[impeerical]

2011 Xterra Pro-4X, 137k miles - in the past 3 months I have been getting intermittent MAF codes that seem to come and go with no performance issues to speak off. Recently, the orange back lighting of the dash has begun to flicker and this morning, as I was driving 25mph, the electrical power blipped, the radio reset and most of the idiot lights on the dash flash once for a split second and then everything was fine the rest of the way to work. I'm wondering if this is an ECM issue or a bad ground somewhere? Every month or so I turn the key and the entire car acts like the battery is disconnected. I open the hood and disconnect/reconnect both battery terminals and get a small static discharge to my finger (like touching a doorknob), and all the electronics turn back on with the trip odometer reset. Any help would be great, as much as I love Xterras I'm getting close to the end of my financial rope fixing this one.

 

[impeerical]

I should also add that occasionally, when pulling up to a stop light. It will idle fine for about 5 seconds and then rpms dip to about 450, enough to illuminate dash lights for a second and then come back up and acts like nothing happened.

 

[Brunnie]

How old is the battery? Sounds like a loose connection at the battery or a battery that is about to die.

 

[impeerical]

How old is the battery? Sounds like a loose connection at the battery or a battery that is about to die.

2 Years, when I bought it the negative terminal connection was corroded into basically tin foil, replaced that with a marine battery connection. Positive terminal still looks alright.

 

[Lowcountry idn]

I am in the camp this is likely a cabling or ground issue. I would start at the battery and work your way back. The FSM shows all the ground locations, but the first two are the body ground and chassis ground and there both connected directly to the 18 inch long or so negative battery cable.

Could also be something in the fusible link on the positive cable side. Check that out as well.

I would clean your MAF sensor. It might be unrelated.

I would also not rule out the IPDM. You should have a black IPDM - which I have never heard of failing but anything is possible. If your IPDM is white then I would consider changing it. Your IPDM is responsible for power distribution pretty much everywhere, so its I likely place to look.

 

[rm975]

The maintenance manual points out the specific grounds involved with a given problem.

 

[impeerical]

Update: Tried a new battery, no good. Going to try a new negative terminal. Today going to work my 4wd light stays on, my abs, parking brake, VDC, slip have started to randomly flash like a loose connection, and to top it off my speedometer stops working. I'm thinking it may be a short or loose connection in the dash somewhere, because I do not lose any function in the brakes or drivetrain.

 

[The_mn_path]

Update: Tried a new battery, no good. Going to try a new negative terminal. Today going to work my 4wd light stays on, my abs, parking brake, VDC, slip have started to randomly flash like a loose connection, and to top it off my speedometer stops working. I'm thinking it may be a short or loose connection in the dash somewhere, because I do not lose any function in the brakes or drivetrain.

Having the exact same issue except its on an 09 Pathfinder.

Let me know if you find anything out!