Hi Everyone! I'm new to these forums, so forgive me if I'm asking previously answered questions, but I could use a bit of help. I just bought a 2003 350Z Track edition (MT) and have been doing some upkeep on it. However I just started experiencing a new issue where the cruise control stops working and I get a power loss around 4K rpm (primarily 2nd gear).
Based on previous forum discussions I found on here, this goes back to a dying ECM, so I've started looking for a replacement. I also talked to the local dealer and was told I should get an ECM with a production date between Oct. '02 and July '04. Problem is none of the ECMs have a production date stamped on them (from what I can tell). They do however have some coding on the sticker (such as PF MEC31-531 A1 3224), but the dealership couldn't tell me anything about that coding as it came from the ECM manufacturer. Does anyone have knowledge about these codes? Additionally, has anyone had issues with replacing a bad ECM with a newer version (such as a 06 ECM into an 03 model)? The dealer said after July '04, there would be some differences due to options on the vehicle, but do these options really matter?
My second question is about replacing the transmission. I'm experiencing a bad grind downshifting into 3rd gear and occasional grinds upshifting too quickly through other gears. I've decided to shift gently and not downshift to 3rd, but I also want to fix the problem. Again, through older forums, I've learned its an issue with the 03-05 models. I want to know if there are any issues with dropping a CD009 6M transmission into my '03 Z? Also, I found a new 6M from Z1motorsports.com for $1695, but is there a better/cheaper place to get these trannys?
Thanks in advance for your help!
ECM and transmission Replacement for 350Z
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memullings
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:24 pm
- Car: 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Edition
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BusyBadger
- Posts: 3753
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:20 pm
- Car: '92 Nissan 240SX
'05 Nissan 350Z
'13 Nissan Juke - Contact:
Re: ECM and transmission Replacement for 350Z
Sorry it took me so long to get you an answer.
The 009 transmission will be fine on your Z. I've posted about it before, it's much more durable than its predecessor. While the getting our replaced I recommend replacing the pivot ball as well, the oem one from Nissan is a little weak. Z1 sells an improved pivot ball, I'd actually be surprised if they didn't mention it or try to upset it.
I'll need to do some checking on the ECM. I can tell you that one from 2006 will not work in your car, the manual transmission models from that year have a slightly different engine than yours has.
Welcome to NICO!
The 009 transmission will be fine on your Z. I've posted about it before, it's much more durable than its predecessor. While the getting our replaced I recommend replacing the pivot ball as well, the oem one from Nissan is a little weak. Z1 sells an improved pivot ball, I'd actually be surprised if they didn't mention it or try to upset it.
I'll need to do some checking on the ECM. I can tell you that one from 2006 will not work in your car, the manual transmission models from that year have a slightly different engine than yours has.
Welcome to NICO!
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memullings
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:24 pm
- Car: 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Edition
Re: ECM and transmission Replacement for 350Z
Thanks for the feedback! I'm starting to get power loss at lower rpms and in other gears, so I definitely need to replace the ecm soon.
Also, my current transmission makes a lot of skeaky noises and the clutch pedal sticks a bit when its cold, especially the last few days with temps down around freezing. This goes away once everything gets to normal operating temps, but any thoughts on what's going on with it?
Also, my current transmission makes a lot of skeaky noises and the clutch pedal sticks a bit when its cold, especially the last few days with temps down around freezing. This goes away once everything gets to normal operating temps, but any thoughts on what's going on with it?
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BusyBadger
- Posts: 3753
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:20 pm
- Car: '92 Nissan 240SX
'05 Nissan 350Z
'13 Nissan Juke - Contact:
Re: ECM and transmission Replacement for 350Z
You're already replacing the transmission, if it's me I replace the master and slave cylinders as well and probably add a steel braided clutch line to the mix.
I just fixed a similar drivetrain problem earlier this year on my Z.
I just fixed a similar drivetrain problem earlier this year on my Z.
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memullings
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:24 pm
- Car: 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Edition
Re: ECM and transmission Replacement for 350Z
ECM Update:
It took some serious digging, but I finally was able to mostly decode the Hitachi ECM product labels.
First, I found this chart: http://www.technosquareinc.com/pdfs/ECU ... 070501.pdf
This list alone wasn't helpful enough, but I finally got in touch with a very helpful guy, Ray, at Hitachi USA who did some digging on his end. I'll use my ECM label as an example.
