2001 nissan maxima ecu controller

[prattvilleboy]

Can the idle control valve cause the ECU controller "brain" to be faulty because of it shorting out? Or does the faulty ECU controller "brain" tell the diagnostics to read bad o2 sensor and bad idle control valve. The dealer said my car was fixed and had to replace a o2 sensor (before the cat converter) and the idle control valve. I went to get it and the car still died out with low idle, and was told that the ECU controller is faulty because the idle control valve was shorted and spiked causing the controller to go bad. I am thinking that I didn't need the previous repairs and don't want to pay for their mistake. What do ya think!

[elwesso]

From what I know, ECU's rarely fail on nissans.... Theres enough fuses that if something were to short circuit it wouldnt take out the ECU...

Theres other issues that I think need to be addressed.. I woudl post your symptoms (car dies) in the maxima fourm, which can be found here....

zeroforum?id=83

Enjoy!

[maxhopper]

This thread was originally posted in the Max forum, but I thought it wise to seek the advise of Nistech on this matter (due to the rarity).

[maxhopper]

Bump for new member.

[prattvilleboy]

Me again. The dealer "burnt out" another controller and is in the process of replacing idle control valve and controller again. Hmmm, they still think that the idle control valve is the culprit....again..... I am curious as to what they will tell me when it burns out again.

[NISTECH]

To answer your initial question, yes a bad Idle control valve can take out the ECU. We have seen numerous ones fail in such a manner but never twice in the same visit. You may have something going on with the wire harness. I have done at least 3 combos and one just the idle valve as it was repaired early enough to keep the coolant from causing a major short in the idle control valve. What happens is the valve develops a coolant leak into the electronic circuitry to cause it to fry the ecm since it sends voltage directly to the IAC driver. The coolant leak though is small enough it isnt really detectable unless you notice you have to add coolant to your resivoir to keep it at a solid level. You would be adding about every 500 to 1000 miles.

Wes the quality of nissans ECM's has drastically dropped since 2000. I cant tell you how many sentra ECM's I have done I dont have enough fingers and toes to keep up any more. Done several ECMs on other models as well.

The fact you had to go back for a second round suggests you may have a wiring issue as well.

[elwesso]

Wes the quality of nissans ECM's has drastically dropped since 2000. I cant tell you how many sentra ECM's I have done I dont have enough fingers and toes to keep up any more. Done several ECMs on other models as well.

The fact you had to go back for a second round suggests you may have a wiring issue as well.

Good information.... ill stick with OBDI