2002-2008 Nissan Maxima Throttle Body Idle Air Relearn (THE CORRECT WAY)

Credit: Gaurasalti

I recently cleaned my throttle body and went threw the PAIN of trying to relearn my idle through the step by step process. But its misleading, the 7th step says to start car after light goes off but never does. You actually start car as soon as light stops blinking! Hope this helps somebody.

ENGINE COLD

1. Perform “Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning” .
2. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
3. Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
4. Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
5. Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
6. Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
7. WAIT over 10 seconds before this next step.
8. Perform “Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning” .
9. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
10. Turn ignition switch “ON”. WAIT EXACTLY ONE SECOND SHARP. Turn ignition switch “OFF”
11. THEN wait at least 10 seconds.
12. Make sure that throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound. – Very hard to hear anything at all. Just believe this is happening by faith.

Now, here’s the big change

1. Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.

AND RIDE YOUR CAR FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES, this will make for correct operating temperatures to happen within the engine for the following steps. Warming your car in the garage in the morning apparently does not cut it.

Check that all items listed under the topic “PREPARATION” (previously mentioned) are in good order.

1. Turn ignition switch “OFF” and wait at least 10 seconds.
2. Confirm that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON” and wait 3 seconds.
3. Repeat the following procedure quickly five times within 5 seconds.
4. Fully depress the accelerator pedal. Fully release the accelerator pedal.
5. Wait 7 seconds
6. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the MIL stops blinking and turns ON.
7. Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the MIL goes off. Start engine and let it idle. THE ENGINE MUST BE STARTED WITHIN THE 3 SECONDS AFTER IT STOPS BLINKING, THATS HOW THIS LIGHT GOES OFF. THE SERVICE MANUAL DOES NOT STATE THIS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM WHERE THE ENGINE LINE ON-OFF IS, IT CLEARLY SHOWS YOU SHOULD TURN IT ON WITHIN THESE THREE SECONDS.

This is where your engine will start to learn the correct idle settings

1. Wait 20 seconds.
2. Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure that idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications.