Hey all, okay here's my problem. A few weeks ago I started my car and the battery, ABS, and brake lights all stayed after the engine turned over. the next day the lights all went off and all was well with the car, or so I thought. After the car sat for a few days, I went to drive the car and found the battery was completely dead, this was a less than year old battery. I exchanged the battery under warranty. While installing the new battery, the security panic alarm(horn) went off, I thought this was weird as this never happened before, the car started right up. I proceed to drive the car but discovered the car was very slow to take off, and the gears weren't changing, seems like the car is stuck in 2nd or 3rd gear, also noticed the O/D light was not coming on. I check my fuse box and discovered the A/T CONTR. fuse(7.5 amps) was blown, I changed the fuse and the OD light came on for a few seconds, check the fuse to discover it was blown again. I installed a second fuse and again it blew. I know I probably shouldn't have done this but I installed a new fuse again, but this time no OD light came on and the fuse was still good, I also smelled a hint of something burning by the fuse box.

I didn't start the car over the weekend and the battery was dead this morning, I gave it a jump and it started up and held a charge all day. I had the alternator checked at autozone and they said it was checking fine but it could still be bad since their test is not very sophisticated, I also had it checked at Advanced and their tester show it wasn't sending any charge to the battery, how could that be, since it charged the battery this morning after jumping it?

I think I need to change the alternator. My question is why is the battery running down after a few days of not driving the car, also why the A/T CONT. fuse keep blowing, also does the fact that the fuse doesn't blow any more but the tranny is still not changing gear means something else is screwed up.

I know there's alot of knowledgable people on this forum that might be able to point me in the right direction with these issues. Sorry for the long post, just wanted to list the series of events.

 

Test your battery and alternator at autozone or somewhere,

You will most likely need a new Battery and Alternator.

 

The burning smell is not good, could be a sign of a short and a burnt wire. The lights coming on at the dash could be a sign of a bad battrey and a bad alternator. IF the alternator is not sending charge to the battery that will kill the battery. The battery charges off the alternator. Take a voltage meter and check the volts on the battery and the alternator when the cars running.

 

Don't forget to find the short and the fuses. Just a simple burnt fuse or wire can make you replace parts that you won't need to replace.

 

The fuse blowing indicates a short or large current draw. This is most likely what's upsetting your electrical system. Fix that first, then make sure your alternator is charging (13.5 a 14 volts) and you should be ok. The transmission is in limp mode most likely do to the electrical issue as well. Check all the wiring to the TCU.

 

Your dead battery is not the cause, but rahter a symptom. Fix the short in your wiring, it is causing the the fuse to blow and probably draing your battery too. Tranny is in limp mode just like njmax stated, because you are not sending power to the TCM.

 

As everyone else said find the short and fix it. My car had a short near the camshaft sensor just after my 3.5 swap. Check for CEL. That is what pointed me in the right direction in fixing my short. The rest is what everyone else said... check TCU, etc etc ... Good Luck!

 

I pulled the codes from the computer and I got 0804,0902, 0504. Wheres's the TCU located?

 

It's definitely draining the battery big time, my battery was dead again this morning. I plan to get a multimeter and test all fuses in the car and under the hood.

 

Download the FSM.

 

I'm in the middle of changing my alternator. Advance has two choice, on is 110 amp
for Cali and 125 amps for the rest, I bought the non Cali but I'm having issue with the top bolt ligning up. Does anyone know if theres any difference besides the amps between the two.

 

Did you fix your wiring first? I doubt the new alt will fix your issue.

 

I'm thinking I also have alternator problem since my charge light keep flickering, so I want to start with that 1st., my battery is good. I've read bad alternator can cause battery to drain when car is not running.

 

You need to look at the totality of circumstances, consider ALL your issues and fix the common problem. You most likely have a bad wire between the battery and trans grounding out, blowing fuses an draining the battery. I submit that your alternator is fine and you could fix this with a roll of electrical tape.

 

Finished changing the alt, what a pia to do, spent most of the time trying to get the long bolt, it would have been easier if the car was on a lift. Oh well it's done and the car started, if the car start again in the morning I would consider the change worth the time and money. I can then move on to diagnosing the short issue, which I'm going to take to the shop.

 

Where is the tranny computer located, from the fsm looks like it's down by the radio?

 

The TCU sits on top of the ECU. Ta access it remove the side panel next to the gas pedal.

 

Thanks.

 

Yes it's behind the radio. Radio needs to be removed to get to it.

 

Update: I was finally able to swap out the alternator, it was the cause of my battery draining when the car sits for a few hours, the car starts now, and thank god I don't have to keep disconnecting my battery cable everynight. On to my other issue, tranny still in limp mode stuck in 3rd gear. I was able to check all fuses in the fuse box by the driver side and under the hood. All fuses check fine with the exception of the following 3 fuses, all sitting in the same row(going across). the fuses are not blown, just don't have any voltage. Here they are as stated on the fuse door.

Bat 7.5A Tail L Bat 7.5A Int Ill St 7.5A Start Sig

Again, these 3 fuses don't have any voltage, but the fuses are good.

Any suggests on where to look in fixing this, ie a relay? I am also having an issue with my ignition switch, sometimes my radio, wipers, and clock doesn't come on, I get these to work by slightly wiggling the ignition key backwards. I don't know if this has anything to do with these 3 fuses not working, just trying to list all issues with the car in hopes someone will point me in the right direction in fixing these fuses. thanks

 

Ok guys, here's the latest on my car. After not being able to pinpoint my electric short I took the car to a shop. they found the tranny computer module was burnt, said it could have happened when I jumped the car. Anyway I now need the computer, the serial number is 310036 OL701, I checked ebay and the ones they have listed are 310036 OL700, will this work. I called nissan and they said the OL700 replaces they OL701 and it will work. Just need confirmation from anyone here that this is indeed true.

 

Anyone from a 95-98 will work. If you want to buy one for cheap PM me. I have several available.

 

Thanks Joe. I see your're in ND, might take a while to get to me I'm in FL, found one local for $95. Hopefully I'll find the reflashing instructions on the org.

 

2-3 days for Priority mail and would save you $70.
Or next day for Express mail and would save you $45

 

LOL i have one from a 98 infinity i30 that you can HAVE if it will work.