I first would like to say hello to everyone. As you can see I just found this site. I'm very eager to discuss anything and everything Maxima related.

My Problem:

My wife has a 96 SE that we bought used. Great shape less that 44K miles when purchased. We enjoyed the car problem free for two years, then a year ago the battery died. No big deal, we jumped the car and ran it for a few miles. Two days later same thing. I then take the car to auto shop (Merchant's) they check battery, altinator, and starter system...Nothing wrong there. They replace the battery and we leave. Next evening, car won't start. I call in the morning and have a new battery installed. Same thing 2 nights later. So I return the battery (thinking I've gotten 2 defective batteries) to the shop and take the car to a Nissan dealership. They perform same test...same results. "Nothing seems wrong". Replace battery and everything's good for one year. One year later,SURPRISE...same problem.

Which brings us to 3 weeks ago. Returned car to Nissan Dealer, explain past problems, past diagnosis', and past remedy. They again check charging, altinator, and starter systems, nothing. Replace battery and call me. I tell them to hold the car for 2 days (knowing it would die) Low and behold, I go to pick up the car and it's dead as a doorknob. Explain that's why I left it here, re-explain my past problems and leave car. 1 week goes by, they "say" they found the problem. 'Faulty trunk switch'. They replace switch, return car, 4 days later, Dead car. Return car to dealer. I had a very helpful Service rep. so I haven't lost it yet. She seems genuinly concerned and will not release car until fixed. It's been 2 weeks, Tech has basically checked every electrical system. I get a call from them yesterday. They believe it's the BCM (Body Control Module). So, we're waiting for the part to come in, installation, and DISAPPOINTMENT.

Just wanted to ask if this has ever happened to anyone else, is happening to someone else, or has anyone else ever heard of a case like this? It's really becoming a hassell and with the car being my wife's, I don't feel comfortable having her driving it with our 3 year old.

**I do want to say I tried the 'search feature' but "wasn't given permission to access" that function. Don't know why. Please any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

96/01 Max

 

Let me just say this becareful with nissan dealers(acme). Some try and rip you off in a sense and hopefully it will work out in your case. I'm pretty sure the BCM isn't cheap, anything oem isn't cheap,but hopefully that will fix your problem. If not I would get a a estimate of how much everything is so far.
I know of a guy that had a problem with his car shutting off a 92 240sx. They diagnosed etc.. tech decided to ordered a new ecu charged for that didn't fix it found out it was just a small electrical problem but the bill was for 1k.
I would find a reputable shop in the future unless the car is under warranty then you take it to a dealer.

 

Luckily I purchased the extended warranty for this car ($100 ded.) So, the cost of the BCM isn't an issue. I just need to know what's going on. Ran a carfax on the VIN before purchasing, it came back clean for major damage but, I didn't pay to see 'everything' reported on car. I've always felt in the back of my mind the car may have suffered flood damage but, I don't have any 'visual' proof. Just a hunch of sorts.

I also felt reluctant to mention to the forum and servicecenter alike...but, the cars odometer and tripometer have stop functioning properly. This may be the problem but, I didn't want to be charged a federal offense for odometer fraud. Maybe it's time to let the cat outta the bag. Thanks for your time KFL

 

Nothing? Anyone?

 

Same thing happend to me, was some wiring I had loose in the trunk since I removed my keyhole I think the BCM thought my trunk was open or something, I just grounded a wire replaced the battery(all the discharging and charging of the battery eventually killed it) and I havn't had a problem since then...

 

I'm guessing you'd have to know what wire is pulling the battery and ground it?

The problem is it's been to the shop plenty of times and they haven't been able to find it. Just last night 04/07/04 it hesitated when starting...like in 'signs' "It's happening!"

Me and my wife give it 3 days. I know the nice service lady gonna feel really bad, she tried her hardest to get this problem correct. And the poor technican's gonna commit suicide.

 

Yeah I have the wiring diagram for all that crap so I diagnosed it myself.. heh

 

Nice job. What did you look for? Or did you just5check everything? Did it take long? What tools are needed? and where can I get one of those diagrams?

 

factory service manual has it all, also I figured it was that since I had removed the keyhole and the wire for it was hanging so I figured that was draining the battery, grounded it up and the battery dont die anymore.. =o That was just my lucky 1st guess, no real crazy diagnostics... just traced it down to that...