My label is: PC MEC31-511 A1 2Y14. Based on the chart, the PC tells us my vehicle is a 2003 6MT and tells the Hitachi part number for the 1st iteration; in this case MEC31-510 which correlates to the Program ID of CD000 (from the Nissan Part number). I then figured out the following:
MEC31-510 = CD000
MEC31-511 = CD001
MEC31-512 = CD002
MEC31-513 = CD003
Ray mentioned there is also another update CD004, but I'm not sure what it correlates to.
Nissan labels its ECM with '23710-ProgramID'. From this info, we can determine my ECM has original Nissan part number 23710-CD001. Even when Nissan looks up the OEM replacement according to my VIN, they pull up stock number 23710-CD003, so I assume those iterations have very minor differences.
Now with the rest of it, the 'A1' is a Hitachi revision code, though Ray was unable to identify what the actual revision is. Considering my Z is an '03 model, 'A1' is likely the first version, with 'A2' or 'B1' being later revisions. Unfortunately, Ray was unable to identify any difference between iteration in the product ID and revision ID.
Finally, the '2Y14' is a date code, though again Ray was unable to fully indentify it. He did say the first digit was definitely the year, so mine is 2002 production date. A '3xyz' would have a 2003 production date, and so on. He believes the 'Y' indicated the month, probably November in my case. He also notes, different production years will vary their use of numbers and letters for month indicators, thus a 32yz should likely indicate a Feb 2003 production date. Deductive reasoning leaves the last to digits to be the day of the month, though Ray could not verify this.
As another example: PF MEC31-531 A1 3224
This should indicate a 2003 5AT, second iteration, probably first revision with a probably production date of Feb 24, 2003, and Nissan would probably tell you an OEM stock replacement Product ID of 23710-CD103
Lots of technical info and sorry for the length, but hopefully this helps someone else in the future!
Personal Update: I found an appropriate ECM and ordered it, along with a pcv delete, and plenum spacer. transmission is next on the radar, but down the road a bit.
It took some serious digging, but I finally was able to mostly decode the Hitachi ECM product labels.
First, I found this chart: http://www.technosquareinc.com/pdfs/ECU ... 070501.pdfThis list alone wasn't helpful enough, but I finally got in touch with a very helpful guy, Ray, at Hitachi USA who did some digging on his end. I'll use my ECM label as an example.
My label is: PC MEC31-511 A1 2Y14. Based on the chart, the PC tells us my vehicle is a 2003 6MT and tells the Hitachi part number for the 1st iteration; in this case MEC31-510 which correlates to the Program ID of CD000 (from the Nissan Part number). I then figured out the following:
MEC31-510 = CD000
MEC31-511 = CD001
MEC31-512 = CD002
MEC31-513 = CD003
Ray mentioned there is also another update CD004, but I'm not sure what it correlates to.
Nissan labels its ECM with '23710-ProgramID'. From this info, we can determine my ECM has original Nissan part number 23710-CD001. Even when Nissan looks up the OEM replacement according to my VIN, they pull up stock number 23710-CD003, so I assume those iterations have very minor differences.
Now with the rest of it, the 'A1' is a Hitachi revision code, though Ray was unable to identify what the actual revision is. Considering my Z is an '03 model, 'A1' is likely the first version, with 'A2' or 'B1' being later revisions. Unfortunately, Ray was unable to identify any difference between iteration in the product ID and revision ID.
Finally, the '2Y14' is a date code, though again Ray was unable to fully indentify it. He did say the first digit was definitely the year, so mine is 2002 production date. A '3xyz' would have a 2003 production date, and so on. He believes the 'Y' indicated the month, probably November in my case. He also notes, different production years will vary their use of numbers and letters for month indicators, thus a 32yz should likely indicate a Feb 2003 production date. Deductive reasoning leaves the last to digits to be the day of the month, though Ray could not verify this.
As another example: PF MEC31-531 A1 3224
This should indicate a 2003 5AT, second iteration, probably first revision with a probably production date of Feb 24, 2003, and Nissan would probably tell you an OEM stock replacement Product ID of 23710-CD103
Lots of technical info and sorry for the length, but hopefully this helps someone else in the future!
Personal Update: I found an appropriate ECM and ordered it, along with a pcv delete, and plenum spacer. transmission is next on the radar, but down the road a bit.