Nissan Pathfinder (2011 year). Manual — part 430

SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

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BASIC INSPECTION

SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

Work Flow

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WORK FLOW

Control Units and Electrical Parts

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PRECAUTIONS

• Never reverse polarity of battery terminals.

• Install only parts specified for a vehicle.

• Before replacing the control unit, check the input and output and functions of the component parts.

• Do not apply excessive force when disconnecting a connector.

SGI838

STEP

DESCRIPTION

STEP 1

Get detailed information about the conditions and the environment when the incident occurred.
The following are key pieces of information required to make a good analysis:

WHAT

Vehicle Model, Engine, Transmission/Transaxle and the System (i.e. Radio).

WHEN

Date, Time of Day, Weather Conditions, Frequency.

WHERE

Road Conditions, Altitude and Traffic Situation.

HOW

System Symptoms, Operating Conditions (Other Components Interaction).
Service History and if any After Market Accessories have been installed.

STEP 2

Operate the system, road test if necessary.
Verify the parameter of the incident.
If the problem cannot be duplicated, refer to “Incident Simulation Tests”.

STEP 3

Get the proper diagnosis materials together including:
• Power Supply Routing
• System Operation Descriptions
• Applicable Service Manual Sections
• Check for any Service Bulletins
Identify where to begin diagnosis based upon your knowledge of the system operation and the customer comments.

STEP 4

Inspect the system for mechanical binding, loose connectors or wiring damage.
Determine which circuits and components are involved and diagnose using the Power Supply Routing and Harness Lay-
outs.

STEP 5

Repair or replace the incident circuit or component.

STEP 6

Operate the system in all modes. Verify the system works properly under all conditions. Make sure you have not inad-
vertently created a new incident during your diagnosis or repair steps.

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SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

• Do not apply excessive shock to the control unit by dropping or hit-

ting it.

• Be careful to prevent condensation in the control unit due to rapid

temperature changes and do not let water or rain get on it. If water

is found in the control unit, dry it fully and then install it in the vehi-

cle.

• Be careful not to let oil to get on the control unit connector.

• Avoid cleaning the control unit with volatile oil.

• Do not disassemble the control unit, and do not remove the upper

and lower covers.

• When using a DMM, be careful not to let test probes get close to

each other to prevent the power transistor in the control unit from

damaging battery voltage because of short circuiting.

• When checking input and output signals of the control unit, use the

specified check adapter.

How to Check Terminal

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CONNECTOR AND TERMINAL PIN KIT

• Use the connector and terminal pin kits listed below when replacing connectors or terminals.

• The connector and terminal pin kits contain some of the most commonly used NISSAN/INFINITI connectors

and terminals. For detailed connector and terminal pin replacement procedures, refer to the latest NISSAN/

INFINITI CONNECTOR AND TERMINAL PIN SERVICE MANUAL.

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SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

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HOW TO PROBE CONNECTORS

• Connector damage and an intermittent connection can result from improperly probing of the connector dur-

ing circuit checks.

• The probe of a digital multimeter (DMM) may not correctly fit the connector cavity. To correctly probe the

connector, follow the procedures below using a “T” pin. For the best contact grasp the “T” pin using an alliga-

tor clip.

Probing from Harness Side

Standard type (not waterproof type) connector should be probed

from harness side with “T” pin.

• If the connector has a rear cover such as a ECM connector,

remove the rear cover before probing the terminal.

• Do not probe waterproof connector from harness side. Damage to

the seal between wire and connector may result.

Probing from Terminal Side

FEMALE TERMINAL

• There is a small notch above each female terminal. Probe each

terminal with the “T” pin through the notch.

Do not insert any object other than the same type male terminal

into female terminal.

Tool number

(Kent-Moore No.)

Tool name

Description

-
(J38751-95NI)
Connector and terminal
pin kit (NISSAN)
-
(J38751-95INF)
Connector and terminal
pin kit (INFINITI)
-
(J42992-98KIT)
OBD and terminal repair
kit
-
(J42992-2000UPD)
OBD-II Connector Kit Up-
date

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SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

• Some connectors do not have a notch above each terminal. To

probe each terminal, remove the connector retainer to make con-

tact space for probing.

MALE TERMINAL

• Carefully probe the contact surface of each terminal using a “T”

pin.

