Fail Safe Mode
 

What all can cause these cars to go into Fail Safe mode?

A few of the malfunctions are engine over heating, the MAF and the APP (accelerator pedal position) sensor.

There are probably more, but someone else will have to chime in.

Is your check engine light on?

No check engine light, and I recently changed the MAF with an OEM from Nissan thinking that was the problem.

Fail safe or limp?

IVT's can also cause it and a bad TPS, and AT codes.

When I go WOT It acts like it's hitting the rev limiter.

Can you give more deets. I went into limp mode because of my accelerator positions sensor going.

I had the same problem, the car would not accelerate even when floored. I would have to pull over and shut the car off to get the transmission to behave normally. My buddy saw a code for Vehicle speed sensor on the engine. Funny thing is, I was not getting a CEL but the code was picked up using OBDII scanner ( If used that acronym correctly ) my buddy works for Nissan tested it and reset the code. Its been fine since, yet I continue to go in fail safe. So Im not sure whats causing the issue.

Just been through this ended up being my knock sensor. It would go into fail safe at high rpm at wide open throttle. Before you go replacing any parts make sure you do the ECU relearn which can be done with a good ob2 scan tool or the car gauge pro since you replaced your maf.

page 129
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2003/ec.pdf

I know it may be the wrong forums, I am in maxima because I am doign work for a buddy, but my Altima has varying fail safe modes, what is the rev limit on your fail safe? My car has a fail safe at 1500, 2500, and 3500, all meaning something different. Recently, assuming they work similar, mine fail safed at 2500, and that was a MAF sensor. No check engine light came up for it.

Year and engine would help as would codes. Check the site I linked above for the year and engine of the Altima guy you're trying to help.

Also, there's only 2 FS modes. 1 = 2500 RPM (give or take) rev limit, but you can get to that RPM fine, as in go to work (I've done it), drive normally in traffic, etc.

The other is when the throttle wont open more than 10% and take about an hour and a half to do so, this mode, you cannot go faster than 5MPH it seems, and you're dead in the water.

This may help if you've got a 4cyl. If not, I think we can help with the V6 version as well as the Altima board.

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/

97 Nissan Maxima SE.. Mine actually goes to about 2500 rpm WOT but will gain speed slowly.. I have no CEL which sucks cause I have no leads. :(
Only thing I occasionally get is O/D light flashes in start up.. But i think that may be due to the 5th gen cluster swap, not sure because I have heard another member say he has no issues with fail safe using the 5th gen 2001 AE cluster in a 4th gen.

Here's what I did, so far so good.
I changed the VSS and the other sensor that goes to the transmission. Still codes and limp mode. I talked to a friend who had been a mechanic for 35 years. He told me to take the negative off the battery overnight. Still the codes, etc. Then he told me most cars have capacitors in the headlights. I left the lights on for 10 minutes. Haven't had a code or gone into limp mode in 4 months. Who knew?

This fixed AT codes. I don't remember which one it was.

Im getting 16 flashes on the O/D light in the cluster occasionally when I start the car. those flashes turn out to be AT module code if Im not mistaken. could the module be going bad?

issue was the 5th gen cluster, once I swapped back to the stock 4th gen cluster I never went into fail safe mode again.

So do you know how to fix it if it's the one that want allow you to go over 5 mph. 2002 Altima