My check engine light and my stability control light are on in my 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
Diagnostic says replace cam sensor.. how much is that
My car has 95000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. If you have a code for the camshaft sensor then it can cause these lights to be one. It would need to be diagnosed to see exactly what is going on. The cam sensor can be bad, it could have a problem with the circuit, or it is possible that you have an internal issue with the timing chain, which is common on this engine. If you are going to have it looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the check engine light is coming on] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Check engine light flashing and traction control light coming on at the same time could be alerting you of a misfire or a malfunctioning traction control system. Malfunctioning vehicle speed sensor or wheel speed sensors could also be causing the lights to come on.
If the check engine light in your Nissan Pathfinder starts flashing, that means that the problem needs agile attention and your Nissan should be brought in immediately. A flashing light indicates that the problem is critical and if not taken care of immediately may result in big damage to the vehicle.
2022 Nissan Pathfinder Check Engine Light Flashing
Other mostly common reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, damaged head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged emissions control part, or broken spark plugs to name a few.
The controller could be malfunctioning, the vehicle speed sensor could be malfunctioning, or the wheel speed sensors could be malfunctioning. Since the engine light is on, check for any codes that are stored in the computer for a starting place for diagnosing your traction control being disabled.
Failure in the TCS can hamper your wheels from properly spinning and cause you to lose control over the vehicle on slippery roads, which harms your tires` surface, engine performance and raises the risk of accidents.
To reset a check engine light without a scanner, disconnect the negative battery cable and wait a few moments. This will reset the diagnostic system in your vehicle, and if the underlying issue has indeed been resolved, the light should go off immediately.
While the check engine light can definitely be indicative of serious problems, the most common cause of the flashing is usually an engine misfire. There are many reasons why an engine misfire might be occurring. To run smoothly, an engine must be receiving the correct amount of power from the cylinders in your vehicle.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEST PRACTICES
If the light is not flashing, check the gas cap. Oftentimes if the gas cap wasn`t tightened enough, the check engine light will display. If tightening the gas cap does not make the light go away, take the vehicle in to have the diagnostic codes looked up.
Check your gas cap first. Many vehicles have a loose gas cap indicator that will be triggered before your check engine light comes on. If your gas cap is loose or the seal is not tight, the vapor leakage can cause your fuel system to trigger the check engine light.
If the engine light comes on solid, it may still be a reason for concern, however it doesn`t immediately need to strike fear in your heart. A solid Check Engine Light can mean something like a loose gas cap, or it can indicate a more in-depth problem like a fuel, timing, or transmission issue.
The electronic stability control (ESC) warning light can be caused by electrical issues such as a low car battery or a blown a fuse. If your car`s ESC warning light is on, see your mechanic as soon as possible to get the problem diagnosed and fixed.
Press the gas pedal 3 times in quick succession. Then, turn your engine on all the way and let it run for a minute. The TCS and ABS lights should reset and go away if there isn`t any underlying problem with your traction control system.
When the traction control module is going bad or failing, the most common sign is when the traction control system (TCS) warning indicator light is on in the dashboard. This is an indication that a serious problem exists and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Common signs include the Check Engine Light coming on, car braking inconsistently, and the traction control switch not depressing.
2) Turn Your Car On and Off
Doing this will cause most vehicles to reset the trouble codes and the check engine light will turn off. Most vehicles will activate this restart process after turning the car on and off about three times.
Leaving the battery disconnected for a few minutes will ensure the vehicle systems will completely reset when you reconnect the battery. Secure the negative cable back to the terminal and cover it with the cap. Disconnecting the battery will clear the error codes and reset the check engine light.
Meaning of the Service Engine Soon Light
The check engine light is a light to warn you to a possible issue with your exhaust system or emissions system. The service engine soon light can come on for minor issues like a loose gas cap, or for more major problems such as possible engine failure.
The simplest way to describe the difference is that the Service Engine light informs us of upcoming expected maintenance. On the other hand, the Check Engine light informs you of an unexpected problem occurring in your engine or exhaust system.
The most common causes of misfires are worn, improperly installed, and mishandled spark plugs, malfunctioning ignition coils, carbon tracking, faulty spark plug wires and vacuum leaks.
