The codes I have are P0500 and P0600. I've done all the easy stuff and found out it's a bad ecu and probably a bad tranny. What are my options in terms of finding replacement; do I need the exact same ECU (96 Auto GXE) or can I get any auto 4th gen ecu? Tranny wise, is there anything else I can get too? My other recourse is to sell or part it out, always disclosing that information.

 

finding another ECU is a piece of cake. there were about 3-4 of them in yard last I looked.

 

I just called LKQ and they do not have any in stock. Are all 4th Gen Auto ECUs compatible? I found a transmission from a 99 for $550.

 

pull your ECU and get the code #.

google that code and see what pops up.

i'm pretty sure i recall that any 4th gen ECU for an automatic up to 1999 is plug and play. with the '99 ECU reprogramming is necessary.

 

called the dealer, gave them my VIN and they gave me my ECU Part Number: 2371054u13.
went to autoecms, gave them my part number, they gave me another number #a18c05ex9.

I'm looking at $1200 for the tranny w/install 6mo warranty. Extended Warranty (1yr) is $150, at least s/h to my mechanic is included! Would It come to about the same if I upgraded to a a locking tranny + the transaxle?

I'm holding off on the ECU until the tranny is done.

 

uh are you sure your trannys bad, thats a big move you made without much research. Is your tranny slipping? Are you having any riding difficulties besides the code? did you check your trannys ecm ???

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...l-decoder.html

P0500 comes back as a speed sensor, did you double check that? the connection and the sensor

P0600 comes back as ecm. did you double check the the tranny units connection with the ecm? are the wires corroded? did the windy city blow the connections loose?

I would check everything first if I didn't have any physical symptoms of failing tranny... ecm is no real big deal so check tranny first

 

u-pull-it on North ave had several A/T 4th gens in the yard.

 

P0600 is really a code for communications between the TCM and ECM, IIRC. The chances of those connectors coming loose is virtually none, seeing as how they're both bolted in place. Corrosion is a possibility, but also unlikely. Definitely worth a check on both, though. Failing those, a TCM replacement would be required.

What makes you believe you have a bad trans? A faulty VSS and/or a faulty TCM will cause erratic shifting and other behavior. Don't be so quick to condemn the ECU and the trans.

 

Prior to taking it in, I searched the org for any information on the same P0600 code and I tried everything I could from those posts. I just came back from a shop, who diagnosed it strictly through the odb II scanner, he is the 2nd one to tell me that the computer is probably bad, but the first to tell me the tranny is also the culprit, but keep reading.

I changed the VSS on the transaxle, and swapped the Tachometer from a salvage yard myself. I took it to the stealership for a continuity check and they found all wires between ECM & TCM have continuity and it is grounded ok. They wrote on my invoice that they cannot read on Consult. That was $300, so I hope that was in-depth analysis.

What this most recent shop told me is that the transaxle or tranny whichever makes the speed sensor spin, if it has the slightest shaking then the sensor will not get the proper signal and thats why I have the VSS code. The other code is probably coming from the tranny.

I'm truly suspicious about the tranny and ECU both being bad, because the tranny slips a bit, but it's not undriveable, nor uncomfortable, only when going from (R) to (D) do I sometimes feel a shock. The emissions law is basically making the car undriveable for me, Any trouble codes = fail emissions.

 

'Tranny' is just a slang term for transmission/transaxle. You have a transaxle, we're FWD.

The P0600 can come from nowhere but the TCM and ECM communication, but the VSS could easily be the sensor itself, or wiring, faulty ECM (not very likely), bad signal at the cluster, etc.

The chances of your diff wobbling around to the point the VSS is getting faulty readings isn't likely either. I would suggest watching/logging a drive with an OBD-II scanner of the VSS signal, and view the freezeframe data (if any) associated with your P0500 code.

Why did they say they couldn't read anything with the CONSULT? They should still have a CONSULT-II kicking around, and the CONSULT port adapter is standard kit. I wonder if they tried connecting the CONSULT through the OBD-II port (which is how all the newer Nissans do it, but the A32 has a dedicated CONSULT port).

