I have a serious engine problem

Mike · 08-05-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Hmm... now you're getting me curious, but I'm not completely sure if I have an issue or not.

Lately my throttle seems to lag or hesitate from stand still as if I'm starting in 2nd. I press the pedal further, and it doesn't do any good and feels like ABS is kicking in preventing additional power from getting to the wheels without the braking feeling. It's worse with A/C running, so that's why I'm not completely sure if it's an issue. It's a pretty scary feeling when trying to make a turn in traffic as the car lags and doesn't move as quickly as anticipated in 1st gear.

could be similar, because they told me the car has been experiencing an unusual amount of switch failures, even though mine was just out of adjustment.

When the ecu thinks the brakes are on, you will only get 15% max throttle opening, so if AC is on, it will have a little less power. And, when I was just cruising around in traffic, I couldn't tell anything was wrong, only when getting on it.

DIGItonium · 08-05-2010, 02:32 PM

Yea, I'm aware about the throttle cut when tapping the brakes. For a long time I've always thought the A/C running or heat (oil temp nearing 220F) would be the cause the huge throttle lag.

To further clarify things, from standstill in 1st gear I barely get the car moving and casually give it more throttle. Regardless of how much throttle effort, even at 50% or greater, I don't feel a difference. It bogs and hovers around 1.5-2k, then slowly ramps up to 3k before winding up to redline. It's a familiar feeling to TCS kicking in, but I'm not even dumping the clutch or forcing wheel spin. It comes and goes, but I'm starting to notice it more often so I thought it was the A/C having a large detrimental effect (compared to the 350Z) or high oil temps. Imagine trying to make a left turn when the car bogs in 1st...

Is this a familiar feeling? Maybe I should call the service dept.

cossie1600 · 08-05-2010, 08:49 PM

The throttle response on the 370 sucks. It felt slow compare to my old 350 down low too

Mike · 08-06-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Yea, I'm aware about the throttle cut when tapping the brakes. For a long time I've always thought the A/C running or heat (oil temp nearing 220F) would be the cause the huge throttle lag.

To further clarify things, from standstill in 1st gear I barely get the car moving and casually give it more throttle. Regardless of how much throttle effort, even at 50% or greater, I don't feel a difference. It bogs and hovers around 1.5-2k, then slowly ramps up to 3k before winding up to redline. It's a familiar feeling to TCS kicking in, but I'm not even dumping the clutch or forcing wheel spin. It comes and goes, but I'm starting to notice it more often so I thought it was the A/C having a large detrimental effect (compared to the 350Z) or high oil temps. Imagine trying to make a left turn when the car bogs in 1st...

Is this a familiar feeling? Maybe I should call the service dept.

thats pretty much how mine felt, it would go all the way to redline in first gear, just extremely slow. I'm guessing you don't have a scan gauge? Thats how I discovered the 15% tps symptom.

DIGItonium · 08-08-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

thats pretty much how mine felt, it would go all the way to redline in first gear, just extremely slow. I'm guessing you don't have a scan gauge? Thats how I discovered the 15% tps symptom.

Okay, I'm really starting to think something isn't right because I don't remember this happening several months ago. Last night things started acting strange so I decided to test again. Oil temps were barely 200F so the car is supposed to be running fine and A/C was OFF! Many times I started rolling in 1st gear and briefly stepped on it. The car hesitated and slowly wind up. I can't peel out at all. It feels like starting in 2nd gear, and it feels like TCS is taking over without any indicators lighting up.

[EDIT] I went out to look at my brake pedal and noticed a couple of "normally open" switches. These switches close when the brake pedal is released. There is a plastic pop rivet of some sort that's keeping the switch held down. Both has some play, so I pressed on the rivet for each switch. One does not make any noise, but the other makes a clicking noise as if the switch is barely in the closed state with 1mm play. For the test, I'm wedging in some paper and use masking tape to offset the height and the click sound isn't there anymore. Stay tuned... out for test drive.

[EDIT] I just came back from the test drive. Initial impression =

With A/C running and VDC active, I was able to fishtail the car getting out of a turn. Throttle response was immediate from down low to red light. It was linear. There's no lag at all! So I turned off the A/C, disabled VDC, and test throttle position. I maxed it out, and the engine was really alive! Man I haven't heard or felt this car's maximum potential in a long time.Time to do some more

KanataZ · 08-30-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

I went out to look at my brake pedal and noticed a couple of "normally open" switches. These switches close when the brake pedal is released. There is a plastic pop rivet of some sort that's keeping the switch held down. Both has some play, so I pressed on the rivet for each switch. One does not make any noise, but the other makes a clicking noise as if the switch is barely in the closed state with 1mm play. For the test, I'm wedging in some paper and use masking tape to offset the height and the click sound isn't there anymore.

thanks for the direction.

