Z intermittently completely dead -- electrical gremlins

chillz · 08-14-2017, 08:18 PM

I searched, but can't find quite this issue: the door opens, and then -- she's dead, Jim. Like the trunk won't open, no lights on the dash... nothing. The only electrical thing that works is the auto window up when I close the door. Can't lock it either (the mechanical key is beyond cranky). The first time it happened was at home. I took the winter car to work, and the Z started up no problem when I got home. That was last Tuesday. Today i got to work, but she's dead in the parking lot there. Anyone had this problem, either with this car or another?

jchammond · 08-14-2017, 09:00 PM

I'd test battery & connections.
Put a volt meter on it & read surface charge; 12.60V is fully charged,
With meter connected-move it in a position where you can read it & turn on ignition.
In this warm of weather; battery voltage shouldn't drop below 10.00 volts while cranking.
But sounds like you have either a failed battery or corroded or loose connection.

barncobob · 08-14-2017, 09:12 PM

most likely battery/loose connections..if battery is older than say 4 years, get a new one, cheap fix

chillz · 08-14-2017, 09:41 PM

Battery is fairly new -- and it starts fine when she's not comatose, so it's not the battery, per se. Connections appear/feel OK, but anything is possible. It's weird that both times she became comatose immediately after the door was opened. Seems like it might be a short/ computer issue. Anyway, if she doesn't start tomorrow morning, she's being towed to the dealer.

Louie cat · 08-14-2017, 09:43 PM

Maybe the steering lock is going bad.

pokeyl · 08-15-2017, 12:26 AM

Fuse link at pos battery terminal is blown, 100 Amp. The wire from it runs the the alternator.

The fuse link blows when the wire shorts out. Look for a spot were it contact the frame and has rubbed the isolation off, of your alternator may have shorted out.

You will need a new battery terminal from Nissan as the link is part of it, I think it was under $20.

Let me know what you find.

fantaZ · 08-15-2017, 01:46 PM

get this. Improves headlights and makes your radio sound better. https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us

chillz · 08-15-2017, 05:06 PM

I'm at the dealership. They think it's the steering wheel lock, although I pulled the fuse at least 4 years ago. They're replacing it free of charge, so no loss there, but I'm still afraid I'm going to get stranded somewhere unfortunate.

I'm assuming if it was a fuse, it wouldn't be intermittent.

Jhill · 08-15-2017, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillz

I'm at the dealership. They think it's the steering wheel lock, although I pulled the fuse at least 4 years ago. They're replacing it free of charge, so no loss there, but I'm still afraid I'm going to get stranded somewhere unfortunate.

I'm assuming if it was a fuse, it wouldn't be intermittent.

If the thing that it has in common is after opening/closing drivers door then check wiring in the door loom. If the b can wire is shorting intermittently than you'll lose function of some modules and without looking at the wiring diagram if the BCM is responsible to send the wake up signal to modules then its possible you'll be having issues as you describe.

chillz · 08-16-2017, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhill

If the thing that it has in common is after opening/closing drivers door then check wiring in the door loom. If the b can wire is shorting intermittently than you'll lose function of some modules and without looking at the wiring diagram if the BCM is responsible to send the wake up signal to modules then its possible you'll be having issues as you describe.

Thanks for this -- it sounds plausible to me.

They didn't find anything (the battery is fine, and there were no codes indicating a problem), so they're replacing the steering wheel lock and I'll take her home. If the problem recurs (and I have a funny feeling it will, having pulled the lock fuse ages ago), this is where I'll ask them to start.

Spotondl · 11-17-2017, 11:33 AM

Did this ever get resolved? My Nismo is doing the exact same thing...

I've found that if I open and close the driver door the Z "wakes up" but the clock has reset, the head unit has reset and who knows what else resets... another oddity is that the windows will be rolled down an inch or so & I can roll the windows completely down and inch or so at a time with 8 or 9 pushes of the door switch in the jamb, NOT the window switch. Bizarre.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

gbhrps · 11-17-2017, 08:33 PM

Spotondl,

Logic suggests that this craziness is triggered by the opening of the door, and points to the wiring loom in the rubber gaiter at the door hinge area, the lock/unlock circuitry, or the security system.

My own skill sets would have me delving into that rubber gaiter to isolate any frayed/broken/stretched wires there. Be sure to check the large connectors right at the kick panel where the door harness enters the car body.

If that yielded no results, I'd pull the driver's door panel and check for loose wires/connectors/grounds for the power lock and cylinder (key) locks.

If that yielded no results ... then you'll need the expertise of a good service technician, not necessarily at a Nissan dealership, if you're so inclined. Independent mechanics will be cheaper, but you'll need to find a good one. Good Luck!

Gene

Ghostvette · 11-20-2017, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spotondl

Did this ever get resolved? My Nismo is doing the exact same thing...

I've found that if I open and close the driver door the Z "wakes up" but the clock has reset, the head unit has reset and who knows what else resets... another oddity is that the windows will be rolled down an inch or so & I can roll the windows completely down and inch or so at a time with 8 or 9 pushes of the door switch in the jamb, NOT the window switch. Bizarre.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbhrps

Spotondl,

Logic suggests that this craziness is triggered by the opening of the door, and points to the wiring loom in the rubber gaiter at the door hinge area, the lock/unlock circuitry, or the security system.

My own skill sets would have me delving into that rubber gaiter to isolate any frayed/broken/stretched wires there. Be sure to check the large connectors right at the kick panel where the door harness enters the car body.

