soooooo last week the volume buttons on my steering wheel started intermittantly not working, then the seek/source buttons also. it's hit or miss, sometimes they will and sometimes they wont. i had been pulling the stereo out quite a bit to install my bluetooth and backup cam adapter but i highly doubt i caused an issue by removing/installing the molex plugs.

is it common to have issues with the clockspring? i just hit 50k this weekend so i fear i am out of warranty now but it really surprises me i'm having these issues. i've never had a clockspring go bad on any of my previous vehicles. i'm not worried about replacing it myself but i'd hate to spend the money if i don't have to.

anyone???

thanks in advance!
Bob

 

Clockspring?

 

^^Goes behind the steering wheel.

 

yeah, the ribbon cable assembly behind your steering wheel that connects to your airbag sensors and the buttons on your steering wheel. the term clockspring is legit, and universal to all cars, i didn't make it up lol.

 

I'd make 100% sure it's the clockspring. Have you had issues with the cruise control also? What about the horn? Being as you did have the headunit out I'd be more inclined to start there first.

 

well im reluctant to use the cruise control to see if there are issues since ive been in traffic every time there was an opportunity. i do need to try it though, you're right. the horn worked, although i haven't tried it since the issue started (other than this morning to honk at someone passing me on the double yellow lol) but like i said the problem is intermittent and typically the issue is only with the volume buttons. 99% of the time the seek and source buttons work just fine, although the seek/preset button was reversed last week and at one point it would only work in one direction (seek up).

i did remove the head unit and checked all fuses after the problem started, although in reality there is no way to "fix" the problem from the headunit if all the connectors are plugged in and no other wires are grounded (that shouldn't be). there really isn't much back there to screw up.

plus typically on a unit like a radio it will work or it won't. had i shorted something or blew something out then problems like this wouldn't normally manifest as an intermittent issue, and im basing this on my current background in analog and digital electronics. i will investigate the schematic for the steering wheel switch though and see where it interfaces exactly.

 

Being that your car's an 08 and has less than 50K miles it's still under warranty. Take it to the dealer and play dumb, let them know what's wrong with the controls and let them take it from there. Use your warranty while you can!!

 

well i hit 50k this weekend and i actually can't remember when the warranty expires so i have to see. i don't want to pay infiniti $200 to diagnose it if i'm out of warranty and it's an hour away so that's another $25 in gas if i can diagnose it myself (with your guys help).

i did try the cruise control it seemed to work just fine this morning...

 

Check the pinouts for the volume and skip buttons as related to the headunit. You may find that they are on the same connector and just loose or making an intermittent connection. Clocksprings aren't something that usually go out that quickly.

 

ok so the shop manual says it's a common pin for volume up/down and a separate pin for the source/seek, since i was having problems with both (at different times) it's highly unlikely to be a loose pin, also it's on the main harness that has the power/ground signals so there shouldn't be an issue there. ill check them both anyway but the shop manual also tells you to disconnect the clockspring connector to do the checks so that's half the work right there to replace it. all you can really do is check for continuity through the clockspring, and if there is no continuity then replace the clockspring pretty much.

but you're right, this shouldn't be happening at 50k miles....

 

The warranty for G35's are 4 year, 60k mile warranty bumper to bumper. You are still under warranty. The Powertrain Warranty goes for 6 year, 70k mile warranty I believe.

That's why Infiniti has the best warranties available: Lexus only gives 4 year, 50k mile warranty. Acura has the same amount of warranty as the Lexus.
The Certified Pre-owned Warranties go to 7 year, 100k miles...lol

http://www.infinitiusa.com/ownership/warranty.html

 

My clockspring went out at 26k miles. Dealer replaced it under warranty. No volume, or music buttons, no bluetooth buttons. I can't remember if the cruise control buttons worked or not.

 

mathnerd88 - i believe hyundai has the best warranty out there lol, i'm just messing with you. i believe i bought the extended warranty but that only covers powertrain, not interior parts (same as acura). in that case maybe ill drop it off at the local nissan dealer saturday and see what they can do for me.

dmkhnr - that sucks. and i don't expect a clockspring to last for 200k miles considering its being used/manipulated CONSTANTLY since you're always turning the wheel, but 26k/50k, c'mon, that's ridiculous. oh well, i guess its just a fluke.

 

lol...hyundais only cover 3 year/36k mile warranty for the electronics...The Infiniti dealer should take care of you, you are still well under the basic warranty. Do Nissan dealerships perform warranties on Infinitis? I know you can do service there, but warranty work? Hmmm....

 

well i'm actually not sure if they do warranty work, ill call and double check. i've had my tranny/diff fluid changed at the local dealer before but never warranty work. it's just a pain because the infiniti dealer is over an hour away and i don't know if they'll give me a loaner. i'll call them and let you guys know.