Hi,

Shortly after I purchased my 2004 maxima used, i noticed some problems.

1. ABS activates / ABS light turns on when I first start driving (every time) and wont deactivate until the ABS light turns on (usualy with brake light as well)
2. Brake light turns on, usually with ABS light
note: the lights are basically always on, once in a while it will only be the ABS light but usually it's both at the same time.

The gas reading isn't always accurate and the speedometer (tachometer?) needle only works sometimes, as at times it just stays at 0...

I took it to Nissan and they wanted $1700 (and i think extra for labor too) just to change some central control module that controls all the sensors, but they wouldn't even guarantee that it would fix the problem and when i mentioned to them that another shop told me to just change the abs speed sensor (right rear) and it would fix the problems, they said that it was possible but they wouldn't start without changing the module first...

Usually it makes sense to start with the cheaper possible solutions first but maybe they knew something i didn't...

Anyway, i was hoping someone on here who may have had similar problems or just more knowledge can offer their input on what i can do to fix these problems...

thanks very much!

-danny

 

Um I'm not sure but why would you not bring the car bak to were you bought it. ALso the dealer should start with the cheaper fix first, Shop for another dealer to go to.

 

Danny, Didn't you purchase extended warranty?

 

Hi Danny, i'm sorry to hear about the problems you have.
Take look at this TSB regarding an ABS failure. Maybe it would help

ABS ACTIVATES WITH NTB07-016b.pdf

 

It doesn't at all surprise me that a dealership would say, 'give me $1700, but we can't guarantee we fix your problem'.

Please explain to me how the same people who are 'factory trained', implying they know all there is to know about your vehicle would have the nerve to say such a thing.

Those of us who know that fixing cars, not only Maximas is a tough business but comon. $1700 ....

Give me your 1700 and i'll figure your problem out eventually.... i'll even go as far as to guarantee it ....

Stay away from them .... the dealership service departments are satan in disguise.

 

Yeah, either check with another dealership or try bringing it to the place you bought it from, if it's not a private owner.

 

bring it back to wher eyou got it from exemptng private sale of course but they should be able to help you out

 

I had the same exact brake issue. It was fixed under the TSB as stated above. I think you best bet is to print out the TSB bring it to them and make sure they know that they are responsible for fixing the problem. I dont believe a "pay us $1700 and we MIGHT fix the problem" is a reasonable solution to your problem. Another option is to go higher on the food chain and see what happens. They should be somewhat familiar with the issue your having as nissan has addressed it. There have been many times where I had to do the research and it paid off by the dealer fixing the issue. If there is another dealer close by pit them against eachother. That always works. Good Luck

 

Hi Danny I had the same probleme and I Didn't purchase extended warranty and I bring it back to where I bought from and whit a litle bit of pressure It was fixed on the garantie, so if I where you I do the same,


Good Luck

Gilles

 

Can someone tell me what is the TBS?

 

Hey,
I believe most of these posts are old - but I am trying to figure out what is wrong with my 2004 Maxima. I bought it used last year - it had one owner - no problems and serviced only at the dealer. Last summer, it made a loud noise while backing up. Took car to dealer and after three attemps, a complete front and rear brake job (new rotors as well) that problem was fixed. But shortly thereafter a new problem started. Randomly when coming to a stop a loud vibration was felt and heard. It resembles the sound of running over the reflectors that are on a road - if that makes sense. Anyway - this noise and vibration seemed to happen on longer drives or at higher speeds (again when slowing to a complete stop) than with just a normal day back and forth to work. Well, after three more trips to the dealer - which they admitted - this stumped them. They now """"think"""" it's the ABS system. Of course it isn't covered under warranty.

Does anyone have more information about this? Could the complete brake job I had in the summer time cause this?? What is the TBS - that was mentioned on here??

Thanks in advance.
Nancy

 

That "TSB" is a "technical service bulletin" which basically is a known common problem with a car and the procedure to fix that problem. Unless you're under some kind of warranty the fix will not be free. This vibration you're describing, do you feel it through the brake pedal when you're coming to a stop? If so and I had that same problem with my '04 Max about a year ago. It is most likely an ABS issue as other posts on here also state. There is a TSB for it and basically what happens is on the rear wheels, in the rear hubs, rust and corrosion build up inside the hubs messing with the two ABS sensors in the back wheels causing the ABS to kick in when coming to a normal stop. The fix for this is to have the hubs removed and cleaned out and also a notch is drilled on them so water can properly drain out so this problem won't happen again. I did not go to nissan for this, I had a trusted mechanic that I've known do this for me and only cost me $200.00. This price is assuming that the ABS sensors are still good which mine were, and that the ABS control module didn't burn out, which mine fortunately did not. If you continue to drive the car with this issue you run the risk of burning out the ABS pump/control module because it is coming on constantly, and it's big bucks $$ to replace.

