Also, a few of the plugs which I removed seemed to have white ground wires (from running too hot) and the Insulators were blistered (once again from running too hot).

IMHO, the cooler plugs are a good investment, especially if you experience high rpms or freeway driving frequently. I'd think twice if you do mostly low rpm city driving (short trips).

 

Any chance you could provide the item/model/SKU # for the plugs you put in? The dealership has now verified the pinging in my car (after a couple of visits of them not hearing it), but since there are no codes or problems with the sensors, they don't have any avenues to persue. They are going to discuss it with the Infiniti tech that visits every few months when he stops in again. I'd like to print out the new parts to this thread for his/their review. Thanks!

 

You got some huevos man, I would never trust one of those incompetents with my car, even to find a fix for the ping.

 

I am at the same general situation right now. Two dealers have now confirmed that my 6mt is pinging excessively. The first dealer did a fuel flush and said to see if that would help (but it didn't since it was already pinging when bought new). The second dealer I brought it to said they would be the last dealer I would visit. They've looked at all the data: the fact that all the sensors are reading okay, and that the car has not been absused, and everything else you could possibly imagine. They called the tech line and now the car needs to be put through a process of elimination. First, they can't trust anything I, or anyone else, tells them. They need to empty the gas tank and fill it with 91 octane (just in case I've been using the wrong gas), then the service technician will drive the car for 2 or 3 days to confirm the pining is still there (and ofcourse it will be because I've been using nothing but pure 91 (even going so far as to not use those single delivery nozzles). Next, if the pinging still persists, Infiniti will send a specialist out. Supposedly, while these guys are out, they get to stay in hotels and eat continental breakfasts

Consumer affairs is keeping a close eye on me for this one and they said there's never been anything the engineers haven't been able to resolve - well, that's great - maybe our cars will finally stop pinging!!

Anyways, whatever it takes, I think this might actually yeild a solution to the pinging problem everyone is having. Perhaps the tech will find something and if enough of us get it fixed there will be a new pinging TSB issued. If the pinging is indeed resolved, I will tell everyone of the solution. In general, I think this is the furthest anyone has been able to take the pinging issue with the dealer - glad to see we're finally breaking through the hard shell of denial.

 

I wouldn't jump on the cooler plugs just yet... the dealer said that infiniti said that they want me to put the original plugs back in just so they can diagnose the car the way it would've rolled out from the factory. The cooler plugs are still a great idea and if anything should help reduce pinging, however, for diagnostics purposes, it shouldn't even ping on the normal plugs (so they say). The cooler oem plug is:

NGK part# PLFR6A-11

if you want a copper one it is just LFR6A-11 and for iridium it is LFR6AIX-11 ( i think)

 

My dealer is not taking that analytical of an approach, but I also probably have not yelled enough yet either. I also have not contacted Consumer Affairs yet, as the dealer is still working with me on it. They are taking my word for it on the 93 octane fuel, even though I have offered to bring it to them empty and then go with them to fill the tank.

What is the timeframe for the tech to take your car? My dealership did not have a consistent timeframe for their tech "visit". Also, it would be great if you had a dyno run or track run to determine baseline performance, just in case their "fix" turns out to be something of a permanent timing reduction.

Also, thanks for the plug info. I will share with the dealer so they have a complete picture.

 

My dealership said that the tech will be sent upon request - there is no particular time frame (my guess is they're pulling your leg). Regarding power output (performance), I don't think pulling the timing is even going to fix it (I know certain dealers have tried doing that and it has not helped) because it is all computer controlled and adjusted anyways. Since the knock sensor is indeed functioning correctly and the computer is retarding the timing accordingly, it is probably the ecu program that needs to be updated, to resolve pining in our particular rpm range.

 

Ignore this if already done, but did you clean the injectors yet? If not, DIY with Seafoam cleaner available at any auto parts store. It is a quick, cheap and easy DIY.

 

Cleaning the fuel system is the first thing the dealer tried to do (this includes injectors). Remember that the car has been pinging since purchased new, so I doubt it is a result of something wearing or getting dirty. My guess is that this is related to two other similar issues. The first is an identical problem on 96-97 I30s. Apparently the ecu was defective on those models so there were no codes to be thrown and everything checked out to spec (turns out the spec was defective too). The second problem is related to defective coil packs like on maximas and I35s from 4 to 5 years ago. For example, check this TSB for the I30... it pretty much describes the exact problem we're having with our Gs... it's only a matter of time for them to figure out wtf is going on.

http://www.infinitihelp.com/Ownershi.../ITB01-052.htm

 

So I put my original plugs back in as per dealer request. The cooler oem plugs looked excellent... no signs of fouling. Monday morning it's going back to the dealer so they can finally resolve the pinging issue. Afterwards, the cooler plugs are going back in

 

Holy cow. Mine has been pinging and I originally tought is was due to installing the mrev2 and the space. So I uninstalled them and the pinging has persisted.

I have a scan tool made by autoenginuity.com with the Nissan OE Enhanced functions and have tried restaring my timing to corect the ping and this hasn't helped any. I have looked for codes watched the Bank 1 O2's for erratic output to no avail.

I am glad to know this isn't just on my head not that I am happy you guys are dealing with the same problem mind you rather I am just happy to have some confirmation that it just isn't me being an **** rententive owner.

Lord knows I have been to the dealer at least a dozen times of the BS rattles only to have them fix them... sort of.

Can't wait to hear back from you BTB.

Good luck.

 

eugene, sucks to hear about your pinging problem. i hope it gets resolved!

 

I believe this is just a Nissan Engine issue. When I lived in Japan and had an 89 GT-R, it had a slight knock/ping to it and so did all of the skylines (gt-s or gt-r) that I saw there. It really is just a normal thing for the Nissan engine. Granted those were RB engines, but now I see the VQ is similar in this aspect.

 

Not sure why pinging is okay in any engine... most maximas and Gs that I've seen with this same motor don't ping.. it's just this super tuned 298hp version that pings and it should not ping as excessively as it does. I've had 2 dealers confirm that it is pinging too much (abnormally) as do many other 298hp motors (my guess is due to timing which has been programmed to be advanced too far).

Anyways, as they asked, I dropped the car off at Peninsula Infiniti this morning. Empty tank, original plugs - they're probably going to have it for a few weeks until the engineers can figure out what's causing the pinging and then all our worries will be solved.

 

Hey does the loaner ping