Sounds like you got other problems tho =\

 

when you connect a multimiter to the battery when the car is off, what is the voltage? If its below like 11 or 10v, that means you have a constant drain. What i would do is have the multimiter connected, have your wife look at it while you individually pull fuses : )

argh but that totally sucks *** though...

did you pay the 24.99 for carfax?? what do you mean when you say that you can pay to "see it all?" For the 25, you see everything that carfax sees.

 

also ask at www.the12volt.com, and click on the install bay link and ask away. They got some really good pros on that site.

 

The key to any car battery not holding charge is:

1. Voltmeter. Install a 52mm voltmeter and keep an eye on it from time to time. They can be had for as low as $5 at Wamart and can save you from all sudden charging related problems. A voltmeter will start behaiving unusual way before you get stranded:


2. Measure currant leak. With ignition off, measure amps going out of battery. Be concerned if this is higher than 0.010 to 0.020 Amps.

 

I'll check into getting a multimiter. Sounds like alotta work but at this point it's all we have. Thanks for the info.

As for the carfax, yea they give you a preliminary check for free and the complete check for around 25 bucks. Truely I don't think there was a problem but paying the 25 bucks would've givien me peace of mind. Thanks for your suggestion.


Herman, I'll try that too. Not sure if you both are talking about the same meter but I'll ask for both. Thanks for your time.

 

well I have had the same problem with my 96 SE ... no problems for a year or so after I bought it.... then one am the car was dead.... check it out..crappy reman batt.... replace batt....2 days later ...no start...defective battery... pulled the battery out of my Z and instaled it the Max... bought new Optima for the Z (my toy sits in the garage and goes out once a week or so) good for 3-4 mths...battery dead.... buy Optima for the Max..no problem for a yr then batt is dead if I don't drive the car every day???? take Batt in dealer says battery is trash.... replace battery.... present time... 1 yr old Optima car starts ok every day but if I let it sit for 3-4 days.... no start battery dead.... I would like to know what the draw is from your car..... to compare to my car and a Max that is not having the problem.... BTW when I tested my car for draw last year... it went away when I pulled the fuse that powers the Body control mod... however the draw from my Max was less than my 94 300ZX???? and it sits for weeks at a time and still starts?????? sorry so long guys....

 

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this already but, I had the same problem with my battery going dead. It turns out there wasn't a single drop of water left in it. I added about 3 20oz. bottles of distilled water and the problem went away!

 

Very true. Low fluid leveled batteries does not keep charge. Internal copper starts corroding immidiatly after getting dry, so filling up with water will not restore battery to new specs, but it will certainly extend life.

Adding water doesn't really apply to maintenance free batteries, which is 99% of the marked now. They only have a 2mm hole for ventilation. You gotta be really patient to get onces of water into a hole like that! You can't even see fluid level like u could on batteries 15 years ago.

If you have problems with fluid disappearing from battery, I'd make sure charge varies with ambient temperature. I don't have a clue if the regulator for the alternator actually does this on the Max, but it should! Considering the huge temperature diffs we have between summer and winter here in north america, there should be temp compansated regulators! At 10F charge should be ~15volts, and ~13.2volts at 105F. Too much charge in summer will cook away fluid. Too low charge in winter will not charge battery enough. Both situations will reduce battery life alot! Agian, the 52mm voltmeter installed in your dash will show this, and u can pinpoint trouble areas before disaster strikes.

 

It sounds like some hidden electrical drain unfortunately. But after you check everything out, I've heard of Maximas of that age having starting troubles due to the starters-even with stories that really sound more like alternator or battery, it has turned out to be the starter. Is the car totally dead electrically, or just not able to power the starter? I doubt a battery is dead in 1 year, unless you torture it or live in an extreme climate. But, I once owned a car that seemed to have a huge electrical drain and could not be started after sitting for 12 hours, but started with jump starts. Turned out to be a defective cell in one of the battery cells, but "would test OK". Replaced battery and was good to go.

 

I'm beginning to believe it's some hidden drain myself. After many tests all showing the charging system to be fine, there was still a problem.

An update: We've had the car 3 days so far and nothing noticeable. Other than the slight hesitation on the 7th, the cars been starting fine. I'm still worried the problem hasn't been completely remedied. I'm in the process of changing the Radio and i'll look into getting a new starter just in case.

Thanks ALL, for your responses.
EDIT: to answer MixaM's question. The car would be completely dead. No, security system, no interior lights, nor would it even attempt to turn the engine, just silence and cold.

 

my car never sat long enough to totally drain the battery after 3-4 days .... it would try to crank but there was not enough power to spin the motor over... I have had the car 4yrs and am on my 4th Battery ...2nd Optima