If that yielded no results, I'd pull the driver's door panel and check for loose wires/connectors/grounds for the power lock and cylinder (key) locks.

If that yielded no results ... then you'll need the expertise of a good service technician, not necessarily at a Nissan dealership, if you're so inclined. Independent mechanics will be cheaper, but you'll need to find a good one. Good Luck!

Gene

First question: Are you still using the original battery? If so, buy a new battery. I bought an Optima Red Top for mine when the original battery hit 5 years old. Considering that you are getting resets to all things that require 'keep-alive' power, that points to the battery being bad. There will be enough power in the battery to move the window in fits and spurts, but not enough to power the window motor.

GL

onzedge · 11-20-2017, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchammond

I'd test battery & connections.
Put a volt meter on it & read surface charge; 12.60V is fully charged,
With meter connected-move it in a position where you can read it & turn on ignition.
In this warm of weather; battery voltage shouldn't drop below 10.00 volts while cranking.
But sounds like you have either a failed battery or corroded or loose connection.

08-14-2017, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
chillz Base Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA Posts: 44 Drives: 09 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 13	Z intermittently completely dead -- electrical gremlins I searched, but can't find quite this issue: the door opens, and then -- she's dead, Jim. Like the trunk won't open, no lights on the dash... nothing. The only electrical thing that works is the auto window up when I close the door. Can't lock it either (the mechanical key is beyond cranky). The first time it happened was at home. I took the winter car to work, and the Z started up no problem when I got home. That was last Tuesday. Today i got to work, but she's dead in the parking lot there. Anyone had this problem, either with this car or another?

08-14-2017, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
jchammond A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Carolina Age: 58 Posts: 15,204 Drives: 13’ 370Z TS 7A/T Rep Power: 2684394	I'd test battery & connections. Put a volt meter on it & read surface charge; 12.60V is fully charged, With meter connected-move it in a position where you can read it & turn on ignition. In this warm of weather; battery voltage shouldn't drop below 10.00 volts while cranking. But sounds like you have either a failed battery or corroded or loose connection. onzedge and Ghostvette like this. __________________ MazWorx built long block \| FI-TT-100 Stage 2.75 \| IPT built 7A/T http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...s-musings.html Last edited by jchammond; 08-14-2017 at 09:01 PM. Reason: Misspelled

08-15-2017, 12:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
pokeyl Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: DFS Posts: 896 Drives: ??? Rep Power: 55	Fuse link at pos battery terminal is blown, 100 Amp. The wire from it runs the the alternator. The fuse link blows when the wire shorts out. Look for a spot were it contact the frame and has rubbed the isolation off, of your alternator may have shorted out. You will need a new battery terminal from Nissan as the link is part of it, I think it was under $20. Let me know what you find. __________________ It's not my fault I'm old, I was born a very long time ago!

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08-14-2017, 09:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
barncobob A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: hangtown, CA Posts: 1,164 Drives: 16 370Z auto Rep Power: 590	most likely battery/loose connections..if battery is older than say 4 years, get a new one, cheap fix

08-14-2017, 09:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
chillz Base Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA Posts: 44 Drives: 09 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 13	Battery is fairly new -- and it starts fine when she's not comatose, so it's not the battery, per se. Connections appear/feel OK, but anything is possible. It's weird that both times she became comatose immediately after the door was opened. Seems like it might be a short/ computer issue. Anyway, if she doesn't start tomorrow morning, she's being towed to the dealer.

08-14-2017, 09:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Louie cat Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: florida Posts: 261 Drives: 2010 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 142	Maybe the steering lock is going bad.

08-15-2017, 01:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
fantaZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: FL Posts: 273 Drives: 2013 370z nismo Rep Power: 9	get this. Improves headlights and makes your radio sound better. https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us

08-15-2017, 05:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
chillz Base Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA Posts: 44 Drives: 09 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 13	I'm at the dealership. They think it's the steering wheel lock, although I pulled the fuse at least 4 years ago. They're replacing it free of charge, so no loss there, but I'm still afraid I'm going to get stranded somewhere unfortunate. I'm assuming if it was a fuse, it wouldn't be intermittent.

11-17-2017, 11:33 AM	#11 (permalink)
Spotondl Base Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Santa Clarita Posts: 6 Drives: 10 370Z Nismo #0475 Rep Power: 9	Did this ever get resolved? My Nismo is doing the exact same thing... I've found that if I open and close the driver door the Z "wakes up" but the clock has reset, the head unit has reset and who knows what else resets... another oddity is that the windows will be rolled down an inch or so & I can roll the windows completely down and inch or so at a time with 8 or 9 pushes of the door switch in the jamb, NOT the window switch. Bizarre. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11-17-2017, 08:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
gbhrps Base Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 213 Drives: 2016 RDSTR TS 6spd Rep Power: 7996	Spotondl, Logic suggests that this craziness is triggered by the opening of the door, and points to the wiring loom in the rubber gaiter at the door hinge area, the lock/unlock circuitry, or the security system. My own skill sets would have me delving into that rubber gaiter to isolate any frayed/broken/stretched wires there. Be sure to check the large connectors right at the kick panel where the door harness enters the car body. If that yielded no results, I'd pull the driver's door panel and check for loose wires/connectors/grounds for the power lock and cylinder (key) locks. If that yielded no results ... then you'll need the expertise of a good service technician, not necessarily at a Nissan dealership, if you're so inclined. Independent mechanics will be cheaper, but you'll need to find a good one. Good Luck! Gene