Steering Wheel Memory is working intermittently

[bigdog76]

I have been noticing the last few days that my steering wheel memory on my 96 Q 45 is working sometimes and then sometimes it is not moving into position which should be all the way down all the way out to me.

What could be causing this? I have not done anything to the car at all recently.

[Infinitiguy19]

99% of the cause is that the cancel switch is on check it.

If not then read this: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q4...l.pdf -> Automatic Drive Positioner - LAN

Are all the fuses fine?

Does the seat position its self?

What about the mirrors?

Does the memory seat funtion work?

[qship96]

During the times it is not automatically adjusting to your set position, can you manually adjust it using the joystick on the steering column? If not, there may be an electrical short somewhere.....if you can still control it manually, look at cleaning the contacts inside the column with electrical parts cleaner- search the site as I remember previous posts regarding this problem.

[bigdog76]

I can manual move them.

I will check the cancel button and the connections. Something must be loose in there.But it is get on my nerves.

My seat is all the way back so it doesnt have to move when I exit the car just the steering wheel.

I must add this is the best feature this car has.

Funny thing to mention is that my car is a "96 Q45 and it never fails that when people get in the car they are still amazed at the steering wheel moves like they never seen it before.

Then I remind myself why I love this car and would not trade it for a brand new Camry. So many features that I take for granted that brand new cars dont have unless your spending over $50,000

[Razi]

Your car make is "Infiniti" not "Infinity"Just a pet peeve of mine haha.

[goody90q45]

........So many features that I take for granted that brand new cars dont have unless your spending over $50,000

And to think that our Q's cost that much as long as 15 years ago. It's quite an automobile.

I've been having similar problem with my 90Q since I bought it 6 months ago. I'm starting to think it's key or ignition cylinder related and has nothing to do with any controllers. The reason I say this is a couple of weeks ago I picked up the wrong set of keys on the way out the door (Toyota truck), put it in the ignition, realized my mistake and pulled it out. Since then when using the correct key (not OEM) the tilt and retract works much more often but the key sometimes sticks when putting it in the keyhole and it may take 2 or 3 tries to get it to work properly.

But, if the steering wheel automatically fully retracted and fully tilted up after the last use the key slides right in an works great. This leads me to think that a worn out ignition cylinder is the culprit and possibly the non-OEM key. I haven't tried the OEM valet key but if all is well when using it then it points to the cylinder.

My Q spent most of it's life sludging in the red dirt of the Sierra Foothills and blowing out the key cylinder with compressed air did help. If you can afford it a visit to a locksmith to clean up the lock cylinder it might be money well spent. It is a nice feature to have working properly and I get the same comment from new passengers in my Q's. Good luck.

[Q451990]

I would rule out the slide potentiometers that tell the control unit the position of the steering column before tearing into the igntion switch. You can also try repeatedly exercising the steering wheel up down in out up down in out several times to clean them a little.

Heath

[SteveTheTech]

These guys here have all posted very valid probabilities and questions. I just like to chime in and through my 0.02 in.

Since it's an intermittent issue you may have a connection issue at either your travel sensor or tilt sensor. The communication in the LAN system is a digital pulse signal so the only way to measure voltage correctly is with a multimeter that has a duty cycle or pulse width duration setting. The components of this system are pretty pricey. If you cannot find an obviously failed component you may want to think about having it checked out by the dealer as they have access to the proper diagnostic tool for this job.

Good Luck

[maxnix]

Heath is correct for the initial point of checking the electronics.

Potentiometer corrodes and gets dirty easily.

[Q451990]

I believe Steve and I are referring to the same parts... travel and tilt sensors are probably better descriptions for the slide potentiometers I mentioned. I cleaned mine on "Q1" and it was a night and day difference - a 100% fix for at least 60K miles if I remember correctly. This was after the dealership tried an "updated" control module under the warranty that didn't help much... apparently it was designed to ignore some interruptions in the signal from the sensors?

Heath

[qsiguy]

I've noticed my Q doing this as well. I haven't done much troubleshooting yet but it seems that if I just slide in the key and don't immediately start it, the seat/steering will move into place. If I put the key in and start it before the seat/steering moves all the way it will stop. I then have to push my preset button on the door to move it into place. I've never cleaned the "travel and tilt" sensors.

[TBrack]

mine always does this after I reset the battery. then one random day I put the key in and bam it works.

[slybydesignq45t]

My car has been doing this ever since I purchased it. Heres something that I have noticed. If am detailing my car and leave the doors open for long periods of times, then the auto adjustment to my seat and steering wheel wont work. I have also noticed that if I adjust it manually beyond what auto is used to it wont work either. Ever since I had my car fixed for the battery cable and some fuses its worked fine, but I will admit I didn't detail my car this past weekend. I will detail my car this weekend. I love the feature, it really is a luxury feature not needed but its nice, plus I like the heated seats feature, something I noticed works fine for now, but if it didn't I wouldn't stress over it, because this is the first car I have had with both features. In the Mercedes I used to own, I had to press the 1 button and it positioned everything, but in the Infiniti its auto I like that.

[elwesso]

first thing IMO is to use the on board diagnosis outllined in FSM to see if it 'thinks' anything is wrong. If so, fix what is says. Then move on...

Its all about playing the game and making the car happy!!!

[Infinitiguy19]

Its all about playing the game and making the car happy!!!

"In Russia car make you happy" Family Guy for some of the older folks.

[slybydesignq45t]

first thing IMO is to use the on board diagnosis outllined in FSM to see if it 'thinks' anything is wrong. If so, fix what is says. Then move on...

Its all about playing the game and making the car happy!!!

My friend I am on it. In the short months of owning this car, I have fixed a lot of things. My order of operation is Safety, Function then Form. For now I am still on Safety. I am scheduled to get my Control Arms replaced today or tomorrow. Next will be the brakes and rotors. After that shocks, then I will look into the interior items that aren't working. I think I have learned you can't change a light bulb with a faulty ladder......

[captainluigi]

On my 96. If you reinsert the key appx. 1/4'' after having removed it the seat and wheel will return to the wheel up and seat back position. However that ploy will not work to bring them into the wheel down and seat forward position. I always have to do that manually. Methinks it is a worn switch. I have removed the plastic surround and cleaned with elec. con. clnr. No difference. I ran it through the tests described in the FSM but shows no error.

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