Long time lurker, first time poster… and it’s a biggie.

I own 2008 350z, had it since 2009 with no mechanical issues until last week. I was supposed to take the car to the alignment shop and then the body shop last Tuesday morning (trying to fix the old car up a bit), and it wouldn’t start. I had it towed to the closest Nissan dealership, and the mechanic comes back saying it has codes related to the NATS system. The story I get is this: they recoded my keys, and the car starts and runs. After 2 start/run cycles, it goes back to not starting again. So, after a bit more diag, he says the BCM isn’t sending the correct voltage to the NATS stuff… so I need new BCM. I go pay half down on the part only to get another call next morning letting me know BCM is discontinued. Mechanic suggested I send out ECM to have the NATS deleted. When I go to pick up the ECM, he’s already distancing himself from any notion that this will definitely fix the car. Says it’ll be the responsibility of the tuner if it works or not. I leave/overnight my ECM to Z1, they call to let me know they can’t communicate with the ECM. So now they’re putting together my options on another ECM. My only experience with bricked ECMs usually revolves around the battery voltage dropping too low while you’re communicating with it, so I’m a bit leery that the mechanic might have bricked it during the key programming, idk. I did try to start it several times before the tow, so the battery could have been a bit weak. The starter was spinning the motor over pretty fast though. Anywayz, at this point I’m wondering if I should go get the car from the dealer and install the new ECM myself, or risk them doing it only to blame Z1 if it won’t start after that. Would I need to do anything except the throttle relearn if the ECM has the NATS disabled? Is there anything I should check before installing the new ECM so not to fry another one? IPDM, maybe? Car ran great before all this, no SES lights. Only engine mods are cat back exhaust and k&n drop in filters. Currently at 92,000 miles.

 

ok... heres what happened for any future searchers that come upon this thread. turns out (atleast in sept 2021) there are no ECUs available for the 2008 350z. i searched every possible avenue with no results. courtesy parts listed one, but it turns out to be for 2007 models. i did come across one post somewhere on the internet that suggested 2008 ecu's have some sort of addition intake map that makes them unique (no idea if this is fact). i searched nissan parts depts, fb marketplace, ebay, ecu exchange sites, salvage yards nationwide(with online parts requests) and local via phone calls, and even offer up.... nothing. i was actually considering bidding on an insurance write off car just to get the ecu. anyway, my last resort seem to be sending my ecu out for repair. the repair place i contacted was pretty sure they could resolve the communication issue, so i requested that Z1 return my ecu. i got it back and was waiting on wife to get home from work to take ecu to post office when mechanic calls. he cant find an replacement ecu either. however, hes adamant that the ecu worked when he handed it to me. he suggests i bring it by the dealership for him to plug back into the car to see if he can program a key to it and start the car again. the next morning, i comply. the service writer, mechanic, and i head out to the car, he plugs in the ecu, programs one of my original keys, and the car starts right up. so, after contacting z1 with this info, they send me a uprev cable. there were a few hiccups getting the map/license keys sorted out, but, after a few more days, programming was successful and car starts right up. no idea why z1's desktop setup wouldnt communicate with the ecu. i called uprev tech one afternoon, and they couldnt explain it either. in the end, nobody did anything nefarious.. just turned out to be a random quirk. things i learned along the way... consultII is going extinct. this might cause older nissan owners troubles. my hr ecu and bcm are not the only nissan electronics that have gone extinct. some older titan stuff is already gone too(probably others also).

 

Thx for the update, and yes, there will be issues with electronic parts and programming as the diagnostic equipment becomes “obsolete”, after which the only option is private shops/tuners, which are pretty hit/miss sometimes.

 

Seems a lot of these modern electronics are beyond the realm of the average joe.

 

It’s been a couple months, and everything’s still great. I managed to change the gallery gaskets right after this happened too