Yep, I'm going to cry...

[Onslaught31]

I just finished installing my JWT popcharger and Z-tube. On the bright side, there was a slight power gain, and it makes the car sound like it's a musclecar, and not a sedan lol

Now the bad news. I put the popcharger in two days ago, and today was the first big rainstorm since then. I drove the car around for about an hour or two (back and forth to work, to the store, etc), and all was fine. On my way to dinner though, I get in the car, start it up....The Slip and VDC Off lights came on and stayed on no matter what I did. I figured it was nothing, just the car being moody about the water. After driving it for about 1/2 mile, the Service Enging Soon light came on. From there it only got worse....

At this point, I realize that my spedometer is not moving at all, which is only made worse by the fact that my tachometer is jumping around wildly, going from 2k, to 4k, then to 0 ....even when I'm parked. Then the temperature gauge does the same. Before I could get the car home, the AT Check light comes on and now the car jolts every time it switches gears. And to throw one more thing in, the AC only puts out warm air now.

I just finished checking the car over, the installation seems flawless, I disassembled the intake and checked for moisture, thinking that water could have gotten into the cylinders, but it was all bone dry and warm. So now it looks like the engine, the transmission, and the AC all need work done.

Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this? Was it a faulty install, was it a bad component, was it just one of those days, or what? I'm now off to bed to cry myself to sleep

Justin

[logicmobile]

sorry to hear about that, if that happen to me i would be mad and crying 2....but i would recomend you to go to a nearest auto zone and borrow one of their code reader obd 2 and pop it on y our car and hope codes will pop out and try to restart it...and i think water got on your stuff but hope not...hope you fixed it soon....goodluck

[soul_hfk]

yea auto zone was a big help for me wit my suv when the Service light can on anyway Onslaught good luck

[audtatious]

I do not see how a popcharger and Z-tube could cause those problems. At the most you would have a rough-run condition if you had accidently messed up the MAF.

[elwesso]

agreed, dont let this discourage you, but DAMN that sucks.. Certainly convenient timing, when the bad got worse!!!

like they said hit up the zone and have them scan the codes...

[Onslaught31]

Took the car to my mechanic this morning so he could check the codes as suggested. The only thing he can think of is that the computer is shot. Which explains the gauges malfunctioning, the air conditioning not working, and even the transmission (since it's computer controlled shifting). I'm trying to get ahold of an infiniti technician at this very moment to get an estimate.

Is it at all possible that the computer was damaged by the installation of a popcharger without having it reprogrammed?

On the bright side, if it costs more to fix it than the amount I'm upside-down on the car, then I'm going to get rid of this one and upgrade to maybe an 05 coupe. We'll see.

Justin

[chad1200]

you don't need to reprogram after that intake upgrade.

sucks to hear what happened, bro!

bright side - 05 COUPE!!!! and you can put the intake on that, too.

[infinititech1]

those problems should have nothing to do at all with that intake installation

[gjohnson66]

DAMN...it sounds like the "gremlins" came out of nowhere and landed straight on your head!!! I do agree with the others that the upgrades you installed shouldn't have hurt the computer at all. May just be a matter of coincidental timing...

[cobrajet]

Justin, Sorry to hear about your troubles. Did you have to disconnect any wiring or vacuum lines or inadvertantly pulled or pinched a wire by accident? I've never had to touch anything under my G's hood so I may be totally off but it sounds like you have some electrical/grounding issues...

[logicmobile]

have you unplug the battery connector , sometimes it restart and clear some errors on your ECU or computer try it, it might help...goodluck bro....

[Onslaught31]

Update:

Took it to orlando infiniti, after charging $120/hour to look at it, they 1) found metal shavings in the transmission that supposedly clogged the computer sensor in the transmission. 2) found a code from the service engine light which they haven't yet investigated.

In other words, I've payed them for several hours of work, and they don't really know whats wrong, what needs to be done, or when it will be done. They're supposed to finish up the diagnostics by Monday afternoon. If something does need to be replaced, I'll hopefully have the car back by Friday.

I've heard many mixed opinions about the whole "metal shavings in the transmission" story. I've heard mechanics say it's just bullsh!t that they use to sell you stuff, and others say it'll cause problems so you need to have a transmission flush done about every 2 years. I've personally seen cars get 300k miles on them and still run great on just oil changes, tune ups, and tire changes. Anyone know the real deal on "metal shavings" and transmission flushes?

PS - Thanks for the input/advice/help

[fosterelli]

This was an automatic, right? I haven't heard of issues with metal particles in automatics...usually you only hear about shavings in manuals. There can be a very small amount of shavings on any engine or transmission when they are broken in...but with modern machining methods that the OEMs are utilizing these shavings have basically vanished...you don't have the burrs on the splines/gears or the poor quality internal parts that were produced back in the day. Higher tolerances and standards have eliminated most of our previous troubles. I would guess there was either an assembly issue when they produced your transmission, which made metal parts mesh or rub incorrectly; like something wasn't aligned or balanced properly; or I would say they are indeed giving you a line of crap to buy more time.

Please continue to give us updates as this is valuable information for all of us...and good luck!