Vehicle: 2017 Nissan-Datsun Pathfinder, 4WD, V6-3.5L (VQ35DD), Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
Mileage: 208,112
Problem: After the vehicle sits overnight, everything on the dash instrument cluster will intermittently flash (blip), then go black as soon as the engine starts. The customer also stated that sometimes the engine will completely shut off.
Case Details: As soon as he opened the hood, the technician noticed the negative battery terminal was loose. He cleaned and tightened it. The positive cable was already clean and tight.
Acting on advice and a wiring diagram provided by an ALLDATA Tech-Assist consultant, the technician monitored the instrument cluster power and grounds while driving, and watched cluster data via their scan tool. When the dash blipped, none of the power, grounds or communications with the cluster dropped out. The instrument cluster had to be the culprit.
Confirmed Repair: The technician replaced the instrument cluster and there were no more issues with the dash blipping or going black. The engine intermittently dying turned out to be a separate issue that was solved by cleaning and tightening the negative battery cable. Fixed!
The ALLDATA Tech-Assist team fields cases like this every day. See how Tech-Assist can help your shop save time and money with on-call diagnostic support from ASE-certified Master Technicians. More Tech Tips
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