No start, Fried ecu?, Nats?
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No start, Fried ecu?, Nats?
Ok so i have a 03 350z, no start but cranks. When the key is in the on position, the fuel pump does not prime, radiator fan kick on full blast, and my ses light isnt on either so im pretty sure the ecu isnt powering up. I was just checking around and found 12v at one of the ecu pins so im sure its getting power. But my nats light is on solid when the key is in the on position, and i could have sworn the nats cuts off power to the ecu and fuel pump when the system is armed. The car had some issues starting every now and then but eventually started now not all. And if its a bad ecm will a 03 manual trans ecm swap right in, as long as i get the key programmed?
Pls help, THANKS
Pls help, THANKS
Joined: May 2002
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From: Aurora, Colorado
Welcome and there's been a rash of no start threads on this board recently. But like many new posters, there's quite a bit of information missing, Here's what I wish many noobies would include in questions like this:
1) How long have you owned this Z? Miles?
2) When did the no start problem begin happening?
3) Have you tried pulling any codes from the BCM section?
4) Have you tried using your spare key?
5) Any mods or repairs that preceded the no start condition?
1) How long have you owned this Z? Miles?
2) When did the no start problem begin happening?
3) Have you tried pulling any codes from the BCM section?
4) Have you tried using your spare key?
5) Any mods or repairs that preceded the no start condition?
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Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Pennsylvania
Ok so i have a 03 350z, no start but cranks. When the key is in the on position, the fuel pump does not prime, radiator fan kick on full blast, and my ses light isnt on either so im pretty sure the ecu isnt powering up. I was just checking around and found 12v at one of the ecu pins so im sure its getting power. But my nats light is on solid when the key is in the on position, and i could have sworn the nats cuts off power to the ecu and fuel pump when the system is armed. The car had some issues starting every now and then but eventually started now not all. And if its a bad ecm will a 03 manual trans ecm swap right in, as long as i get the key programmed?
Pls help, THANKS
Pls help, THANKS
From what you described, it sounds like you have a bad ECU. And as far as the ECU swap; I'm guessing you have an automatic..?
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 14
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From: NEW JERSEY
Welcome and there's been a rash of no start threads on this board recently. But like many new posters, there's quite a bit of information missing, Here's what I wish many noobies would include in questions like this:
1) How long have you owned this Z? Miles?
2) When did the no start problem begin happening?
3) Have you tried pulling any codes from the BCM section?
4) Have you tried using your spare key?
5) Any mods or repairs that preceded the no start condition?
1) How long have you owned this Z? Miles?
2) When did the no start problem begin happening?
3) Have you tried pulling any codes from the BCM section?
4) Have you tried using your spare key?
5) Any mods or repairs that preceded the no start condition?
few days ago
scanner doesn’t detect car
no spare key
i may have found the issue, I took out the radio and a lot of wires were left exposed by the previous owner. But can something on the radio harness can really fry an ecu? I would think a fuse or something, found no popped fuses and checked the ipdm fuses, and both fuse boxes
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From: NEW JERSEY
Thread Starter
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From: NEW JERSEY
Ive heard so many mixed things about ecu swap/compatibility, can someone give me some insight 
would a ecu from a manual 04 z work in my manual 03? or theres more to it like matching part numbers etc. One of the nissan master techs told me the numbers on the ecu is not a part number, so it cant be identified, cant tell what car they came out of, if it'll fit etc.
would a ecu from a manual 04 z work in my manual 03? or theres more to it like matching part numbers etc. One of the nissan master techs told me the numbers on the ecu is not a part number, so it cant be identified, cant tell what car they came out of, if it'll fit etc.
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From: Pennsylvania
The fuel tables are different within the ECU from 2003 to 2004, and after 2004.5 the ECU uses totally different coding altogether as well as stricter emission control programming(narrow vs. wideband O2 sensor thresholds).
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I’ve also forgot to mention the car would break up and jerk violently and break up around 5krpm, torque fell flat on its face. I also had a maf code though, so idk if it was the ecm going bad, or maf doing that. I bought a new maf but didn’t even get to test it cause the ecu going 
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From: Pennsylvania
If your ECU is that corrupt it can start to disrupt the fuel tables and coil packs. I mean you can try cleaning your MAF, but if you ECU is bad then it's kinda like washing a car in the junk yard.. But you did get just that code.. Try cleaning your MAF and see what happens.
