So i've had my max for 3 years about now and still love to hate it. VTC's still ticking plan on replacing them at some point this year after my 70 Mustang Fastback is put together.....

But, i've read about this fail-safe mode where the car goes into limp home so it doesn't break anything and runs like crap? I can drive for days with no check engine light on then sometimes i'll start it and after 5-10 minutes (warm-up) the light just blinks and i can't get a from a obd scanner or the ECU self diagnostics.... But when the light doesn't come on and everything is running smoothyly damn i can floor it and go. Or if i can't figure it out i've just completed my MegaSquirt and planning to put it into action this summer aswell.

 

Do the radiator fans turn on while its blinking? There is an ECU failsafe mode for when it doesnt work correctly, I've experienced this and replacing the ECU fixed it.

 

I didn't think MS could support the COP system yet.

 

No they don't have the cop....i want it just for fuel right now till they come up with the COP supposed to be this year though YEA! ... But how do i know if my ECU is bad? hard to tell if the fans come on...guess i need to find someone with the consult software and cables other than a dealer to see if everything is in working order. , also if i leave the ignition to a MSD or other brand for ignition MS with work with that!

 

somebody else can correct me, but i do not believe that maximas are consult-capable...(could be wrong, but i do believe that has been posted here, on the .org)

 

Hard to tell if the fans are on? Start the car, open the hood, are fans on or off? Fail-safe is described in detail in the FSM, section EF & EC, page 177.

I think the VE is capable, but not the VG.

 

its not hard, stick ur hand in there and find out

 

To check the fans:
Just start your car and pop the hood and rev the engine up to 3000 rpm or so from the throttle cable in the engine bay until your engine warms up and your fans start up.

 

In ECU fail-safe mode, that fans turn on immediately when the car started. If they arent doing that, then its not in fail-safe.

 

they are all consult capable. However most consult emulation programs are not complete, they only emulate the consult for certain cars.
if john (or any other VG owner) wants to swing by I'll see if the snap-on scanner can read their cars.

 

Ah! i see the error in my understanding. an emulator is not truly the consult diag tool.

 

hmm from what i read the max really does'nt turn on the check engine lamp.
if it blinks you can't get no codes from the ecu itself then the ecu could be on it's way out...

 

Thanks for the wise crack about fans. Would have been helpful to say that " If they come on immediatly even when cold "

and if it is the ECU on its way out. Just hafta go junkyard picking and hope for a good one?

 

Mine has done this for years, just blinks here-n-there for a while, then turns off, every time, no codes at all. The biggest difference on my issue compared to the op's is my car doesn't run any different when the cel is blinking, or when it's not, i figure it may be a loose connection at the ecu harness(loose pin maybe), or wiring somewhere.

Most of the time, i can turn the car off/restart, and the cel goes away.

I suggest the op look at all his underhood sensor harness connections for the common corrosion(green looking crap) issue with these cars. then go from there.

 

Whoa there buddy, don't bite the hands feeding you the information you seek to fix your car.

 

Yea i'll hafta look at all my sensors but thats gonna take some time..... Thanks for the info and sorry if the "finger" upset anyone.

 

on my ve my etc harness had corrosion all on it.
i would suggest taking a look at that...oh and the vtc harness (which probably explain your vtc clatter).

 

if u get a ECM from the junkyard just try to find the newest one or one with the lowest mileage that fits. Open the ECM and just make sure there are no burnt areas on the board/connectors