuel injection service but wisely pointed me to the dealer for firm diagnosis - $900. The second time, Oct 2004, it was the 02 sensor - $300 Today, Oct 2004, who knows? This is getting to be an expensive car. I wouldn't reset it myself without checking to see the cause. And, as will most things Nissan, dealer only, or you'll have to pay dealer diagnosis fees on top of whatever work your regular guy did.

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You may be able to clear it by removing the negative battery terminal for 1 minute.

I have a 97 maxima, check engine soon light was on for a while before I needed an inspection. You can reset the light with a screw driver, the screw you need to turn for 5 seconds is located by the gas pedal, this will also diagnose the problem with a series of blinking lights at the check engine soon light location. Once it was reset the check engine soon light went off. I brought it in for inspection, but didn't pass. I was given a pamphlet on what to do once you reset. I can't remember all the things you need to do, that's why I was on this sight. One of the things was to drive 55 mph, then come to a stop without touching the brakes...there were two or three other things you needed to do. After I did those things, I brought it back and it passed. Unfortunatley the lights back on again this year and I was looking for those instructions again.

Hint to "Autozone" answer......just took my 2000 to them to reset the light after the car was worked on by someone who didn't have machine to reset the CIL....Autozone said they could no longer reset light (new law) BUT he said I could borrow the tester (in the parking lot) and he couldn't tell me what I could or couldn't do to my car.........so I took it and reset it myself :)

The dealer told my daughter that she had a California emission car and that the light just had to be re-set. So, for the first few states she lived in, it was re-set for free. I now own the car in NY. I couldn't pass an inspection witht he light on. Cost $150 to re-set it. Mechanic told me to take to dealer and get fixed, per a service bulletin he showed me. Mechanic could not guarantee that light would not come back on. Went to dealer who ignored my request to re-set "check engine light" per my mechanic's instructions. However, he did charge $200 for the traction control code that the computer was showing. You guessed it! My check engine light is back on and it's time for an inspection in May. I guess I'll have to pay at least $150 to pass my inspection again? That lights been on nine times since the car was purchased. Sometimes it goes out by itself. Anyone experience similar problems?

Posted: 8/4/2006 I purchased the CarChip E/X (http://www.davisnet.com/drive/products/drive_product.asp?pnum=08221) on Ebay for $85.00. Not only does it reset your CEL (I own a 1999 Maxima SE) but you can capture 300 hours of various run-time statistics from the Engine Control Unit (ECU Computer). I have done this for my Oxygen Sensors as the chip would report that an O2 sensor triggered the CEL. After capturing and analyzing the data, I suspect that occasionaly the software gets too trigger happy and turns the light on. I turn it off and I'm good for another few months. It's always the same O2 sensor. Get yourself one of these chips. The chip installs in seconds into the OBD-II port by the drivers left knee under the dash. It comes with either a serial of USB interface for a standard Windows PC to download the data and to issue the reset code when it is re-installed into the vehicle. The CEL usually goes out within 10 seconds of starting the car. It's the best tool I ever bought for my Maxima.

I used the screw on the bottom right of the accelerator to diagnose and reset the Service Engine Soon light on my 1997 Maxima. The following are the steps to to complete a drive cycle so the computer goes back into the "Ready" state (well what I read it was anyway): 1)Idle in Drive for 2 1/2 mins (A/C and rear Defrost on) 2)Turn A/C and dfreost off - acc to 55mph half throttle 3)Hold at 55MPH for 3 mins 4)Decelerate to 20MPH WITHOUT breaks 5)Return to 55MPH 3/4 throttle 6)Hold at 55-60MPH for 5 mins 7)Dec to stop WITHOUT breaks. That should be one cycle.