Had the dreaded Service Engine Soon Light come on today on my way to Mom's for lunch. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm WTF. Checked the gas cap. It was on tight. Car's running great.Then got to thinking what I was doing lately. Last evening, JDMan asked about the under door lights on the Coupe (Nissan calls them Step Lights). He needed to know how to turn them off. So I got to thinking that there must be a fuse for them and went looking in the 2 fuse boxes. After checking the one under the hood in the battery compartment, I went to the driver's kick panel box. Well if anyone's been in there, they know it's very cramped even hard to see, let alone pull out these damn small fuses even with the puller. I ended up with a pair of needlenose pliers to remove and reinstall one at a time. Checked them all, to no avail. Couldn't find the appropriate fuse, and gave up figuring that there must be another fuse block somewhere or inline fuses.
Turns out I put one of them back into a dummy receptacle. That particular one was for the O2 sensors in the pollution control system. Well it didn't take long for the MIL to come on.
I didn't think of these fuses until they hooked up a Consult II scan tool at the dealership. Sure enough, the tool pointed to that circuit, even to the misplaced fuse. Soon as the fuse was moved back, the MIL went off. Luckily my friendly dealer didn't charge me ($76) and I was given a freebie.
I did ask about the Consult II scan tool again, and was told it's approximately $8k (Canadian$). Then I asked about an employee discount.... haha brought the price down to $7900!
Also asked about the MIL resetting itself and how long it would take for the dash light to go out. Apparantly it takes about 50 starts!
Food for thought guys and gals if you're clutzy and blind like me, don't mess with the fuses (at least without your glasses on)
My G is fine, as it was b4, and no MIL. Life is good and all is back to normal once again in Cambridge.......[img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

<font color=green>GSM</font color=green>

 

$76, yup, that's why I bought a OBD II scan tool. Only takes a few resets to pay for itself. Also good for a quick Dx of any problems.

I was told that some MILs reset after 6 or 7 cold starts, but I'm not sure if that's true or not.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

I still haven't got a scan tool yet, but I'd be damned if I'd spend $76 for service. Think I'll go see what CTC have on the shelf. May not be as good a deal as that last sale, but at $76 a call, it gets paid off real quick.
L8r bro.....

<font color=green>GSM</font color=green>

 

Gsedanman,

My check engine light went on at about 6500. I did the same as you, checked the gas cap, fuses, all things checked out OK. I took it to my dealer and they cleared the code noting that there was an emmissions leak somewhere and it was not persistant. they pressurized my exhaust and nothing - no leaks! So even they couldn't figure out why! Anyway, as part of the warranty they didn't charge me anything but boy I sure would like one of those OBDS II scanners for myself if this ever happens again! That would save a trip to the dealer and a hassle changing out my intake and removing my grounding kit! I'm sire if they were on there the dealer would say, "It's beause you have these mods on your car. The car was not designed for this and that's why your check engine light is on!" I also have a neighbor with a G and his went on on the way home from the dealer after buying the car! His problem, someone at the dealer put in the wrong fuses and boom!

Gsedanman, what's a MIL?

Gordgee, where'd you get your scanner from and for how much? I see some on-line right now for $140.00. Does that sound right? Will that kind clear codes? Here's the link
http://www.levineautoparts.com/autez10.html. it says it clears codes for less than $160.00. That's less than 1.9 times at gsedanman's dealer if they won't fit it under warranty!

2003.5 G35 Sedan
Stillen Intake!
Hyper Grounding Kit!
Also Mercedes Benz ML350!

 

An MIL is the generic term for "Malfunction Indicator Light".

The on you linked to looks to be similar to mine, but by a different company, so I'm not sure what it's like. Mine's by EQUUS http://www.iequus.com/3100.asp?catshort=3100

I bought mine on sale here in Canada, so I'm not sure what the sale price would be in the US.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

Also while you're at the site, check out the pdf of the manual. It's got lots of info re the sensors in our cars and a good read of how some of them work.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

GSM:

I just noticed that CDN Tire has their Automotive Dx tools on sale this week for 20% off. Not sure if they have a OBD II Code Reader there now or not.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

Gsedanman,

thanks to the link to the Eequis site. In fact, the site i linked to also carries the same unit and it's only $139.95! This looks like a good thing to have, especially for saving a trip to the dealer. Was it worth it for you?