CAUTION:

Dot not bend terminal.

How to Check Enlarged Contact Spring of Terminal

• An enlarged contact spring of a terminal may create intermittent signals in the circuit.

• If the intermittent open circuit occurs, follow the procedure below to inspect for open wires and enlarged con-

tact spring of female terminal.

1. Assemble a male terminal and approx. 10 cm (3.9 in) of wire.

NOTE:

Use a male terminal which matches the female terminal.

2. Disconnect the suspected faulty connector and hold it terminal

side up.

3. While holding the wire of the male terminal, try to insert the male

terminal into the female terminal.

CAUTION:

Do not force the male terminal into the female terminal with

your hands.

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4. While moving the connector, check whether the male terminal

can be easily inserted or not.

• If the male terminal can be easily inserted into the female ter-

minal, replace the female terminal.

Waterproof Connector Inspection

If water enters the connector, it can short interior circuits. This may lead to intermittent problems.

Check the following items to maintain the original waterproof characteristics.

RUBBER SEAL INSPECTION

• Most waterproof connectors are provided with a rubber seal

between the male and female connectors. If the seal is missing,

the waterproof performance may not meet specifications.

• The rubber seal may come off when connectors are disconnected.

Whenever connectors are reconnected, make sure the rubber seal

is properly installed on either side of male or female connector.

WIRE SEAL INSPECTION

• The wire seal must be installed on the wire insertion area of a

waterproof connector. Be sure that the seal is installed properly.

Terminal Lock Inspection

Check for unlocked terminals by pulling wire at the end of connector.

An unlocked terminal may create intermittent signals in the circuit.

Intermittent Incident

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DESCRIPTION

Sometimes the symptom is not present when the vehicle is brought in for service. If possible, re-create the

conditions present at the time of the incident. Doing so may help avoid a No Trouble Found Diagnosis. The fol-

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SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

lowing section illustrates ways to simulate the conditions/environment under which the owner experiences an

electrical incident.

The section is broken into the six following topics:

• Vehicle vibration

• Heat sensitive

• Freezing

• Water intrusion

• Electrical load

• Cold or hot start up

Get a thorough description of the incident from the customer. It is important for simulating the conditions of the

problem.

VEHICLE VIBRATION

The problem may occur or become worse while driving on a rough road or when engine is vibrating (idle with

A/C on). In such a case, you will want to check for a vibration related condition. Refer to the following illustra-

tion.

Connector & Harness

Determine which connectors and wiring harness would affect the electrical system you are inspecting. Gently

shake each connector and harness while monitoring the system for the incident you are trying to duplicate.

This test may indicate a loose or poor electrical connection.

Hint

Connectors can be exposed to moisture. It is possible to get a thin film of corrosion on the connector termi-

nals. A visual inspection may not reveal this without disconnecting the connector. If the problem occurs inter-

mittently, perhaps the problem is caused by corrosion. It is a good idea to disconnect, inspect and clean the

terminals on related connectors in the system.

Sensor & Relay

Gently apply a slight vibration to sensors and relays in the system you are inspecting.

This test may indicate a loose or poorly mounted sensor or relay.

Engine Compartment

There are several reasons a vehicle or engine vibration could cause an electrical complaint. Some of the

things to check for are:

• Connectors not fully seated.

• Wiring harness not long enough and is being stressed due to engine vibrations or rocking.

• Wires laying across brackets or moving components.

• Loose, dirty or corroded ground wires.

• Wires routed too close to hot components.

To inspect components under the hood, start by verifying the integrity of ground connections. (Refer to Ground

Inspection described later.) First check that the system is properly grounded. Then check for loose connection

by gently shaking the wiring or components as previously explained. Using the wiring diagrams inspect the

wiring for continuity.

Behind the Instrument Panel

An improperly routed or improperly clamped harness can become pinched during accessory installation. Vehi-

cle vibration can aggravate a harness which is routed along a bracket or near a screw.

Under Seating Areas

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SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

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An unclamped or loose harness can cause wiring to be pinched by seat components (such as slide guides)

during vehicle vibration. If the wiring runs under seating areas, inspect wire routing for possible damage or

pinching.

HEAT SENSITIVE

• The customer's concern may occur during hot weather or after car

has sat for a short time. In such cases you will want to check for a

heat sensitive condition.

