TCS, SLIP, and SES Lights come one, then ...

[mmike87]

My 2000 I30 has 104,000 miles on it. I just purchased it.

Today the SES, TCS Off, and SLIP lights came on while traveling slowly in traffic. They remained on. I brought the car to my dealer and the mechanic witnessed it.

After several restarts, the TCS and SLIP lights went out, and SES stayed on.

They are going to take a look - but it's killing me. If anyone has any ideas that would help me "check" the dealers diagnosis, I'd appreciate it. They seem like pretty upstanding guys, and wanted the car back not wanting me to have a problem so soon after buying it. So I think they will take care of me.

Any ideas appreciated. Most of the searches I did didn't have the SES soon light on as well, let alone staying on.

Thanks.

[Q45tech]

As we say we don't have to invent problems or pad the bills as the cars create enough to make owners cry.

Buying a used car always means you need to have the cash on hand that caused the previous owner to sell it in the first place.

Use an OBD2 scanner to check the codes [might as well buy one as you will be using it often] on any 96 or newer car.

[mmike87]

I'm going to get a scanner. This time I think the dealer will take care of it since it happened almost immediately after I bought it. The car has a 1000 mile powertrain warranty but I think the dealer will take of it.

[maxnix]

Check the battery then load test the alternator.

[mmike87]

The code they pulled was "primary ignition" - they didn't tell me the number. They talked to the Infiniti dealer in Richmond and are very confident that the TCS and SLIp lights were an ancillary reaction to the primary problem, which is a coil. Apparantly no codes were set for the TCS.

I have to drive the car until the light comes back on, and then they will put it on a scanner that can tell them which coil is bad. Their scanner can't do that.

So, so far so good. They are standing behind the car which is great and why I have bought two cars from these folks.

[maxnix]

Have them check the TCS relay under the battery tray.

[mmike87]

Update - well they visually inspected the coils and found one that didn't look right, and replaced it. When my wife went to pick the car up and drove it a couple of miles, it started "shimmying" badly (her words) and she drove it back. At that point, the SES, TCS, and SLIP lights illuminated again.

They are taking it to another shop that has the "tech II" scanner or something like that to get a better look.

[maxnix]

Define "coils", please. Coilpacks?

[mmike87]

I assume so. I'm sorry I don't have all the vocabulary correct ...

They also replaced the plugs while they were in there, so I assume they were referring to the coilpacks.

My wife said it was running very rough which made me think that a cylinder wasn't firing, perhaps the coilpack was installed incorrectly or the plugs wires were not firmly seated on the plugs or something to that effect.

[maxnix]

Coilpacks are pretty much go or no go, unless they are disconnected.

Pray tell they used the OEM specified NGK Laser Cut plugs and not a generic one. If they didn't, go rescue your car now and don't let them work on it ever again.

Now about the TCS relay?

Ooops, might have to add a little salt to the comments. Just noticed you had an I30, which is good as the VQ30DE is in the Maxima also so it is a little better known to more technicians.
Modified by maxnix at 10:05 AM 11/17/2006

[mmike87]

They said they replaced three coilpacks. My wife said it's working fine right now.

What's the big deal with the plugs? I'll find out what they put in, but what's the danger?

[mmike87]

I called the mechanic and spoke with him. He said he matched part numbers for the plugs and used original equipment NGK plus that were like $28 each.

So I guess I am good to go there. So far I think they have taken pretty good care of me.

[C-Kwik]

They said they replaced three coilpacks. My wife said it's working fine right now.

What's the big deal with the plugs? I'll find out what they put in, but what's the danger?

Newer cars tend to use plugs with thin center electrodes. This makes for an easier spark with less voltage requirement and reduces quenching. The downside is less material at the electrode means it can wear faster. So materials like Platinum and Iridium are used. On cars using distributors, the spark only goes from the center electrode to the ground electrode so the platinum is only needed on the center electrode. Cars with coilpacks actually have 2 spark events per combustion cycle with one spark originating at the center electrode and the other at the ground electrode. As a result, these need double platinum or double iridium (very rare) plugs to keep wear down.

[mmike87]

Thanks for the info.

I am a bit confused on the terminology though. They said they replaced "coils" - but everyone here seems to say "coilpack". Are these different items, or just different names, with "coil" being incorrect?

I hate to sound like an idiot when I talk about these things ... but I guess I have to start somewhere.

[maxnix]

I am not familiar with the VQ series. Might run with a soil on each side, but if they replaced three, sounds like ther is one per plug, like the VH and VK series.

The correct NGK can be had for about half that price or less from http://www.infinitipartsusa.com or http://www.sparkplugs.com

[mmike87]

Thanks for the info. He picked up the plugs locally and probably paid full retail for them.