2003.5 G35 Sedan
Stillen Intake!
Hyper Grounding Kit!
Also Mercedes Benz ML350!

 

GSM:

CDN Tire has the OBD II code reader on sale again this week. It's only $50 off this time though. I think they also sell them at PartSource, and will match the price less 10%.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

most tools are just generalized OBD2 and wont see much of the proprietary data that the Consult II can access. Scanners are great for o2, maf, misfire stuff, but youre locked out of most of the good stuff.

obd-2.com now has an extended Nissan database, but I havent tried it yet on the G. Even with the extended DB, its only engine and tranny codes, still mostly general info.

 

I started answering this what seems like hours ago. Man I've almost forgotten what the hell it's about. Oh yeh- this week's OBDII scan tool on sale at CTC. Just got the flyer and will check that out tomorrow.
Gord does it look the same tool as last time? I think at that time it was regular $250 on sale for $150. I was told a that time it was not to be made anymore, and the sale was a clear-out sale. Could be anything. Don't know what to believe these
days. Thanks

Well posting this one wore me out. I'm gone to bed early tonight. Site is way too slow today. [img]/w3timages/icons/frown.gif[/img]

<font color=green>GSM</font color=green>

 

Thanks for the info on these tools. They're useful but limited as to what they can do. One thing I understand they can do, tho. is to clear a MIL for say an intermittent issue, or an issue that has corrected itself and left a MIL glaring at you. Like what happened to me some weeks ago: I misplaced the O2 sensor fuse which generated a MIL. The fuse was corrected but left the MIL, which presumably would have taken up to 50 start cycles to clear. I believe you can clear that MIL with one of these OBDII tools (instead of being ripped $70-100 at the dealer). With MIL's comming on regularly for various reasons (including some mods), it makes sense to me to have one of these babies close at hand.
Thanks for the leed on 'obd-2.com' . I'll check that out too.

<font color=green>GSM</font color=green>

 

Sorry for not reading this thread for some time.Been busy with the new pooches and also sick in bed for the last week........ I'm going in tomorrow to one of our discount parts supply retailers (CTC) to look at their OBDII scanners that's on sale.I'll post a follow-up on that.
Sure looks like you need something to help out these days with MIL's being generated for any # of reasons. Nice to have the capability to cancel the MIL at least, if not help diagnose the problem.
BTW -- I believe Gord gave a description of what a 'MIL' is-----------Malfunction Indicator Lamp...... right on bro...LOL
L8r dude.. will post with details tomorrow.....

<font color=green>GSM</font color=green>

 

Looks like exactly the same tool, GSM. Yes, it's $50 more than the last sale price. Too bad they gave you the 'song n dance' last time as I think they should have issued a 'rain-check'. I'd speak with one of the managers and complain if I were you. I teach Assertive Training at work, so repeat after me...<font color=blue>"I am very upset that I was not given the opportunity to purchase this tool while it was on sale the last time, and was told that because it was a clearance item that could no longer be brought in, I could not get a rain-check. I would like you to see if there any way I could make this purchase at that price! Please let me speak with the store manager!"[img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img]

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

I can say with some confidence that the OBD2.com inferface wouldnt have been able to find the fuse problem.. maybe it would have thrown an undocumented code that *may* have been in the FSM.

I have a OBD-2.com cable that I *never* use. I've sent it to people before to reset SES lights and pull codes, then ship back to me. I think it would cost alittle more to drop in the mail since youre in Canada.

Honestly, Alex Pepper used to support this program and cable very well, but he's not been too good lately. There were some timing problems (would disconnect while logging) and he was MIA for months. He used to return emails in an hour or so. If he gets back to that, this is a great value.. without support, its not that great of a deal. I got mine on a group deal. He does VERY good group deals. I got in with a s2000 group and we had enough to pay like 70-something each for inferface and program.

Btw, thats the same program that was used to log the better idle with the earthing kit.. the screen shots on that thread are the obd-2.com program/interface.