• To determine if an electrical component is heat sensitive, heat the

component with a heat gun or equivalent.

CAUTION:

Do not heat components above 60

°

C (140

°

).

• If incident occurs while heating the unit, either replace or properly

insulate the component.

FREEZING

• The customer may indicate the incident goes away after the car

warms up (winter time). The cause could be related to water freez-

ing somewhere in the wiring/electrical system.

• There are two methods to check for this. The first is to arrange for

the owner to leave his car overnight. Make sure it will get cold

enough to demonstrate his complaint. Leave the car parked out-

side overnight. In the morning, do a quick and thorough diagnosis

of those electrical components which could be affected.

• The second method is to put the suspect component into a freezer

long enough for any water to freeze. Reinstall the part into the car

and check for the reoccurrence of the incident. If it occurs, repair or

replace the component.

WATER INTRUSION

The incident may occur only during high humidity or in rainy/snowy

weather. In such cases the incident could be caused by water intru-

sion on an electrical part. This can be simulated by soaking the car

or running it through a car wash.

CAUTION:

Do not spray water directly on any electrical components.

ELECTRICAL LOAD

The incident may be electrical load sensitive. Perform diagnosis with

all accessories (including A/C, rear window defogger, radio, fog

lamps) turned on.

COLD OR HOT START UP

On some occasions an electrical incident may occur only when the car is started cold, or it may occur when

the car is restarted hot shortly after being turned off. In these cases you may have to keep the car overnight to

make a proper diagnosis.

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SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ELECTRICAL INCIDENT

Circuit Inspection

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DESCRIPTION

• In general, testing electrical circuits is an easy task if it is approached in a logical and organized method.

Before beginning it is important to have all available information on the system to be tested. Also, get a thor-

ough understanding of system operation. Then you will be able to use the appropriate equipment and follow

the correct test procedure.

• You may have to simulate vehicle vibrations while testing electrical components. Gently shake the wiring

harness or electrical component to do this.

NOTE:

Refer to

GI-34, "How to Check Terminal"

to probe or check terminal.

TESTING FOR “OPENS” IN THE CIRCUIT

Before you begin to diagnose and test the system, you should rough sketch a schematic of the system. This

will help you to logically walk through the diagnosis process. Drawing the sketch will also reinforce your work-

ing knowledge of the system.

Continuity Check Method

The continuity check is used to find an open in the circuit. The digital multimeter (DMM) set on the resistance

function will indicate an open circuit as over limit (no beep tone or no ohms symbol). Make sure to always start

with the DMM at the highest resistance level.

To help in understanding the diagnosis of open circuits, please refer to the previous schematic.

• Disconnect the battery negative cable.

• Start at one end of the circuit and work your way to the other end. (At the fuse block in this example)

• Connect one probe of the DMM to the fuse block terminal on the load side.

• Connect the other probe to the fuse block (power) side of SW1. Little or no resistance will indicate that por-

tion of the circuit has good continuity. If there were an open in the circuit, the DMM would indicate an over

limit or infinite resistance condition. (point A)

• Connect the probes between SW1 and the relay. Little or no resistance will indicate that portion of the circuit

has good continuity. If there were an open in the circuit, the DMM would indicate an over limit or infinite resis-

tance condition. (point B)

• Connect the probes between the relay and the solenoid. Little or no resistance will indicate that portion of the

circuit has good continuity. If there were an open in the circuit, the DMM would indicate an over limit or infi-

nite resistance condition. (point C)

Any circuit can be diagnosed using the approach in the previous example.

Voltage Check Method

To help in understanding the diagnosis of open circuits please refer to the previous schematic.

In any powered circuit, an open can be found by methodically checking the system for the presence of voltage.

This is done by switching the DMM to the voltage function.

• Connect one probe of the DMM to a known good ground.

• Begin probing at one end of the circuit and work your way to the other end.

• With SW1 open, probe at SW1 to check for voltage.

voltage; open is further down the circuit than SW1.

OPEN

A circuit is open when there is no continuity through a section of the circuit.

SHORT

There are two types of shorts.

• SHORT CIRCUIT

When a circuit contacts another circuit and causes the normal resistance to
change.

• SHORT TO GROUND

When a circuit contacts a ground source and grounds the circuit.

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