Engine And Electrical Bug?

[Marshan]

Hey guys experienced something weird today. Driving in peak hour traffic and the lights on my dash and head unit turned off by itself and then back on within a second. The engine also jolted and went back to normal.

This is the second time it's happened in the last fortnight. Any idea what it could be?

*engine doesn't cut out or stall it just jolts and then everything is fine. As well as all electrics then turn back on. All happens within a second.

Edited February 17, 2013 by Marshan

[Nightcrawler]

Sounds like a loose earth. Start in your battery compartment and check that all cables are secure.

Really you want an auto elec to check it out asap - imagine this sort of thing happening as you went to pull out of an intersection in front of traffic!

[Marshan]

Sounds like a loose earth. Start in your battery compartment and check that all cables are secure.

Really you want an auto elec to check it out asap - imagine this sort of thing happening as you went to pull out of an intersection in front of traffic!

Hmm I'll get that checked out today cheers.

Could it be something else possibly some sort of sensor as well?

[scotty nm35]

Make sure the battery terminals are clean, and everything is tight in the compartment. If it still happens, it may be a relay/plug/moisture in the power distribution box, behind the battery. Was it raining up there recently?

[Marshan]

Make sure the battery terminals are clean, and everything is tight in the compartment. If it still happens, it may be a relay/plug/moisture in the power distribution box, behind the battery. Was it raining up there recently?

Garaged so shouldn't be a water issue.

I'll have a look today to see if everything is secured. Does anyone know where we can get that thing that clips down the battery (not too sure what it's called). It's like a metal piece that screws over the battery and holds it in place.

[scotty nm35]

I think I have one here, I would have to check on the wreck. PM me if you can, and let me know what parts are missing.

[Marshan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-Infiniti-G35-Coupe-Battery-Tie-Down-/121039155837?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AG35&hash=item1c2e7ef27d&vxp=mtr

That's what im talking about. Pretty sure it's not $999 as stated. problem is my battery is wider than those clamps on either side so i've had to improvise and flip that clamp thingy upside down.

[Murry33]

take it to a car battery place, i didn't have a clamp for one of my old cars, they have plenty of universal solutions in stock generally & they'll check it all while you're there.

[Marshan]

Ok this is weird. Everything looks alright and batteries all connected up. Was driving today and it happened again. This time the dash light stayed on headlights stayed on but head unit restarted and the slip and VDC turned on for a sec before everything going back to normal, engine also knocks for a split second.

Could it be something other than the battery? Because that was just replaced 6 months ago to a century 650cca one.

Edit: From what i'm reading on the G35driver forums this sounds kind of similiar to a cam sensor issue any ideas?

Edited February 18, 2013 by Marshan

[Marshan]

Update:

So I spoke to Indy from IS Motor racing, turns out its a very common problem with the early models of our cars and also the fairlady's. Problem lies with the ECU as it just shuts down everything for a split second, he's got no idea why it does that and reflashing the ECU doesn't help either.

Unfortunately there is nothing we can do so just hope it doesn't happen on a damn freeway

Edited February 19, 2013 by Marshan

[Nightcrawler]

^^^ what an absolute crock of shit .... I have NEVER heard of this happening in mine nor any of the hundreds of V35's I have come across/members of this/G35Driver forum.

[scotty nm35]

Have you bolted the battery down yet Mike? I suspect it may be sliding around causing the plates to short. Just snap the side braces off the oem battery clamp.

[Marshan]

Have you bolted the battery down yet Mike? I suspect it may be sliding around causing the plates to short. Just snap the side braces off the oem battery clamp.

Yeah I flipped the side braces around and it's all good. Battery clamps are tight too, the bigger battery actually sits pretty snug.

Indy says he's experienced the same problems in this car and the 350z all early models. He's pretty sure it's the ECU problem.

Plenty of ppl on g35driver have similar experience and they reckon it might be a cam sensor.

[Marshan]

^^^ what an absolute crock of shit .... I have NEVER heard of this happening in mine nor any of the hundreds of V35's I have come across/members of this/G35Driver forum.

Neither have I and its weird that it happens so rarely too. But he's certain the ECU fault and that it restarts everything during its reboot.

[scotty nm35]

Not the case, it is an electrical problem but it won't be related to the ecu, more likely a dodgy relay in the box behind the battery.

I have heard of too many mechanics spinning shit recently, they don't understand the VQ's fully, or the newer electronics, and seem to make up crap about the issue, usually to part you with your cash. (Anyone that tells you the VQ25 requires a full cam chain rebuild kit when it makes noise is probably full of it.)

[iamhe77]

BCM (body control module) starting to play up, or possibly the BCM wiring harness?

Has been known to do some very strange stuff if there is a moisture issue, bad wire contact or just a faulty unit.

[Murry33]

take it to an electrician to get it properly diagnosed!

i had the same problem on my old Soarer V8, you would drive and the whole bloody car would turn off for a few seconds lol. Ended up being a bad earthing, and to me it looked fine!
He fixed it up and never had a problem afterwards...

OR

You can buy a new ECU from Nissan, and smile at the price they give you for it

[Marshan]

I was thinking maybe a ground wire but it's happened before, my guess would be that the wires may move around when the cars in motion but it's also occurred when the car was idle at a red light.

Also from what i observed yesterday the headlights didn't turn off just the dash and head unit restarted.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Marshan

[sonicii]

Does sound like a bad ground point.

I wouldn't expect a cam/crank sensor to kill the dash lights too.

The old 'the all do it' excuse.. And I though that was only car dealers/dealer mechanics that used that line??

[jjjones]

take it to an electrician to get it properly diagnosed!

i had the same problem on my old Soarer V8, you would drive and the whole bloody car would turn off for a few seconds lol. Ended up being a bad earthing, and to me it looked fine!

He fixed it up and never had a problem afterwards...

OR

You can buy a new ECU from Nissan, and smile at the price they give you for it

lol... my old twin-turbo Soarer had the exact same issue. Would drive along and the whole electic system would shut down for a few seconds and turn back on. Very dangerous. Could never pinpoint where the issue was located. Ended up selling the car and getting a V purely for this reason.