02 maxima problems whenever it rains HELP

[Crose420]

When it rains my maxima acts crazy!! First off the abs engages whenever I push the brakes. The car doesn't want to shift and it takes off in 2nd gear. The speedometer jumps between 20 and 30 mph when the ignition is turned to on but the car isn't even running yet. The power driver seat stops working also. The radio will reset itself and just shut off occasionally. My mechanic replaced the drivers side rear speed sensor but it did not fix the problem. Not sure where to start looking and my mechanic has never heard of such a problem. When it's not raining the car is perfect!!! Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

[maxhopper]

Welcome to NICO.

That's an interesting problem. Does this happen in a light rain/drizzle, or a serious down pore, or both? Does it have to raining for a while before it starts to act up?

[Crose420]

Welcome to NICO.

That's an interesting problem. Does this happen in a light rain/drizzle, or a serious down pore, or both? Does it have to raining for a while before it starts to act up?

It doesn't act up in light rain but in a steady rain and serious downpours I'm guaranteed to have these problems. Once the roads are wet it starts.

[maxhopper]

Have you checked to see if any water is getting inside (especially along the firewall)?

I took a quick look at some of the wiring diagrams, and the only thing I could see in common between some of the components was the smart junction box (main fuse block).

Here's a link to the FSM in case you want to give the wiring diagrams a further look. http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2002/

[Crose420]

Thanks so much. I'll make sure to check that out. I have a quick question. Do you know if a wheel speed sensor will cause the transmission to act up?? Our mechanic changed out one of them but I didn't know if water could be getting into one and causing some of these problems with the ABS, transmission and speedometer. Thanks

[maxhopper]

Sure, a bad wheel speed sensor can cause ABS problems, but I would have to think it's something more than that. Have you had the car scanned for codes?

You can start by reading about the CAN system on page EL-429 http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2002/EL.pdf

Check all the wiring going to the three modules on EL-437. You can use the IDX (index) section of the FSM to look up each of the modules, and see their wiring diagrams. Find components they have in common like the instrument cluster, and the smart junction box, and work your way up the tree.

[Crose420]

Well I have checked the connectors and have not seen where anything is getting wet but I don't know where to look inside the car. Now the power steering stops working also and still the transmission and the speedometer and the brakes only when it rains. Please help!!!!!

[Crose420]

My mechanic is lost and has no idea what the problem is.

[audtatious]

What codes are being posted?

[Crose420]

It isn't posting any codes

[audtatious]

Sometimes there are codes listed that don't cause SES which is why I ask.

I assume you've gotten under the car and looked for faulty wiring and connections/terminals that may be exposed and shouldn't? This car has never been involved in a flood has it? Something somewhere is getting wet when it shouldn't and tracking it down is going to be a bear.