well i've been having problems with my car blowing ignition fuses lately. it all started when i intalled a power invertor into my cig lighter and it fried a bunch if ****. its been in and out of the mechanic 4 times now in the past month (close to $700) they've replaced the ignition switch, replaced grounds, and replaced a melted relay as well and the car STILL blows fuses.

i finally broke down and took it to nissan yesterday and they just called me.

they're saying that nissan is telling the tech to start by replacing the starter (they want $400 for a nissan starter and the one in there isn't even a year old) then installing a new ecu, then drop the tranny and clean the engine and tranny mounting surfaces.

is it time to get rid of this car or are they trying to F--- me over?


Trevor

 

I can't envision why the power inverter incident should cause all these problems... it's fused (10A?)...

The Dealer seems to be taking shots in the dark at your expense...

 

i HATE dealerships...

 

Leave the dealership alone but it sounds like you have some wires either don't have enough insulation on them due to your meltdown and they could be touching. Tell the dealership to leave your car alone.

 

Youre gonna get screwed. Take it away from the dealers.

 

you didn't hard wire the inverter you just plugged it into the cig lighter right??

 

yes, i just wanted to make sure it worked (i borrowed it from a friend)

 

I agree with Chunger...They haven't got a clue. I would say that some wire some where has worn through the insulation and is shorting it out.

 

I don't think the cig lighter-power inverter has anything to do with it. I even hardwired mine, hooked it up backwards even- it just blows the fuse in the fuse panel. I would look for some other problems that may have caused it. What fuses are being blown, and is that the main problem?

 

You might need a new ECU. Get one from the junkyard for $100.

 

UPDATE

i just got back from the dealer. the dumb lady over the phone wasn't explaining everything clearly.

the mechanic thought it might be the starter, so i went and got a new one and installed it behind their dealership where my car was sitting. turn the key "pop" goes the fuse. so then i think about it a minute.... unhook the starter put a new fuse in and turn the key..."pop" again, so it has nothing to do with the starter at all.

his next guess is the clutch inhibitor relay needs to be replaced. and if its not that, then i have to go through all the wire from the starter to the ignition switch (ack!)

now what they were saying about dropping the engine and tranny was this.... apparently my crank positioning sensor is getting readings (or whatever you want to call it) about electrical noises in my bell housing of the tranny. this means that instead of reading 180 degrees its reading different and could cause the engine to turn over backwards when cranked. nissan reccomends a new ECU and dropped tranny to properly clean the bell housing and other mounting points. he said that this has been a common thing for 95/96 maximas. anyone heard of this?

Trevor

 

I highly doubt that the engine will crank over backwards...

Please post exactly which fuse is blowing from what panel...

 

ignition fusible link. under hood.

 

Does it fuse blow at "ON" position or the "Start" position? Try replace the clutch interlock relay or clutch interlock switch. You pretty much replaced all the parts in the starting system except for those two. They are crappy electricians. You can isolate the short by removing one part at the time in the starting system. The crank sensor has nothing to do with it or whatever that crap about eletrical noises. It's a freaking short because one part is faulty and shorting to ground.

 

heh thats funny thats exactly what the guy told me to do....i have to go pick up the clutch interlock relay in the morning

the fuse blows in the "start" position. i got the car home by turning the key to the "on" position and push starting it.

the whole crank sensor thing is something completely different that he noticed while he was messing with the car.

 

How did you push start it?

 

My money is on the clutch interlock relay. I bet a coke.

 

get the car rolling and drop the clutch while the key is in the "on" position. (i had to do the same thing when my starter went out on me last year)





1MAX2NV

well, i put in the new relay today and the car started. after starting it 5-6 times i took it for a drive for about 30-40 minutes then took it home and turned it off and started a few more times. no blown fuses so far. i really hope this fixed it.....

 

Looks like you owe Tony a Coke

 

i owe him more than that. hes helped me out a LOT.


thanks Tony!