What I did to give me time to get my car fixed when i had this problem (I need to drive my car every day for work) was to disable the ABS. you can do this by disconnecting one of the 4 sensors, there is one on each wheel. The one that is the most easily accessible is the one on the front passenger side. It is easily found under the hood by that wheel well, there is an electric plug that you can just unplug. When you do that the ABS is disabled and the dash light will come on in the car. You can still drive the car as normal, but just know that you will NOT have the anti-lock feature. I did this because mine was kicking in constantly everytime I came to a stop, that ABS vibration, and I didn't want to wear out the control module.

 

Thank you so much! We have a limited warranty on the vehicle but they did say ABS wasn't covered. My car is at the dealership - so I am sure it is going to be costly. Although, my brother in law ((who is a mechanic but refuses to work on foreign cars)) says we can just disconnect the ABS and the car will be fine. Forever though?

And yes, I felt the vibration in the pedal - and all upfront. It is weird though that you say it is from the rear of the car - because it sure sounded and felt like the front of the car. It didn't do it alot - randomly. It was odd.

I truly, truly appreciate you taking the time to respond to this. I love my Maxima and hope to be back in it soon!!! I very well may print this out and send it to the dealer because they have really been stumped and puzzled by this! lol.

 

Yeah it is not surprising that you feel the noise and vibration in the front, as the ABS control pump is under the hood and when it kicks in you definitely hear and feel it. But as I said before it is usually because the rust and corrosion that forms in the rear wheel hubs affect the sensors there which throws off the entire system, as was the case with my car. I suppose you could disable the ABS permanently, but for safety sake I would rather have the system functional. The mechanic I had fix my car is actually a former nissan technician, so he knew exactly what he was doing. Well I wish you the best of luck with your max! Hope I was of some help to you

 

Well, I sent the information you provided - and the mechanic called me 4 hours later. He said that they had replaced one of the rear ABS sensors and then the ABS actuator (sp?) - but the car is still making the noise. He said they had to do it this way so the warranty would cover it. (that didn't really make sense) He then said they would be replacing the other rear sensor to see if that fixes it. He wasn't confident though.....

Any other suggestions? :-)

 

Well the thing is if your car has the same problem mine did (and many other people) then simply changing out the rear ABS sensors will probably not fix the problem. The rear hubs really need to be disassembled and cleaned out of all the rust and corrosion. If you do in fact have a lot of rust and crud built up in there then it will mess up the new sensors also.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/ba...NTB07-016b.pdf

 

FWIW, I had the problem with my ABS (would activate when braking under 30 mph). I only drove it for a day and went and fixed the problem myself right away so the actuator didn't burn out. I just cleaned off all of the ABS sensors.. they were really dirty. No more ABS problems!

 

Got my ABS, Brake lights on about a week ago. Abs was engaging when going to a stop. But after a while it stopped doing that and was only making some buzzing noise from under the hood for about a few seconds when I just start driving the car and no sounds after that. Decided to perform the TSB on rear right sensor. First thing that happened was the broken off ABS sensor bolt head, so ABS sensor is epoxied now. The whole hub assembly was removed and cleaned. But after putting it all back together, parking brake is not working, the lever is going up without any resistance at all. So afraid that both brake cables got somehow disconnected from the lever.
As for the ABS light, it's back on with the same buzzing noise when the car is first driven. So ended up disconnecting the ABS sensor under the hood to disable the system for now.
I tried to use a cheap ODB-II reader but it didn't pull any ABS codes. I guess will have to go to a dealer so they can do the diagnostic for me.

 

The 2nd time it happened to my Max (a few months back), there was no code thru the ODBII scanner. The mechanic showed a code (thru his special system scanner) for "low Brake fluid-level". The level at the time was above the Min-Hot mark. Everytime I turn the key to "On" position, I could hear the ABS unit humming. After topping off the oil (to the neck of the reservoir), the humming was gone for good and no more ABS/Brake/Slip lights on the console. So I don't trust the markings on the reservoir. So it could be just as simple as being low on fluid which can lead to bigger problem with the ABS system.

