04 Pathfinder - SLIP and VDC OFF lights keep coming on

[RyanL83]

First time poster here, so please go easy on me if I mess up some forum etiquette. I've owned my 04 Pathfinder for about 3 years now, and it's been a great experience. However, I've had a problem over the past week or so, where the SLIP and VDC OFF lights on the dash come on and won't reset until I turn the truck off/on. The service engine light also seems to be coming on sporadically. I have not reset it yet as per the owner's manual, so I am not as concerned about that one. The issue with the other lights though, I can't figure out. A bit of digging seems to show that it could be an issue with the brakes, but after topping up the fluid and confirming that all 4 brakes are in good shape, they are still coming on. I do have a code reader (Bluetooth OBDII with Torque for Android), but I don't get any fault codes, other than one that I know was already there before this started happening. I am not that experienced with Torque, so maybe there is something I need to tweak in the app to get the full list of codes?

One clue that might help is that I accidentally killed my battery about a week ago while troubleshooting another issue. That problem was the dash lights (and tail lights I learned later on) kept blowing fuses. I nailed it down to an issue with my trailer wiring harness, which I ripped out. I am fairly confident, though not 100% certain that the SLIP/VDC OFF lights came on for the first time not long after I brought the battery back to life. So I'm not sure if the battery dying could have buggered something else up, or if the short from my trailer wiring maybe caused a problem somewhere else. My 4WD light was also on after the battery died, but I was able to fix that with some kind of reset sequence from the service manual.

Performance wise, everything seems perfect. No issues with the brakes, no loss of power, no stalling, all of which were reported by other people with similar vehicles and the same issue. I've skimmed the owner's manual for clues, but didn't turn up anything.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I was trying to provide as much detail as I could. If anyone has any info that could help, I would very much appreciate it!!

[4xq]

Well, the software you are using reads codes from the ECM only. The flashing lights for SLIP and VDC are setting codes in the body control module and / or the ABS brake module. It takes specialized scanning tools / software to read codes from those modules. As in expen$ive.

Bit of a guess on why the lights are coming on, but I suspect the steering angle sensor needs to be reset. That procedure is a dealer or shop procedure. A good shop should have the scanner tool to do it.

To work properly, the VDC system must know the exact angle of the steering wheel. That is the steering angle sensors job. When the battery is disconnected, or goes dead, the VDC system wants that sensor reset. On some cars, that can be done by sitting in neutral, engine running, and cranking the steering wheel full left, then full right. Unfortunately, in the Pathfinder they did not make it that easy.

If you call a decent shop, they should be able to tell you if I am on the right track.

[atraudes]

If 4xq didn't nail it, he's probably at least on the right track. I found this while doing a broader search that may have some helpful hints.

[RyanL83]

Thanks for the replies! That definitely gives me a few more things to check out!

Regarding the Nissan scan tool, I've found a number of resources online that seem to be offering alternatives to the Consult tool at a more reasonable price. Is there a general opinion on here about those products, or is there one that is commonly purchased by users here?

This one is available for Android, and will apparently work with my OBD2 connector (so not the consult port), but it looks like it might be ECM only, which would just make it an alternative to Torque, correct? http://home.exetel.com.au/nds/NDSIIA/index.php

I found these on Amazon, it looks like they plug into the correct port, but I'm not sure what software would work with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Diagnostic-Comman ... an+consult

http://www.amazon.com/Andoer-NISSAN-Con ... +consult+3

atraudes, thanks for the link! It definitely illustrates how frustrating this problem is, so many people with the same issue, but so many different fixes!!

[4xq]

You have an R51 pathy, as seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Pathfinder
Correct? If so, the Datascan II is not compatible at all. That is probably because you do not have OBDII, you have a canbus system. Canbus is much like a computer network, where each module (ECM, ABS, BCM, etc) has its own address on the network.

This will probably work, but you need to be sure your year / model is covered - not all Canbus sytems are the same. It does most consult II functions:
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/1872340 ... oduct_feed

[RyanL83]

Mine is an R50, I got the very last year. I *wish* I had an R51, they look so much nicer, but I love my ol' girl.

[4xq]

I looked at the EL (electrical) section here:
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Pathfinder/2004_Pathfinder/

I saw CANBUS, and figured you were R-51. I did not realize the last year of the R50 Pathfinder was CANBUS. Anyway, you have a CANBUS vehicle.

Anyway, I was surprised to see the tool at bonanza.com did all the stuff it does. I have not seen one at that price that does that many things beside ECM. However, it is Nissan only, so I don't know if you want to spend that much on a Nissan only scanner.

[RyanL83]

Would either of these tools do the trick?

http://www.bonanza.com/items/search?q[c ... bus%20tool

How can you tell that it is running a CANBUS system? Is that different from CONSULT-II? I'm pretty new to all of this, but I couldn't see a reference to the type of system in the EL manual.

[4xq]

The stuff about CANBUS starts on page 409 or so of the EL section.

Don't mean to confuse you with jargon, sorry! OBDII is the "computerized" system used till 2003 in the Pathys. People generally refer to OBD codes when they talk about the check engine light coming on (ECM module) - OBDII codes are mainly used for engine diagnosis. There are codes for stuff in the drivetrain in OBDII, but they tend to be more specific to the manufacturer and not as universal. And you usually have to use the manufacturers scan tool to read them. Powertrain codes are generated by modules other than the ECM.

CANBUS is the system that replaces it - newer, has a lot more codes and way more stuff monitored in the drivetrain, etc, etc. Which means more sensors.

Consult II is Nissans own scan tool that is able to read all Nissan codes - ECM, BCM, ABS, etc. So you are looking for a scan tool that reads your CANBUS system, and which reads codes not only from the engine control module, but the body control module and possibly other modules as well.

Your software reads ECM only. The scan tools you linked to look they they read ECM only as well. Expect to pay much more for a scan tool which is able to read the other modules. You won't get one for 25 or 50 bucks that can do all that. Cheap ones read the ECM only.

Also, you need to be sure a scan tool supports your vehicle as there are still manufacturer specific codes in CANBUS.

Professional shops have scan tools that cost upwards of 2,000 or 3,000 dollars that will read all the other modules. And then pay for data services to update them.