VDC and SLIP dash lights

Topics related to Lights, Radio, Stereo, Headunits, Alternators...

Moderator: volvite

Air Force Crew Chief
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:42 am

I need help with an issue

Postby Air Force Crew Chief » Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:49 am

2005 Pathfinder with ABS, Slip and VDC lights. This is the fourth time i've gotten these lights. The first time the dealer said it was a wheel speed sensor. The second time it was a broken wire. The third time it was a bad ground. Except for the wheel speed sensor the rest sounds like bullshit.

The lights are back now and I'm trying to figure out how to clear them out. Any suggestions? I've tried disconnecting the battery and no luck with that.


User avatar
myriad46
Posts: 120
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:51 am

Postby myriad46 » Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:37 am

Go to a different Nissan dealer? Not sure if that's an option where you live.

Air Force Crew Chief
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:42 am

More Nissan dealers...

Postby Air Force Crew Chief » Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:41 pm

My truck was actually taken to two different dealers. One "diagnosed" the wheel speed sensor and the broken wire and the other was the bad ground. At this point I'd just like to get the lights off my dash. Didn't know if downloading the codes with a computer reader from my local auto parts store will clear the lights or not.

User avatar
Tech
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:46 pm

Postby Tech » Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:32 pm

man, i hope you're not paying for this diagnosis - if you payed for one bad diag. it should be a "come-back" after that. If the found a bad sensor, they should be able to back it up with some readings. There is a nissan wheel speed tool that doesn't print, but you can do the same diag with the one that does.

Never seen a broken wire to the sensor on a r51 pathfinder - doesn't mean it's impossible - do you off-road lots? Did they say which sensor? If your light came on, there will be a code stored. Did they tell you what it was? send me a reply or maybe a PM with as much info as possible.

obviously by now, you've topped up the brake fluid and checked your battery? Loss of voltage (even while cranking) can set the slip/vdc lights - if your path labors when cranking - check it out.

Another one i used to see lots in the earlier r51's is the IPDM loosing voltage - sometimes so low that the trucks ran rough or died.

User avatar
Tech
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:46 pm

Postby Tech » Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:21 pm

if this happened right after a drive train service, you might want to make sure you have the right fluids in the driveline - This could also cause intermittent VDC problems. I can't remember off hand - but xterra's have 2 different diffs, maybe pathfinder too....

skinny2
Sponsored Member
Posts: 1531
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:07 pm
Location: BFE, Ohio

Postby skinny2 » Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:47 am

Mine has been doing this since I bought it. Maybe once a month but recently started doing it far more often. The VDC OFF and SLIP lights are on when I start the car. If I turn it off and leave it sit for awhile, when I restart only the VDC OFF is lit but then goes out after driving for a minute or so.

I've tried pulling codes with Scanguage after the lights have reset but nothing is stored. I'm going to try and scan it next time the lights are on to see if there are any codes. I'm close to an hour from a dealer and completely out of my way so I'd like to figure it out on my own.

Does anyone know how/where this steering sensor is that was problematic for a previous poster? I've noticed I have a weird "notch" in the steering sometimes. You can feel it grab and something clicks when turning the wheel but it doesn't happen all the time.

User avatar
gcdavidson
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 8:14 am

Postby gcdavidson » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:49 pm

Mine just started doing this.

VDC, SLIP, ABS, 4WD lights are on. The LCD icon showing the 4WD mode is blank.

Brake fluid is right in between MAX and MIN.

Disconnected battery and reconnected, no change (this reminds me of how I fix my computer when it doesn't work :? )

The ABS is definitely not functioning, though the VDC and 4WD seem to be working OK.

Any ideas before I take it to the dealer?

chinz67
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:32 pm

VDC OFF / Slip Light

Postby chinz67 » Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:25 pm

Just had mine fixed on my 08 Pathfinder S. It is the code for a steering position sensor. I'm good to go.

User avatar
gcdavidson
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 8:14 am

Postby gcdavidson » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:35 pm

Well got it back from the dealer. It was break in the wiring harness. Took 5 hrs labour. Was told they had to drop the exhaust and the tank. Fixed the break in the wiring. $618, all labour, no parts.

Had this 06 Pathfinder for 2 years and I've already spent more fixing it than my 92 Pathfinder I had for 17 years.

I asked to see the maintenance log of the previous owner. From January 2007 - November 2008, not even 2 years, it was brought in 12 times for warranty work. No wonder they wanted rid of it.

We were looking at a Rogue as a smaller vehicle to replace the Pathfinder, but I think we'll go back to Toyota after this experience.

grifter
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:58 pm

Postby grifter » Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:26 pm

I just got my v6 back from the dealership with this problem. Turns out it was the cam position sensor (it was also hard to start). The dealership also wanted to replace the battery (24 month old 84 month interstate megatron) er. no. but they did replace the positive battery terminal?! Luckily I still have 5k miles left on my 100K warranty. - I'm hoping the engine blows up before it expires.

Cliff_Jumper
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:12 pm
Location: Maryland

Postby Cliff_Jumper » Tue May 03, 2011 4:21 am

After taking it to the dealer for ECM recall, the VDC/SLIP light came on. I haven't checked the connections and brake fluid yet, but will update once I get home tonight.

aadadams
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:51 pm

Postby aadadams » Tue May 03, 2011 6:51 am

Cliff_Jumper wrote:After taking it to the dealer for ECM recall, the VDC/SLIP light came on. I haven't checked the connections and brake fluid yet, but will update once I get home tonight.
Same sequence of events here... I checked my brake fluid and it was fine. It cam on a few times over the course of a couple of weeks, for the last three weeks I have not had it reoccur while my driving habits have not changed. The one thing that did change was the ambient temperature. It's now about 20 - 30 degrees warmer...

User avatar
volvite
Sponsored Member
Posts: 2180
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:06 pm
Location: Hill AFB, Utah West Point UT

Postby volvite » Wed May 04, 2011 12:03 pm

I have an 08 V8, had it for 2 months now, and so far no problems. Knock on wood.

soccerdad
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:27 pm
Location: Sacramento, CA

Postby soccerdad » Wed May 04, 2011 3:22 pm

I had the same problem (VDC,ABS, Brake, SLIP, 4WD lights on) on my '11 Pathfinder with roughly 1,300 miles on the odometer. I took it to the dealer yesterday and they found a loose ground wire under the fender well causing all the problems. Interestingly, they stated that they have never run into that cause before.

User avatar
volvite
Sponsored Member
Posts: 2180
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:06 pm
Location: Hill AFB, Utah West Point UT

Postby volvite » Wed May 04, 2011 3:30 pm

There out to be a TSB on this. Especially when it deals all the way up to 2011 pathfinders.


Return to “R51 Electrical”