7th Aug 2008, 12:46

I too am suffering with SES light on issues, with codes from my local shop equating to Crankshaft Position Sensor and Speed/velocity sensor.

I did call NNA and filed a report with them, but of course after talking to agent #1, then agent#2, I received a call for the Regional Mgr for Strike #3! -- my VIN wasn't covered, blah blah.

Local dealership did my ECM reprogramming, but never did diagnose my engine for potential problems beforehand. Two days after they did ECM reprogram, my SES light comes on. I paid 40$ locally instead of bringing my car into the dealership. Now they want to charge me to run diagnostics, then of course rape me with labor charges.

When you see that the sensor recalls impact many NISSAN MODELS 02-03, but the only 03 model not included is our Altima - it's a bit hard to believe. I am an Engineer, and I noticed that the actual part number for the CSPS is the same for the 02 as the 03 ALTIMA -- making it even more strange how the 03 is not included.

Please report any sensor code issues you have to NNA and other Bureaus to hopefully get our 03 Altimas included in this voluntary sensor recall.

1st Sep 2008, 15:39

I have a 2002 Altima 2.5s that I gave to my daughter (I have an 08 2.5s). Up until now (130K miles) the 02 has ran fine except for normal wear and tear items.

The recalls were done including the cam sensor. Lo and behold I was shocked when my daughter called me from college that the Altima had suddenly died. I'm waiting for the diagnosis. It sounds like the cam again. This will be interesting - I had it towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. If it's the cam thing again, and I obviously have to pay, I will probably try and get Nissan to reimburse. I really haven't had any issues with the vehicle. It's better than the Jetta I own.

7th Sep 2008, 13:04

I bought a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 SE. I have had this car for about 2 years. It had very low miles.

About three months after I bought it, the check engine light appeared. My husband checked the diagnostic for me and it was the cam sensor. We had the same problem, car would die out, kick in to gear and bog out a lot while driving. We had to have this problem fixed twice; the dealer told us that "when a sensor goes out it's because there is oil in it, but there is no way of preventing that because oil has to run through there" so it is a win, lose situation and it didn't make sense.

After we fixed it the second time, the check engine light went off and about 2 weeks later came back on. It is now off, but after my husband rinsed the engine at a car wash, the light hasn't came back on again, but now I have rattling noise coming from my car and we don't know what it is.

The Altima is a very nice car, and I have dealt with many problems, but I wish I would have never traded in my Accord for this car.

All cars have problems, but it gets old after a while when you keep dealing with the same problem over and over again, as well as new problems arriving. Me and my husband take very good care of this car, but keep having the same problem.

11th Sep 2008, 08:02

I have the same problem. I have a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5S. My SES light kept coming on and my car would die at traffic lights. At high speeds my car would jerk like it was going to die, but then it would go back into full gear. Very scary when you're driving on the highway.

Then Sunday, I was on my way home from the grocery and my car died WHILE I WAS DRIVING. Luckily I was only going about 10 mph and there were no cars coming when my car died. I started it back up only to have it die again. I took it to my mechanic. He found that the problem was the crankshaft sensor and he replaced it. However, after he told us that on the phone yesterday, my husband typed in "03 nissan altima crankshaft sensor" on Google and what came up was the link below. Sounds like replacing the sensor won't do any good if you don't get the dealer to reprogram your ECM to ignore the input for the sensors. Read the link and it will make more sense. My husband called Nissan today and they say they will reimburse us for the work my mechanic just did, since this was a "Voluntary Recall". Good luck to all of you.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_crankshaft_position_sensor_on_2003_Nissan_Altima

21st Sep 2008, 14:44

I own a 2004 Nissan Altima with 49,000 miles. I am the original owner of the vehicle and I too deal with the "Service Engine Soon" light coming on all the time. Today my vehicle would not start several times. Finally after 5 tries it started hard and smelled awful. When I have taken my vehicle in to Nissan dealership, they never find anything wrong with the car. Sometimes they try to tell me it is something else that needs to be replaced. I don't trust them and now take my car to a local mechanic. After reading everyones's comments, I think I will have him replace the cam positioning sensor and maybe try some Mobile fuel injector and carburetor treatment in my next fuel fill up. The comments I have read do not make me feel comfortable anymore about my Nissan Altima.

9th Oct 2008, 22:14

I have 2003 Nissan Altima. I have problems with the crankshaft sensor, which I changed but nothing happened. Now I don't know what to do.

10th Oct 2008, 00:34

I am also the owner of one of these lovely vehicles that shuts down and doesn't crank! I have had my 03 Altima for 2 years and 3 days after I bought it my SES light came on and started having the jerking problems, with the exhaust problems, the catalytic converter smells, the not cranking. Believe it or not, I've just had oil changes and it still runs. I've learned how to just sit there to wait for it to crank. If you can't crank it after 3-4 times, wait an hour. I know time is very hard to come by but it works. I have been dealing with it for two years. Also, don't park on an incline leave it level or pointing with the engine down in a parking lot and it will crank right up. Something with the way the gas is pumping. I'm not very knowledgeable about cars and the lingo, but it works for me! It's a headache, but how many cars don't have problems? I've had the diagnostic tests and all that good stuff, but the only thing I've learned is patience and cuss words. So, until it dies completely I'll be driving it. Like a few folks have said, car notes and fixing car parts are very hard to do especially when the economy is so bad right now! So good luck and I hope everyone's car cranks!