Holloween Ghosts Invade my Z

Zdom · 11-01-2010, 11:23 AM

I had to park my car in a secure parking lot for about 10 hours while carpooling with some other folks. When I went to lock the car with the remote while standing beside it, I heard the door locks, click, but it did not beep. I thought this was odd since it always beeps but thought maybe the remote buttons got depressed in my pocket and changed the response settings. I tried locking and unlocking a couple times, the doors did lock, but again, no beep. I went around and made sure nothing was ajar but couldn’t investigate further because the van was ready to go.

Upon my return 1:30 am, I unlocked the car with the remote and when I got in the interior lights were very dim, and when I tried to start the car it would not start like a drained battery. I thought it might have been that a door lock solenoid might have stayed energized for hours and drained down the battery, since the door locks were acting funny before leaving. However, the odd thing was that some functions seemed fine, i.e. tail lights when brake was on were very bright, horn wouldn’t work, interior dome light worked, windows wouldn’t go down.

We attached jumper cables and they had no effect. Now I'm thinking there is a random electrical problem, fuse, wiring harness, etc. However, when we went to verify the positive connection with the jumper cables on the Z, I wiggled the positive battery cable and the lights came on car seemed to come to life and everything was fine w/out the jumper cables. Got in and the car started up on its own as if nothing ever happened. After that what I found:

Clock was off the right time
Service Engine Soon light was on
Tire pressure indicator stayed on
As I drove home, the light dots for the engine temp seemed a few more dots higher than usual (I don’t know which dot it use to stop at it just seems more toward the center than I ever recall seeing in the past.

Next day everything started properly but the same indications we still active above. I thought maybe something needed to reset so I disconnected the battery, which removed the Service Engine Soon light but the tire pressure light still on. Checked the tire pressure basically ok but needed a pound or so in two tires. Ran the car around for another 24 hours and the indicator light is still on. Also, I really think the engine temp is a few more dots passed where it usually was, now it stays on dot 7.

Any idea, on what the initial electrical issue might have been, how to get the tire pressure light to go off and is dot #7 ok for engine temp?

NYBladeZ · 11-01-2010, 11:29 AM

I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a loose battery that wasn't tightened down fully when I put in the braille

11-01-2010, 11:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Zdom Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: VA Posts: 46 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Tour Rep Power: 16	Holloween Ghosts Invade my Z I had to park my car in a secure parking lot for about 10 hours while carpooling with some other folks. When I went to lock the car with the remote while standing beside it, I heard the door locks, click, but it did not beep. I thought this was odd since it always beeps but thought maybe the remote buttons got depressed in my pocket and changed the response settings. I tried locking and unlocking a couple times, the doors did lock, but again, no beep. I went around and made sure nothing was ajar but couldn’t investigate further because the van was ready to go. Upon my return 1:30 am, I unlocked the car with the remote and when I got in the interior lights were very dim, and when I tried to start the car it would not start like a drained battery. I thought it might have been that a door lock solenoid might have stayed energized for hours and drained down the battery, since the door locks were acting funny before leaving. However, the odd thing was that some functions seemed fine, i.e. tail lights when brake was on were very bright, horn wouldn’t work, interior dome light worked, windows wouldn’t go down. We attached jumper cables and they had no effect. Now I'm thinking there is a random electrical problem, fuse, wiring harness, etc. However, when we went to verify the positive connection with the jumper cables on the Z, I wiggled the positive battery cable and the lights came on car seemed to come to life and everything was fine w/out the jumper cables. Got in and the car started up on its own as if nothing ever happened. After that what I found: Clock was off the right time Service Engine Soon light was on Tire pressure indicator stayed on As I drove home, the light dots for the engine temp seemed a few more dots higher than usual (I don’t know which dot it use to stop at it just seems more toward the center than I ever recall seeing in the past. Next day everything started properly but the same indications we still active above. I thought maybe something needed to reset so I disconnected the battery, which removed the Service Engine Soon light but the tire pressure light still on. Checked the tire pressure basically ok but needed a pound or so in two tires. Ran the car around for another 24 hours and the indicator light is still on. Also, I really think the engine temp is a few more dots passed where it usually was, now it stays on dot 7. Any idea, on what the initial electrical issue might have been, how to get the tire pressure light to go off and is dot #7 ok for engine temp? Last edited by Zdom; 11-01-2010 at 11:27 AM.

11-01-2010, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
NYBladeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 2,158 Drives: Lotus Exige S Rep Power: 20	I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a loose battery that wasn't tightened down fully when I put in the braille __________________ 2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold 2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling