Loss of Communication Error
 

Hey guys...I'm not sure if this is the right area for this or not so I trust the mods to move it to the appropriate area if it's not.

Here's the situation, and I'll try to be as brief as possible. Last few weeks as the weather has gotten colder the car has sporadically been throwing up random warnings on the dash. Occasionally the Brake light will flash and disappear, and that's usually followed the the traction control slippery car icon and the VDC Off icon showing up...and these do not disappear until the car is turned off and back on.

I have done nothing to the car since last year before ZDayZ, which was to upgrade the brakes with Z1's lightweight rotor kit, lines and pads kit. I have had absolutely zero problems until this last few weeks, with this.

My buddy at FireStone already checked my alignment (was slightly off due to recent snow and rain hiding potholes) and reset it...and also checked for hidden codes, and found 2...low brake fluid (which was wrong, we checked...was still over halfway full) and a loss of communication indicating a shortage to the ABS, VDC and ECM, which we suspect is the primary culprit.

He advised I've got a bad ground somewhere and I should jack up the car and take a look...said it should be obvious wherever or whatever it is.

Here's my problem.

A) I have no idea what I'm looking for. Have never dealt with grounding issues.

B) If/When I find "it", I don't know what to do with "it".

So with all that being said, has anyone else experienced this problem before? If so, please advise how you fixed it, what your problem was, and what I can expect in terms of ease of repair in both financials and time spent.

Thanks so much!

Your first paragraph here is classic symptoms of low brake fluid level. The brake fluid reservoir should be filled to the max. Otherwise, heavy acceleration can slosh the fluid causing the e-brake BRAKE and/or SLIP lights to come on. I've had them come on with the fluid mid-way between min and max lines more than once.

Top off your brake fluid. I don't know anything about the loss of communication problem you are having, but I bet you anything the lights stop coming on randomly after you top of the brake fluid.

Did that at the FS already, and of course on the way home not a single light was thrown...which is still too early to say was the root of the problem. I've gone some trips without a light at all, so I'm not quite comfortable putting a Check Mark next to this one yet...but definitely good advice, and thank you for it.

JARblue is right on. Brake fluid has to be at full mark. Had this problem with my Maxima.

So the loss of communication code he got is...a byproduct of the brake fluid not being at max?

Or just the lights?

Either way it seems like I still have a problem....maybe.

It's Phoenix. Sorry, I couldn't help it.

Good luck with your issue though, I hope it's a simple fix.

If you filled the brake fluid to the max and are still getting the loss of communication code, then they probably aren't related. If the code goes away with the lights, then it was likely the sensor's response to low brake fluid level.

I understand that the drive home isn't sufficient to say the problem is solved, but how long has it been? What makes you think you might still have a problem? Have any symptoms come back since you filled the reservoir?

I know it is...at the time I made this account so many years ago, I did not lol...and alas, too late for the fix by the time I realized my error. Oh well. It's the grammar nazi aroma that never fails to attract correction; heheheh.

Oh well....on topic, still no lights of any kind since the top off, so I guess we'll see if I spring one on the ride home from work tonight.

I'm beginning to feel cautiously optimistic!

Hey, Pheonix. Good to know there is another black Z running around Memphis!

Anyway, good luck with your issue. There are a few folks around town that may be able to help if you're still having an issue.

The low brake fluid thing is a strange one indeed, because it is so misunderstood. How many threads are started because of it? Anytime you have the brake light and anti-slip light coming on. The first thing you should do is fill up the brake reservoir. Also the low fluid level is an indicator of your brake pads getting low. ;)

Oh yes...I was one of the first 370s here , back in 09. Are you with DZC? I know of one or two other black 370s in the club, but I'm the only one with any heavy mods done that I'm aware of.

Nice to meet ya!

I ran a Google search and found many and varying explanations for it on many makes and models, all the way to warped and damaged rotors. I admit I didn't search here because usually Google directs me to this site and an appropriate thread based on the way I form my searches...and it did not.

I apologize if this was redundant.

Hey, no problem. ;)

Yep, I'm with DZC. Is this JC?

Yup! is this the gentleman I've been speaking with about joining us at ZDayZ?