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From: NEW JERSEY
If your ECU is that corrupt it can start to disrupt the fuel tables and coil packs. I mean you can try cleaning your MAF, but if you ECU is bad then it's kinda like washing a car in the junk yard.. But you did get just that code.. Try cleaning your MAF and see what happens.
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From: Pennsylvania
But yeah, the MAF's on the Z does not like oily air filters. The petroleum gets on there and starts screwing up air volume readings. A simple paper one will suffice.
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Update
So I got the replacement ecu and all the numbers match up. I put it in but nothing. Now i know the car won’t start, because I have to program the ecm, but shouldn’t the ses light light up? Cause mine doesn’t, rad fans full blast, and my obd2 scanner powers up but can’t connect to the car
Last edited by mx5_leo; Mar 17, 2018 at 09:59 PM. Reason: Typo
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Yes it was the ecu,but the power wire (pin 111 i believe) was melted so when i plugged in the new ecu it would not power up.
https://www.aemelectronics.com/files...structions.pdf
Page 21 theirs a pinout for 03-06 ecus, check for power and ground and all the pins your suppose to. And check for power at the relay and fuse
https://www.aemelectronics.com/files...structions.pdf
Page 21 theirs a pinout for 03-06 ecus, check for power and ground and all the pins your suppose to. And check for power at the relay and fuse
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From: FL
I am having this same problem! Rev up to 4-5k, drop the clutch and car will die but ONLY FROM A DEAD STOP. Radiator fans turn on full blast, fuel pump does not prime. Cannot read engine codes.
Bought the car 2-3 months ago as a drift car, was told the another engine was swapped in with about 80k miles in it. 2005 manual.
First time it happened, bought a new IPDM relay box and it started right up. Thought it was just a one-time fluke but it appears to be a reoccurring problem. I drove the car and went WOT up to 3rd gear with no problems, even redlining. After a couple days, dropped the clutch at 4k revs again from a dead stop and same thing - car died. Cranks but does not start once again. There is no power going to the ECM relay in the IPDM box. Since then I have hardwired the fuel pump because I thought this was the problem.
I took out the ECU and checked all the wires. Since the car does not currently run and there is an error/malfunction in the IPDM box, I did not check the voltage of each wire yet. Each little connection pin looks nice and no obvious flaws in the wiring.
Is the ECU grounded in its metal plate holder thing? Mine was loose and not fully connected.
Also, some of the wires attaching into the ECU are sort of "loose." They jiggle very slightly but the connections do look mostly secure. Are ALL wires supposed to be very securing connected?
Do I just need to use a voltmeter to check voltage in each pin and wire in the ECU once I get a new IPDM board (it is being shipped currently)?
I am very frustrated and cannot seem to make any more progress!
Bought the car 2-3 months ago as a drift car, was told the another engine was swapped in with about 80k miles in it. 2005 manual.
First time it happened, bought a new IPDM relay box and it started right up. Thought it was just a one-time fluke but it appears to be a reoccurring problem. I drove the car and went WOT up to 3rd gear with no problems, even redlining. After a couple days, dropped the clutch at 4k revs again from a dead stop and same thing - car died. Cranks but does not start once again. There is no power going to the ECM relay in the IPDM box. Since then I have hardwired the fuel pump because I thought this was the problem.
I took out the ECU and checked all the wires. Since the car does not currently run and there is an error/malfunction in the IPDM box, I did not check the voltage of each wire yet. Each little connection pin looks nice and no obvious flaws in the wiring.
Is the ECU grounded in its metal plate holder thing? Mine was loose and not fully connected.
Also, some of the wires attaching into the ECU are sort of "loose." They jiggle very slightly but the connections do look mostly secure. Are ALL wires supposed to be very securing connected?
Do I just need to use a voltmeter to check voltage in each pin and wire in the ECU once I get a new IPDM board (it is being shipped currently)?
I am very frustrated and cannot seem to make any more progress!