Qx80 battery

A forum for the Nissan Armada, Infiniti QX56, and beginning in 2014, the Infiniti QX80
hangout_u
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I don't drive my 2018 qx80 that much, maybe once a week. It was not cranking up yesterday . After recharge the battery , it start up good now.
I was wondering if the battery still good ? I google battery spec, i found its group 27.
Is there any recommendation about it? Not so expensive and good performance battery?
Thanks for the help


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VStar650CL
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Your QX has the same "smart charging" setup as late model Armadas. They're very problematic when people use them infrequently or make a lot of short trips. I.e., under those circumstances, it becomes "dumb charging" and results in flat batteries. The fix is to disconnect the "smart" wire which runs from the IPDM to the alternator. This puts the alternator on internal regulation, so it will output 14.2V without modulation like a normal alternator. The IPDM is located under a cover directly behind your battery.

Armada-QX80 Smart Alternator Fix.jpg

hangout_u
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Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:59 pm

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VStar650CL wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:12 am
Your QX has the same "smart charging" setup as late model Armadas. They're very problematic when people use them infrequently or make a lot of short trips. I.e., under those circumstances, it becomes "dumb charging" and results in flat batteries. The fix is to disconnect the "smart" wire which runs from the IPDM to the alternator. This puts the alternator on internal regulation, so it will output 14.2V without modulation like a normal alternator. The IPDM is located under a cover directly behind your battery.


Armada-QX80 Smart Alternator Fix.jpg
thanks for your reply.
after i read the smart alternator that you mentioned, i went youtube to search. i found a guy overseas posted,
He disconnected the sensor attached to the negative cable, right next below the negative terminal . His car is the nissan patrol . He said thats the voltage sensor to the smart alternator .
do you think this will work on the QX80 as well ?
thanks

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VStar650CL
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hangout_u wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 2:02 pm
thanks for your reply.
after i read the smart alternator that you mentioned, i went youtube to search. i found a guy overseas posted,
He disconnected the sensor attached to the negative cable, right next below the negative terminal . His car is the nissan patrol . He said thats the voltage sensor to the smart alternator .
do you think this will work on the QX80 as well ?
thanks
You're most welcome. No, on any US model the BCM will throw a code for the Current Sensor being open.

hangout_u
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VStar650CL wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 4:48 pm
hangout_u wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 2:02 pm
thanks for your reply.
after i read the smart alternator that you mentioned, i went youtube to search. i found a guy overseas posted,
He disconnected the sensor attached to the negative cable, right next below the negative terminal . His car is the nissan patrol . He said thats the voltage sensor to the smart alternator .
do you think this will work on the QX80 as well ?
thanks
You're most welcome. No, on any US model the BCM will throw a code for the Current Sensor being open.
I opened the big black fuse box behind the battery, inside just doesn't look like the image that you post .

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VStar650CL
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Here's a pic of the actual part, this is from a '19 but '16~'19 are identical. The IPDM is in the box at an angle, there are two big plastic pawls holding it in where the red arrows are. Push in on the pawls and pull the IPDM towards you out of the enclosure. Connector E13 is where the white arrow is pointing, it's at the bottom and impossible to get at when the IPDM is in the box.

QX80 IPDM.jpg

hangout_u
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VStar650CL wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:04 pm
Here's a pic of the actual part, this is from a '19 but '16~'19 are identical. The IPDM is in the box at an angle, there are two big plastic pawls holding it in where the red arrows are. Push in on the pawls and pull the IPDM towards you out of the enclosure. Connector E13 is where the white arrow is pointing, it's at the bottom and impossible to get at when the IPDM is in the box.