 

I wish it was that easy and simple. I did check my fluid level and it's right at the max mark. If I decide to add some more, does it matter what brand I put there or regular brake fluid is just fine? My ABS starts making noise when I'm already driving, not when I start the car. It sounds like it's ABS self check as per NTB10-077:
"ABS SELF CHECK NOISE
APPLIED VEHICLES: All Nissan Vehicles with ABS or ABS/VDC
SERVICE INFORMATION
If you identify:
• Clicking, knocking, clunking, buzzing, or thumping noise coming from the engine compartment area; and
• The noise occurs only once during the first few seconds of driving at approximately 16 MPH; and
• The noise occurs only once per ignition cycle (ignition OFF > ON) and does not occur again until the ignition is cycled.
NOTE: The noise may be louder after the vehicle has not been operated for a prolonged period of time.
The above condition is normal and does not need repair.
Each time the ignition is turned on and the vehicle is driven at about 16 mph, the ABS/VDC system performs a “Self-Check” to confirm components of the ABS/VDC system are operating correctly.
This “Self-Check” function creates the noise described above."

I guess it will be hard for me to proceed without getting error codes if any and hope it's one of the sensors, not ABS actuator.

 

I just went thru this issue on my 06 with 125km's. It took about 15min to jack up the car, remove the sensor bolts and wiggle out the rear abs sensors. I used brake clean and a rag to clean the sensors, popped them back in and it's been good for a week so far. I think the key is to disable the abs asap after hearing the abs activating when it shouldn't.

 

I think I used just regular dot-3 brake fluid.
My mechanic has a "Nissan"-compatible scanner to read thru the diag-port. I couldn't get any code thru my ODBII scanner.
I'd like to express some of my observations about fluid levels which can be related to some of the popular issues with the Maxima.
1./ My last problem with ABS. A little low on fluid caused the ABS to make a hard thug when I braked hard & ABS/Brake lights came on. The problem was fixed after topping-off.
2./ I have had the timing-belt noise upon startings from time to time. I'm a little nervous that I will need to spend big$$ some day for the "spacer". I think it's related to the engine-oil level as I confirmed that the 35VQ eats oil overtime. My cars are well-kept but both my Max and Murano eat about 0.5qt of oil (5K oil-change interval). For the last year, I add oil every 2.5K miles and there is no timing-belt noise heard (plus other noises I couldn't identify on startups). I think this will help me to prolong the day I have to deal with the spacer problem.
3./ On the Murano, I had a slow power-steering oil leak last year. One morning it made a continous screeching noise (the oil level was only about 1mm under the Min-hot mark) and didn't stop until I add back some oil. I had the high-pressure hose replaced afterward.
4./ I also had the AC low-pressure hose leak on the Max. I could heard the AC compressor grinding then. I had to run without AC until I had it fixed, to protect the compressor.
5./ I have had the terrible down-shifts problem at low speeds (5sp-AUTO). But by draining&refilling the oil every year, that has been gone. Hopefully I don't run into the same trans problem many got.
For the Murano's CVT, I did drain&refill at 30K and 60K. Overkill you think ? You should see how dark&brown the oil looked @60K. I'm
considering to move to a 20K interval.
In short, I would recommend people to keep an eye on the fluids.

 

Just want to mention what happened yesterday to my max.
Opened garage in the morning and heard a buzzing noise coming from somewhere. Initially thought it was my breaker box, but after closer examination realized it was coming from my car. Ended up being my ABS module making the noise with the car OFF whole night. Ended up driving to work in that condition. Have to mention that I was driving with front ABS sensor disconnected for over 2 months now. I guess that doesn't completely kills the ABS module operation. This time had to remove a fuseble link and cut two connections related to ABS. That seems to stop all the noise and allow BCM to be operational.
I'm already at peace with not having ABS, so wasn't too upset.

 

The TSB does not always cure this problem since the TSB refers to the RR ABS sensor. In many cases it can be the LR ABS sensor as well. Typically just sensor replacement will NOT fix this problem and it will also need a wheel bearing on the side that the sensor is reading incorrectly. Water intrudes into the bearing causing corrosion which is what causes the sensor to rear incorrectly initially.

 

Here is a link to more information and the TSB NTB07-016.

https://mynissanmaxima.wordpress.com/