A check engine light flashing– as opposed to a continuously illuminated check engine light – should never be ignored. A flashing CEL indicates a severe problem, one that requires immediate car repair. In other words, if your check engine light is flashing, pull over and call a tow service.
Can you drive a car with the engine light on? It`s okay to drive for a few miles, but be sure to schedule an inspection of the engine as soon as possible. If the check engine light comes on while you`re driving, don`t panic! Pay attention and see if the car is driving any differently than normal.
Low Oil and Check Engine Light
However, low oil pressure, which can be caused by low oil levels, can be a reason for the check engine light to turn on. Low oil pressure can seriously interfere with your car`s performance and disable your vehicle if not addressed immediately.
You can judge how serious an issue is by looking at the warning light. The check engine light can show up in two ways: Solid yellow/amber light: Indicates a less urgent issue. Flashing light or red: Indicates a severe problem that needs immediate attention.
The check engine light illuminates when your vehicle`s computer believes there is a problem that could affect — or is affecting — your car`s emissions control system. When the light comes on, one or more diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the car`s computer. These codes will stay there even if the light goes out.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Check engine light refuses to go off after engine replaced
ANSWER : Hello there, you have a long series of issues going on with your 2013 Hyundai Sonata. If you keep getting a repeating oil light on than there is likely a fault in that system.
Since this fault has lasted after the engine was replaced it could be a oil pressure sensor, wiring harness fault, ECU fault, oil pump, oil strainer clogged, or low oil pressure.
To diagnose this issue properly you need a complete vehicle inspection to start from square one and identify the root cause of all this.
While driving on freeway truck goes into a limp mode, and the check engine light, abs light, parking break light, service brake
ANSWER : It is possible that you could be having an issue with your powertrain control module. This is somewhat of a common problem on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by the dealership to determine if the powertrain control module is functioning properly. If not, a reflash of the powertrain control module may resolve the issue but often times it must be replaced.
Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.
Car won’t start, check engine light is out but other lights are on, got new control and immobilizer but the problem remains.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. It is possible that your check engine light bulb could be out. I would recommend having a qualified professional remove your instrument cluster to determine if the bulb for the check engine light has failed. If the bulb has failed, I would recommend having it replaced and see if your results change. If the bulb is not faulty, it is possible that something was installed incorrectly during the most recent repair. I would recommend retracing your steps to determine if any steps were skipped over or done improperly. This will help to determine the cause of why the check engine light will not work. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect your electrical system for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
Car started to slow down and then the check engine light, battery, and engine oil light came on. What could cause this?
ANSWER : Hi there. It is possible that the battery cable came loose or the wires to the oil pressure sensor has came loose or failed. Check the battery cables and make sure that the terminals are tight and clean. Check the wires to the oil pressure sensor and make sure that they are connected and not broken. If everything looks good, then the oil pressure sensor may have failed. Plus, check the computer for codes and see what is stored. This will lead you to the part that could have failed. I recommend replacing the oil pressure sensor then checking to see if the lights will go out. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you with the warning lights that came on.
2006 Ford Mustang has check engine light on
ANSWER : There are countless potential causes for your illuminated check engine light. The mechanic manually turned off the light, but it came back on because the problem has not been fixed. The first place to start is retrieval of the stored diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). These codes serve as a starting point for any further diagnostics a mechanic may perform. Codes will be stored anytime the check engine light is on. Since the first mechanic was unable to fix your concern, I recommend giving the professionals at YourMechanic a call. We offer expert check engine light diagnosis and repair.
My check engine light and traction control lights are on and the cruise control light is flashing on and off.
ANSWER : Hi There,
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.
What you are describing is common for a vehicle with traction control when it has been activated in a situation as you have described. The cruise control is also controlled in some cases by the traction control system and may be flashing as a need to have it reset due to the traction control being activated under those circumstances. The traction control system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Power Train Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your traction control system.
Traction light/reduced engine power and check engine light coming on
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing some sort of intermittent wiring or sensor issue. If the problem occurred again after driving over a bump, then it may be possible that a damaged or loose wire is shorting or having contact issues. A common issue that can cause stalling is a faulty crank position sensor or wiring. I would carefully examine the engine for any loose or damaged wires. If the Check Engine Light comes back on, I would recommend having the trouble codes scanned before resetting the computer.
