NV 3500 Dead, 2nd time in 6 months

[Mc2guy]

Our NV left me and my family stranded on the side of the road for the second time in six months tonight.  Could be fried ECU, not sure... totally dead.  Wouldn't start, no electricity to ANYTHING.  No lights, no radio, no ignition, nothing.  Wouldn't even lock/unlock the doors.  Battery is fine, plenty of voltage and power.

 

I know I'm apparently an anomaly, I purchased based on the supposed reliability, but I will be selling for whatever loss I need to take.  I can't trust this vehicle to move my family around anymore.  24 years of driving nearly 15 different vehicles; this is the first to leave me stranded, and now its the second as well.  

[andy_george]

That stinks. To myself vehicles are an emotion tugging point of pride, not just an appliance to get from A to B. And once they let you down, or twice, it's hard to get that trust and pride back, so I understand.

 

PM me the specs and desired price for your van, I may know someone interested, if you really decide to sell.

[axulsuv]

I'd have to say the first place I'd look would be the power supply to the IPDM , ( the fuse block behind the battery . ). But without a wiring diagram in front of me , all I can add is look at the pos. battery terminal , big lead goes to starter , and the smaller ones feed the subsystems.

 And check the always overlooked ground points and connectors  ...

Good luck , 

Glenn

[Mc2guy]

That stinks. To myself vehicles are an emotion tugging point of pride, not just an appliance to get from A to B. And once they let you down, or twice, it's hard to get that trust and pride back, so I understand.

 

PM me the specs and desired price for your van, I may know someone interested, if you really decide to sell.

 

Likewise. I take pride in my vehicles, maintain them very well, and expect them to be reliable.  One time I can forgive, twice and I'm sufficiently burned.  I drive cross country with my family every year and there is no way I would undertake that trip in this vehicle right now.  Just can't trust it won't leave me stranded again.

 

On TOP of that, I have now had to deal with a POS service manager at Sheehy Springfield, VA, who AFTER they said tow it in tell me they can ONLY do oil changes and tire rotation on my van.  On TOP OF THAT, he tells me it is my responsibility to have the vehicle towed to another certified dealership, and they will not pay (until later when the warranty claim clears of course).  

 

I'm done with Nissan... build better cars and train your people better or I'll never own another.

[Mc2guy]

I'd have to say the first place I'd look would be the power supply to the IPDM , ( the fuse block behind the battery . ). But without a wiring diagram in front of me , all I can add is look at the pos. battery terminal , big lead goes to starter , and the smaller ones feed the subsystems.

 And check the always overlooked ground points and connectors  ...

Good luck , 

Glenn

 I suspect either the ECU is shot or isn't getting sufficient ground.  All fuses are intact, and connecting points that I can see/feel are in good shape, so hard to say. Up to Nissan to figure out now.

[Mc2guy]

PM me the specs and desired price for your van, I may know someone interested, if you really decide to sell.

 

After I get it repaired and back home I'll decide what and how I will be disposing of it.  I will definitely let you know if I decide to sell privately.  Passenger 3500 SL V8 Blue w/tech and tow package.  Love the van when it's running.

[RICK]

This is the second time it died. What did they discover the first time it died? That's what I would be looking at.

 

Rick

[Mc2guy]

This is the second time it died. What did they discover the first time it died? That's what I would be looking at.

 

Rick

 

Two totally separate and "apparently" rare issues.  First was crank shaft sensor failure, which I posted about separately.  Second time was a fused relay to ECU.  Somehow it "failed" (not sure how a fuse just fails, but it did).  I'm done with this vehicle.  Traded it on a Ford yesterday.  Giving up the seating capacity in favor of 21st century engineering and a dealer network that can actually support the vehicle when problems come up.  

[radin2son]

Ford certainly has the dealer network. You see at least 1 Transit on the lot no matter how small the town/dealership.

 

Let us know how it compares after you have driven it awhile and if the dealer network is up to supporting it.

 

I don't doubt your report that the "emergency" dealer did not do what was necessary to get your NV on the road, but did you try contacting NV Commercial or rep to get the dealer to respond.

 

My one experience was not serious, as in did not strand us or drain our bank account. The service manager pointed out our 36k warranty had expired and was not interested in the fact that it was on on going, documented issue. I paid to get it back on the road and delt with NV commercial later. They paid for the repair.

