So I just bought a used 2005 350Z a couple weeks ago. It has 23,500 miles on it and the previous owner had a wolf pop charger intake. The only mods I've done is the Injen titanium exhaust (so no major mods). On rare occasions the car will jolt a few times and the "slip" light will flicker a few times, mainly at low speeds and when I accelerate at turns. Now I'm not taking a fast turn or losing traction at all. I'm doing about 20mph or so when this happens. Any idea as to what thus could be???

 

What size tires do you have on the car, both front and rear? Are they all the same age or is front or rear newer?

Improper tire stagger is the most common cause of the vDC/TCS Slip light coming on.

 

The car came with almost new falken tires (225/50/17 front and 235/50/17 rear)

 

The tire sizes are correct so that shouldn't be the problem. Those mods wouldn't affect TCS and cause the slip light to come on. It could be a bad computer or wheel speed sensor. Since you still have warranty, I'd bring it to a dealer and have them check it out.

 

ok. So I thought the light coming on was just a fluke, but it seems to keeo coming on... When I downshift from 3rd to 2nd the car jutters, the slip light flashes and the gas seems to cut off.... The only mods I have are a pop charger and an Injen SES exhaust.... What's the deal??? I used to get this on my WRX when I had an upgraded turbo and it was called "boost creep" which would cut off the fuel... This feels VERY similar to that, only difference is that it used to happen on my WRX at about 115mph and this is happening on my Z at about 20 mph!!! If anyone knows anything your help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

ok, now I upgraded my wheels to the 20" axis matrix wheels (245 front & 285 rear) and I'm STILL getting the slip light!!! WTF?!? I still get in when I'm taking corners and trying to accelerate in corners... And it happened when I downshifted into 3rd at about 40mph. Anyone have any idea what the hell this could be?!? My tires are DEF not breaking loose, so why is the car juttering like this?!?

 

^your answer

 

I know. I'm gonna be taking it in. But I was just wondering if anyone has had this problem also...

 

The question on the tires was not trying to ascertain if they were slipping, but rather if the F/R stagger is correct. Since you have so few mods, I would shotgun it. Can you get your hands on an OEM set of wheels/tires? Put them on. I would remove the poopcharger and reinstall the OEM airbox. Then if it still does it, take it to the dealer. If not, you know it's one of those two mods. Are you sure a speed sensor is not damaged, loose, etc...?

 

That's true. But reinstalling the stock exhaust seems to be a bit too much work just to try and trouble shoot the problem..... But why would a broken speed sensor have anything to do with the slip light coming on and the fuel cutting off?!?!

 

I would not mess with the exhaust system. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the individual wheel speed sensors is how the ECU knows that the tires are turning at different speeds. There is suppose to be a built-in stagger front to rear based on OEM wheel/tire diameters, and anything else triggers the SLIP light.

 

I have this problem everyday at low speeds. Just acceleratin hard turns on my SLIP light. It started happening after I put the new gears in. I learned to live with it. When it comes on its just tellin me "slow the F$%@ down"

 

hmmm. I guess I can just turn off the traction control too whenever I wanna turn on the "fun button"

 

Would the gears throw that off? Are are you tires really slipping? We need input from someone with more expertise in this area.

 

My tires are not actually slipping. Maybe it wasnt installed correctly? Or the sensors might need adjusting after the gears? Honestly I can live with it. If I really wanna go on a spirited drive I just turn off the TCS and its fine. When I go WOT with it on 1-3 gear the SLIP comes on but I dont think the tires are actually spinning. I think with the new gears spinning at a higher rate and the wheels spinning at a different rate causes this problem. I'm not sure but thats just a guess on my part.
I dont know if anyone else with gears have this problem.

 

Although this is probably not the cause (since both the brake and slip light turn on if it was), make sure your brake fluid is topped off.

 

I don't see the gears having anything to do with it, honestly. Regardless of the gear ratio, the tires will turn at the same rate depending on car speed and wheel/tire diameter. However, I know where the sensors are mounted, and I can definitely believe that they bumped/pulled/broke it during a gear swap.

 

Thats what Im assuming. Wheres the sensors located? I think I need to replace mine. Is it in the diff? Or something outside of it? Maybe warranty can replace it?

 

Look at the 'geared' collar on either side of the rear axle, inboard of the wheel drive shaft connection flange. Adjacent to this collar will be the sensor.

 

I had some big 'ol 20-inch Ziniks w/KDWs on my '05 Z at one point, and literally they started slipping and the slip light came on as soon as I rolled out of the tire dealership. I put up with it for about a year and then went with some 19-inch LMGT4's and Pilot PS2's. Problem solved; the slip light now only comes on when I get stupid, as it should.