MattKohlRider

Nissan Quest '09 Exhibiting Black Smoke, Power Loss, and Unusual Noises - Possible Charge Air Temperature Sensor Issue

Hey folks, Got my '09 Nissan Quest showing some worrying signs - she's blowing some nasty black smoke on acceleration, the check engine light is on constantly, there's a noticeable power loss, jerky acceleration, and a pretty loud hissing when I hit the pedal. On top of that, my fuel consumption has shot up, the exhaust is reeking, and there's an odd whistling noise. I've covered around 30,331 km with her. Last time at the garage was a pretty crummy experience, so trying to avoid that this time. I'm thinking it might be about the charge air temperature sensor not working right - anybody had something similar? How'd your mechanic handle it? Would appreciate any words of wisdom you folks might have. Cheers!

(Translated from German)

4 comment(s)

Hey, Sounds like what happened with my '12 Nissan Pathfinder a while back. Had the same issues: power loss, black smoke, foul smell, and just overall bad vibes. Check engine light was my constant companion, and the car was gulping down fuel like there was no tomorrow. The 'hissing' and 'whistling' you described were also on point. When I took it to the garage, guess what? They found the ECU (engine control unit) was bust. Apparently, mine was giving incorrect readings to the charge air temp sensor because of the issues with the ECU. So it wasn't a sensor problem after all. After they replaced the ECU and reset everything, my ride’s been smooth and smoke-free. So, it wasn't a small issue, pretty serious I’d say. I was darn lucky that it didn't bust the engine or turbo. Maybe the same is happening with your Quest. You'll probably need an experienced mechanic who's handy with ECU issues. They will need to do a proper diagnostic run, before deciding if the ECU needs to be replaced or not. Hope this helps and you'll have a smoke-less ride soon. Cheers, bud!

(Translated from German)

Hey there, Thanks for sharing your experience. I wouldn't have thought of the ECU! Sounds like a pretty serious situation like you said. Quick question - if you don't mind me asking, do you recall how much you ended up paying for the ECU replacement? And has anything else popped up since then? Cheers!

(Translated from German)

Hey there, Of course, I don't mind sharing! The ECU replacement did come with a weighty price tag - set me back a cool grand (1000€) for the fix. But let's be honest, it's a lot cheaper than having to buy a new whip, right? And to answer your other question, ever since the ECU fix, she's been as good as gold. The mechanic did a splendid job! I haven't experienced any of the problems from before. The Charge air temperature sensor problem was part of the whole ECU mishap, and it got sorted when they replaced the unit. No more signs of mischief from her since then. Hope this helps. Take care of your Quest! Catch ya later!

(Translated from German)

Howdy, Thanks a ton, you've been a big help. I'm feeling more at ease about this whole situation. That price for the ECU fix seems daunting but you're right, it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a new car! Well, it's time to bite the bullet and get my Quest sorted. I hope that all stays well with your Pathfinder. Again, appreciate your advice. I'll let you know how things turn out. Until then, safe driving! Cheers!

(Translated from German)

Join the discussion now: