Weird vibration and CEL?

baddadjokess

Test Drive
Location
South Florida
So I've had my X for about 3 weeks now. About a week into having it(of course), it popped a CEL so I had my friend plug in and read the code but it only popped up with a knock sensor. Car was riding fine so he told me not to worry about it too much. That it it starts giving you an issues, we'll spend the day tearing it up and replacing/relocating it. So fast forward a week later the CEL pops again but I start noticing this odd vibration when I'm cruising and I'm hitting around 2k RPMS. It only lasts lik half a second. Feels like I ran over a bunch of cat eyes with my rear tires. I also read here that Knock Sensor wouldn't trip a CEL on its own. So why isn't anything else coming on through codes? Also notice some rough idle so I've ran two tanks of highest grade gas and I've noticed a slight change but it's still noticeable. Any idea if these things are related? Any idea what's going on? I'm heading to autozone today to get this read and see if they can pull a different code. Thanks to everyone in advance!
 

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
So I've had my X for about 3 weeks now. About a week into having it(of course), it popped a CEL so I had my friend plug in and read the code but it only popped up with a knock sensor. Car was riding fine so he told me not to worry about it too much. That it it starts giving you an issues, we'll spend the day tearing it up and replacing/relocating it. So fast forward a week later the CEL pops again but I start noticing this odd vibration when I'm cruising and I'm hitting around 2k RPMS. It only lasts lik half a second. Feels like I ran over a bunch of cat eyes with my rear tires. I also read here that Knock Sensor wouldn't trip a CEL on its own. So why isn't anything else coming on through codes? Also notice some rough idle so I've ran two tanks of highest grade gas and I've noticed a slight change but it's still noticeable. Any idea if these things are related? Any idea what's going on? I'm heading to autozone today to get this read and see if they can pull a different code. Thanks to everyone in advance!

If your X is not an SC model, the KS doesn't matter much...and, correct, it won't light the dash, but will store the code.

I'm not sure what it feels like to run over cat eyes...I've run over whole cats, but didn't notice the contribution of the eyes per se.

It would not be related to the KS in any case.

What year X, and how many miles?
 

Cameron23

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Kansas
If by running over cat eyes you mean a rumble strip does it happen on a shift?


Sent via special forces trained carrier gophers
 

baddadjokess

Test Drive
Location
South Florida
Cat eyes. Like the reflectors on the highway or street between the lines that separate lanes. Not actual eyes that belonged to a cat at one point lol. That's just what we call them here. Anyways, it's a 2002 with 157k miles. I don't think it happens on a shift but maybe I'm not feeling the shift due to the vibration. I'll try to figure that out once I leave work.
 

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
Was it EVER changed, say, by a prior owner?

I ask because at 157k, its overdue for a change by ~ 50%...and if teeth start to go, the timing slips, and, worse case, the belt snaps and the interference aspects of the engine can cause a hole to appear in your block that little pieces of aluminum and a spray of oil fly out of in a loud explosion that lets you know you've totaled the engine...or you bend stuff inside, or, if the RPM is low enough, it just dies, and, you change the belt and it runs fine....etc.

:D
 

baddadjokess

Test Drive
Location
South Florida
Was it EVER changed, say, by a prior owner?

I ask because at 157k, its overdue for a change by ~ 50%...and if teeth start to go, the timing slips, and, worse case, the belt snaps and the interference aspects of the engine can cause a hole to appear in your block that little pieces of aluminum and a spray of oil fly out of in a loud explosion that lets you know you've totaled the engine...or you bend stuff inside, or, if the RPM is low enough, it just dies, and, you change the belt and it runs fine....etc.

:D

Lol he never mentioned it was changed. I doubt it was. What's the cost/time consumption of this job? Now I'm terrified.
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Lol he never mentioned it was changed. I doubt it was. What's the cost/time consumption of this job? Now I'm terrified.


If you do it yourself, about 6 hrs the first time. You'll need about two gallons of coolant as well.

If you pay a mechanic, 4 hrs and around 500 I'd call reasonable.
 

baddadjokess

Test Drive
Location
South Florida
If you do it yourself, about 6 hrs the first time. You'll need about two gallons of coolant as well.

If you pay a mechanic, 4 hrs and around 500 I'd call reasonable.

I'm more of a DIY guy, I'll probably just try it myself. Never worked on an Xterra but with the help of a knowledgeable friend I rebuilt a KA24e and swapped a couple SRs. I think I can handle. Plus I rather spend two days on it instead of spending $500 bucks, ya know?
 

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
Quick question, I'm new here and have no idea on how to start a question forum to where everyone can see...help me please.

The forum has categories....so, the year and make model of your truck helps, such as, 2000 v6 5spd 4WD, or 2002 SC auto, 2wd, etc. (ADD that info to your signature, or at least list it in your question if the question is about your truck, etc)

There might be a section on repairs, by year of truck needing them....and 2000 - 2004, and 2005+ are two subcategories.

If its general, there's a general section, if about lifts, modifications, post it there, and so forth.
 
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