QX80 IPDM.jpg
I took a picture of my fuse box, so i just cut the red wire around the circled area.?
thanks
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VStar650CL
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Yes, but cap the cut ends with crimp connectors or self-stick foam. You especially don't want the alternator end of the wire touching anything, if it happens to ground out then your car will go into constant over-charge.

hangout_u
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VStar650CL wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:17 pm
Yes, but cap the cut ends with crimp connectors or self-stick foam. You especially don't want the alternator end of the wire touching anything, if it happens to ground out then your car will go into constant over-charge.
Thanks for the advice , I don't think that i have the crimp connector or self stick foam, do you think the black electric tape will work ?
My battery was with the car from 2018 , it just didn't crank up yesterday , the first time. Normally , is this battery still good for a while if fully recharged again ?
Thanks

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VStar650CL
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Make sure the tape is sticky, you don't want it coming off. I'd get the battery checked, most parts stores will do it for free. If it's been under-charging over a long period it may have eaten up the plates enough to worry about.

hangout_u
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VStar650CL wrote:
Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:38 pm
Make sure the tape is sticky, you don't want it coming off. I'd get the battery checked, most parts stores will do it for free. If it's been under-charging over a long period it may have eaten up the plates enough to worry about.
I was going to cut the wire yesterday , but something pop up in mind .
My 2018 Qx80 has 35k mies on it now. The warranty should be 4yr/60k miles basic, and 6yr/70k miles on powertrain.
If i cut the wire, will it effect the warranty on the car?

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VStar650CL
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Not if you wrap it up neatly so the work isn't visible. We have permission from Engineering to do that operation on Armadas with chronic dead battery issues. The euphemism for it is "reconfiguring the IPDM" and we need to inform our DTS when we do it. We're supposed to unpin the connector to make the repair restorable, but snipping the wire has the same effect. I'm sure the Infiniti dealer has the same permission, they just won't be telling you publicly.

hangout_u
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VStar650CL wrote:
Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:10 am
Not if you wrap it up neatly so the work isn't visible. We have permission from Engineering to do that operation on Armadas with chronic dead battery issues. The euphemism for it is "reconfiguring the IPDM" and we need to inform our DTS when we do it. We're supposed to unpin the connector to make the repair restorable, but snipping the wire has the same effect. I'm sure the Infiniti dealer has the same permission, they just won't be telling you publicly.
:dblthumb:
Thank you very much !

hangout_u
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Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:59 pm

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VStar650CL wrote:
Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:10 am
Not if you wrap it up neatly so the work isn't visible. We have permission from Engineering to do that operation on Armadas with chronic dead battery issues. The euphemism for it is "reconfiguring the IPDM" and we need to inform our DTS when we do it. We're supposed to unpin the connector to make the repair restorable, but snipping the wire has the same effect. I'm sure the Infiniti dealer has the same permission, they just won't be telling you publicly.
i just went cut the red wire and taped it up.
once i started up the car, the battery gauge went above the center already . looks like working really good.
Thanks for your great help again.
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VStar650CL
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:dblthumb:

hiofisr
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2018 Infiniti QX80

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Thanks for the diagram and great directions. Wish I’d found this before replacing the battery last year. Even since, I refer to my 2018 qx as our electric car because I have to plug into a charger weekly. Normally I’d be apprehensive to cut a wire but was eager to end my dependency on jumper cables.

Here are couple pics to help translate the diagram placement to reality for anyone who’s unsure. The wire is tiny. I put a small drop of liquid electrical tape on each end after snipping.
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IMG_1714.jpeg
IMG_1710.jpeg
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VStar650CL
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Great pics, very helpful! :dblthumb:

IamDavid
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Car: 2016 Infiniti QX80

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Many thanks, everyone! I had replaced my wife's battery in her 2016 QX80 twice in the past 5 years and was about to do it all over again. All looks good after about a week.

RubyRed617
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Car: 2015 Infiniti QX80

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Hello I was reading this topic & I am having the same issues. Can this fix for the draining battery issue be done on a 2015 QX80 as well?

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VStar650CL
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RubyRed617 wrote:
Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:15 am
Hello I was reading this topic & I am having the same issues. Can this fix for the draining battery issue be done on a 2015 QX80 as well?
Yep, I just checked the wiring diagram and the '15 QX80 is the same setup, pin 33 Red.

RubyRed617
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Thanks so much for quick reply! You just save me $195 from a diagnostic at the dealer! I owe you lunch

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VStar650CL
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:dblthumb:


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