I checked and both 'click' when I push them. It does seem though that perhaps this an electrical issue - that is, the acceleration is being limited because the ECM senses that the brake is on. Unfortunatley, it is random so will try the dealer to see what they say. I can almost anticipate the 'cannot duplicate owners issue'.

ImportConvert · 08-31-2010, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

nope, it was the brake switch. Stopped by Gwinnett Place Nissan on the way home today, and the mechanic came out and looked at it on the trailer, and the switch was out of adjustment. 5 minutes with a wrench under the dash and he fixed it, we didn't even do any paperwork or anything.

Although, the parts manager, who is a friend of mine said they have been seeing a fairly large number of switch failures lately at Nissan on the Zs.

Ford trucks used to die when a tail-light went out. Real PITA pulling a boat out of the lake. Glad your fix was cheap.

DIGItonium · 08-31-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KanataZ

thanks for the direction.

I checked and both 'click' when I push them. It does seem though that perhaps this an electrical issue - that is, the acceleration is being limited because the ECM senses that the brake is on. Unfortunatley, it is random so will try the dealer to see what they say. I can almost anticipate the 'cannot duplicate owners issue'.

Yea, it is very strange. I eliminated this annoying consistent throttle delay issue from the brake switch, but I still get it randomly as well. All I can see here is VDC being aggressive, and after an extended period of driving throttle response gets slower.

Jordo! · 09-01-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Okay, I'm really starting to think something isn't right because I don't remember this happening several months ago. Last night things started acting strange so I decided to test again. Oil temps were barely 200F so the car is supposed to be running fine and A/C was OFF! Many times I started rolling in 1st gear and briefly stepped on it. The car hesitated and slowly wind up. I can't peel out at all. It feels like starting in 2nd gear, and it feels like TCS is taking over without any indicators lighting up.

[EDIT] I went out to look at my brake pedal and noticed a couple of "normally open" switches. These switches close when the brake pedal is released. There is a plastic pop rivet of some sort that's keeping the switch held down. Both has some play, so I pressed on the rivet for each switch. One does not make any noise, but the other makes a clicking noise as if the switch is barely in the closed state with 1mm play. For the test, I'm wedging in some paper and use masking tape to offset the height and the click sound isn't there anymore. Stay tuned... out for test drive.

[EDIT] I just came back from the test drive. Initial impression =

With A/C running and VDC active, I was able to fishtail the car getting out of a turn. Throttle response was immediate from down low to red light. It was linear. There's no lag at all! So I turned off the A/C, disabled VDC, and test throttle position. I maxed it out, and the engine was really alive! Man I haven't heard or felt this car's maximum potential in a long time.Time to do some more

Wait... what does that switch do exactly?

If that switch indicates to the ECU when the brake is depressed, if you disable it can you do burnouts without pulling the brake fuse? Does it cause any weird foibles if it's disabled?

DIGItonium · 09-01-2010, 11:38 PM

I don't know anything about the switch, but it is closed when you release the brake pedal. I'm assuming this is a safety feature to prevent a stuck open throttle situation. In my situation, it wasn't fully closed and had some play. Before and after difference is the sound of the car at what appears to be wide open throttle hehe.

cossie1600 · 07-30-2011, 08:42 PM

I wonder if I am experiencing the same problem?

AARONHL · 02-19-2020, 09:24 PM

Ok so does the brake switch really cause the lag on hard acceleration???

08-05-2010, 02:32 PM	#47 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Yea, I'm aware about the throttle cut when tapping the brakes. For a long time I've always thought the A/C running or heat (oil temp nearing 220F) would be the cause the huge throttle lag. To further clarify things, from standstill in 1st gear I barely get the car moving and casually give it more throttle. Regardless of how much throttle effort, even at 50% or greater, I don't feel a difference. It bogs and hovers around 1.5-2k, then slowly ramps up to 3k before winding up to redline. It's a familiar feeling to TCS kicking in, but I'm not even dumping the clutch or forcing wheel spin. It comes and goes, but I'm starting to notice it more often so I thought it was the A/C having a large detrimental effect (compared to the 350Z) or high oil temps. Imagine trying to make a left turn when the car bogs in 1st... Is this a familiar feeling? Maybe I should call the service dept. __________________

09-01-2010, 11:38 PM	#55 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	I don't know anything about the switch, but it is closed when you release the brake pedal. I'm assuming this is a safety feature to prevent a stuck open throttle situation. In my situation, it wasn't fully closed and had some play. Before and after difference is the sound of the car at what appears to be wide open throttle hehe. __________________

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08-05-2010, 08:49 PM	#48 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	The throttle response on the 370 sucks. It felt slow compare to my old 350 down low too

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AARONHL Base Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Connecticut Posts: 50 Drives: 10g374dr6mt Rep Power: 7	Ok so does the brake switch really cause the lag on hard acceleration???