 

In your case, you had the longer warranty and any NV dealer should have done the work. Why wouldn't they? Not every NV is going to be driven within a 30 mile radius. This certainly is true for NVPs.

 

Before you leave completely, give us the names of the 2 dealers and we will avoid them.

[Mc2guy]

Ford certainly has the dealer network. You see at least 1 Transit on the lot no matter how small the town/dealership.

 

Let us know how it compares after you have driven it awhile and if the dealer network is up to supporting it.

 

I don't doubt your report that the "emergency" dealer did not do what was necessary to get your NV on the road, but did you try contacting NV Commercial or rep to get the dealer to respond.

 

My one experience was not serious, as in did not strand us or drain our bank account. The service manager pointed out our 36k warranty had expired and was not interested in the fact that it was on on going, documented issue. I paid to get it back on the road and delt with NV commercial later. They paid for the repair.

 

In your case, you had the longer warranty and any NV dealer should have done the work. Why wouldn't they? Not every NV is going to be driven within a 30 mile radius. This certainly is true for NVPs.

 

Before you leave completely, give us the names of the 2 dealers and we will avoid them.

 

The initial dealers wouldn't touch it because they were not "Commercial" vehicle authorized.  In other words, despite the fact that it's a Nissan with the same basic systems as a Titan, they could not touch it for warranty work.  Both repairs were covered, however, I am dealing with Nissan commercial now attempting to get my "dealer to dealer" tow covered... that's right Nissan wouldn't even pay to tow my vehicle to the other dealer... I had to pay up front and "file a claim".  Again, my fault for not checking with each local dealer before I had AAA tow it there.  Sheehy Nissan in Manassas, VA is certified and has been "okay" to work with.  A bit of a standoffish group but efficient.  Sheehy Nissan in Springfield, VA is not certified and were PITAs.  Younger Nissan in Frederick, MD were AWESOME to deal with on my first repair.  

 

Surprisingly, I didn't go with a Transit... I've just come to terms with the fact that I don't really "need" the extra passenger seats like I thought I did.  I was nice to have when my family was in town but we really only used it once.  Also, my Grandmother passed and doesn't live/travel with us anymore.  As such, I went with a new F-150 Platinum with the 3.5 ecoboost.  A hard toneau cover is all I need since the back seat in that thing is so damn enormous.  Anyway... I don't hate the Van, but I don't trust it am ready to move on.

[radin2son]

Not being commercial dealers explains it, but makes no sense from a public relations stand point regarding NVs. Odd that Nissan Roadside assistance didn't know better than to have your NV towed to a non-commercial dealer...

 

One thing learned is don't have your NV towed to a non-commercial dealer. We keep a list of NV dealers for the area we will be traveling to be able to tell our insurance roadside assistance call center where it needs to be towed. But will they do it?

 

Good luck with your Ford F-150.

Edited April 14, 2016 by radin2son

[andy_george]

Well it stinks that you had to sell the NV, but if it puts you more at ease it was probably a good choice. And had you bought a Transit I wouldn't have been a bit jealous. But your choice to buy a crew cab Platinum F-150 makes me hate you! (With jealously!)

[ASD Dad]

The new F150's are nice.  I just cant believe where truck pricing is going.  They're luxury cars now vs. something to haul dirt in!  

[Mc2guy]

No question, it is a luxury vehicle in the higher trim levels, but pricing is very reasonable when comparing content to other similar vehicles.  My Platinum w/701 package comes with more technology, more options, more gizmos than my in-laws E-class Mercedes.

 

Lane keeping assist, 360 cameras, self-parking, adaptive radar cruise control, panoramic roof, LED ambient programable lighting, heated and cooled front and heated rear seats, etc.  It's plush, no question.

 

To boot, I had 15,000 documented miles in my NV and I got a lifetime of 12.3 MPG. http://www.fuelly.com/car/nissan/nv3500/2014/mc2guy/320257 

 

So far (small sample size) I'm getting 17.1MPG in the Ecoboost.  While the engine in the Ford is more advanced, most of that is likely from the fact that the NV was 6700lbs empty and the F-150 is 4700 lbs empty.  Also, 0-60 in the F-150 is sub-6 seconds.  I don't drive like that normally, but it really scoots when asked.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Mc2guy