A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Last Friday, I go to lunch and return one hour later. Start the Z and Check engine, Slip, and TCS light comes on. I turn it off and restart it and more of the same. I blip the throttle and nothing happens. Car is running though. I recycle two more times and finally it clears except for the check engine light stays on. Drive it to the dealer and they put it on the computer and state a TCS celonoid code came up for a split second and then it clears. They can't do anything.
Today, 8-11-04, same thing happens after lunch. Engine, slip and TCS come on. I recycle and bam only Service Engine stays on. I call the service tech and say the car will be at my office and to send over a wrecker (how appropriate) to pick it up.
I will have had this car two years on 8-30-04 and have had it. I have 34,671 miles and nothing but grief. A stack of service orders to fill a binder and I can't take it.
Two things:
Any one have this Fail Safe mode happen to them?
Should I go BBB or Lemon on their a$$?
Flame if you must but I have stayed out of these arguments until I have had it!
Post Edited (Aug 11, 12:48pm)
A:
nm
A:
you said, 2 years right?
A:
2 years in August 30 th 2004
A:
you're outside the lemon zone i think... check where you live. i believe it must be a problem within first 24 months of ownership + all the other conditions.
you could claim that they are unable to fix a warranty-related item in a lawsuit. but then again, it's not that they are unable.
2003 350Z LeMans Sunset Track with Nav
No mods
A:
I had my engine go into failsafe mode after stalling it out. Tried to drive it home but couldn't get more than 3000 rpm. Finally the light in my head came on and I turned it off, gave it a munute and restarted. Problem gone, no CEL so nothing dealer can do.
No problems so far.
Sounds like you have a real gremlin though. Good luck.
A:
I just got a call from dealer. Cars there and the light won't go on but guess what? A second Z was towed in with exactly the same problem as mine within 30 minutes.
Dealer called a second time and says "throttle body" is bad. Is this remotely possible to cause a car to go fail safe mode?
Any technical input would be appreciated.
A:
funny you mention the throttle body.
i had a 2000 jetta vr6 that used to go into limp mode at highway speeds without warning.
when i took it to VW, over and over because it happened several times, they came back with throttle body. they replaced the "entier throttle body" several times. throttle body seems to be a generic term for "we have no idea but this will appease them for a little while and they'll go away."
eventually, VW said it was a wiring harness... so they replaced that. it still happened.
i made lemonade. successfully.
2003 350Z LeMans Sunset Track with Nav
No mods
A:
Thanks Newbie. I am beyond lemonade but going to file BBB Auto Line.
A:
280zxfan which car is more fun to drive?
A:
If your check engine light was on and then went off. There should still be a code stored in the computer.
It may no longer be requesting that the MIL light be illuminated but it's there.
A number of things can cause the "failsafe mode". One of which would be the throttle body.
A:
I went through what sounds identical prob as you. Was just about to go to arbitration, when Nissan North America had their specialist get his final chance. They replaced whole computer sys. Not it, then the wiring harnesses, not it, then the throttle body. You won't believe what they finally found. A loose, or disconnected oxygen sensor cable. Located behind the engine in front of the firewall. Just a thought. Good luck to you. "FLZ", Dave B