Given that I have just resolved this, I thought I'd jump on this forum and leave the details here - just in case someone else needs to 'solve' it.
2013 model Qashqai. For a period of time now I have seen both the Traction Control and Anti-skid warning lights "on" on the dashboard. As I had replaced one of the sensors some time ago (during replacing a worn boot) I had attributed this to that. On reflection that seems a little "dim" on my part. Never mind. Anyway, these lights started to "bug" me so I started work on discovering what the issue was. I had thought that perhaps clearing the codes (via some specialist tools and/or garage would work). However, decided on some further investigation. I came across 2 sources of useful information. One was a video on youtube ( and the other was an explanation of using a bike cable to use as a 'drill' to clear the pipe - once off the car. I cannot remember or discover that link.. but is was really useful too. (Apologies to the person who posted that original description).
Its a real pain to work - as the main nut is *not* visible. It has to be done by touch alone. The placement is really awkward too. I set myself up so I was basically lying on the engine with my right arm down and around the engine block. I don't believe that you will be able to do this from under the car. I used a long 13mm socket on an extension bar.
So, once the nut was taken off, I massaged the rubber pipe end off the sensor (?) and was able to retrieve the pipe. Pretty straightforward. Using a foot length of bike cable I was then able to determine that "yes", the pipe was blocked. Then with the cable connected to a drill I was able to clean the pipe by rotating the cable as a flexible drill (as per the aforementioned blog post that I had read). I guess similar to dyna-rod sewerage rod usage. The one thing that I did have to do was to unravel a section of the wire whilst it was inside the pipe, by reversing the rotation of the drill so that it unwound the end a little. This allowed a much better 'scouring' action. It took me approximately 30..60 minutes of patient spinning, tapping, push/pull in order to dislodge all the carbon from the inside blockage.
Once all that was done is was simply a case of reversing the steps to re-install the pipe to the sensor and the bolt on the exhaust manifold. No more (irritating) dashboard lights.
I hope that this helps someone else who comes across a similar issue with their own car.
ATB.
Joe.