 

Thanks. I just wanted to stress that you should exhaust all options before changing a tranny.

I agree you should def check your TCM. If its slipping then might be a tranny. Are you near any transmission shops, they usually will do a check for free

 

i had my trans rebuilt for 1200 so i think that was good a deal

 

I just called a transmission shop and they will look at my car tomorrow morning! I also mentioned if they could test my VSS while driving, and they said it's included. Sounds like a practical next step for me.

 

Free check?

 

Yeah, it's going to be free. I'm going to bring all my pertinent invoices; like the speed sensor, the dealership work, and my most recent emissions failure listing the 2 codes.

 

I took it in to a shop, i found them through googling "Transmissions chicago,il 60630", so I thought they were "specialists", but when I got there, they wanted to charge me $45, but I told them that I already had the codes and just wanted someone to diagnose the tranny. Long story short they haven't charged me and the owner says they're "taking care of me", so they're going to run the VSS diagnostic while driving, but at the time they were extremely busy so I left the car with them and they gave me a lift home (couple blocks).

They gave me another code P0725 which again seems related to the speed sensor, does anyone have some input, as I seem to have misplaced my haynes manual.

Am I just wasting my time at this shop?

 

P0725 isn't VSS, it's an RPM signal. http://boredmder.com/ecucodes/index....1995&DTC=P0725

At this point either you've got some sort of wiring harness issue, or the TCM is faulty. That's my preliminary diagnosis.

 

your catching no breaks this time around with shops.

I'm not sure what to tell you. Try to find a real tranny shop

 

u live around the chicago area? if so there is a place called leos and joes by palwakkee airport they did my tranny for 1200 rebult it with a 6 month warranty so i think you shold give them a call insted of paying so much more for a tranny shop ( they are mexican

 

Well If I rely on the check conducted by the dealership that told me the ECM & TCM have continuity, then I could guess it's the latter.

If I go about looking for a replacement TCM, is it keyed to my car like the ECU or will any TCM for 4th gen work?

Also, I called the shop to check in, and they told me the TCM is definitely bad but they are continuing to check for any other items. They're going to give me a quote, then ill decide whether its worth keeping or buy something else.

 

TCM should be fine across the years, but I'd shoot for as close as possible just to be sure.

Honestly, testing continuity on the entire TCM-ECM branch of harness it a labor intensive job, and is a complete PITA given their respective locations. I honestly wouldn't put it past them to say everything's fine without checking it out fully. Of course, this depends on the dealership, but I've seen quite a few like that.

 

Well they better have done it all, because I paid $300 for that.

 

I don't believe for a second that your tranny is the cause of the problem you're having. The chances of that are very slim.

As for the ECM (ECU) and TCM, there are probably hundreds of them in the chicagoland area for you to choose from. I know personally that there are at least 5 of each in the Pick-N-Pull in Hammond, IN which is just 2 miles into Indiana just of 90 and 80/94.

 

Just came back from putting a $200 deposit. They are going to replace the TCM ($250 no labor charge on installation). The bad news is they charged me $300 for the full diagnostics of the TCM continuity. I'm looking at $600 for this whole she-bang, if it fixes it, it was well worth it to save the cost of replacing a tranny and ecu. 1yr warranty on the TCM.

 

Damn i have an extra tcm for 30 bucks and you could install it!

 

I didn't even think of that, I have an extra TCM now from my '95 (just finished up a 5 speed swap) you could have for cheap...

 

Well, was that the problem?, I've got the VSS code and p0600. I'm going to u pull it on North Ave. on Wednesday. If I find a 4th gen in there, ill get a tcm and cluster. God I hope its not a wire.

 

i have 4 Ecu's for sale 95-98 maxima pm me if interested thanks

 

ouch... i could have given u mine for free i have a bunch of crap...

 

Hey! I'll take it for free. I might need it. I'm going to the junkyard tomorrow to see if i can find a 4th gen. I'm gonna change the cluster first, and then check the ecm-tcm connections for shorts. I'll let u know if i need it. thanks.