ITB10-010b

I live away from Infiniti Dealer where I bought my 2008 G37S Coupe.

For last 2 months(I drive a short distance to commute), my battery ran out 6 to 8 times.

I changed my battery new one(even though it was fine), but it didn't solve. I changed that battery again to another one because diagnostic test for battery came out low. But over the christmas weekend it happened again, I called "jump start service" twice(friday and today).


Today I dropped my car at local Nissan dealership. In the evening a guy called me and told me a technician checked out and they didn't find a battery drain. They asked to leave a car one more day so they can find it.


So I asked them a cost if I request change of VCV and reprograming of ECM without finding abnormality. He told me the cost will be around 375~400$.


Hope my car doesn't start tomorrrow morning so they can find something.


My driving habit hasn't changed. With my previous car(mercedes c300), I didn't have this issue at all and I was happy.

I changed to G37S(I was really attracted to) but now I am thinking maybe my idea was wrong. I should have sticked to Mercedes model.



I called the dealership where I bought, and I talked with a service guy, he told me he hasn't heard of this battery drain of VCV in G37S.

I have to believe him, that dealership is in muti-million city, and no experience of this issue??.

Are cases I saw in the internet all happending in a different part of the world?


On the way back to my work after leave my care there, a driver, he said,"Are you the same guy living there?", I told him no and asked him why?

He told me weeks ago, he drove a guy driving G37S with battery problem, too. He thought I am that guy. He also said lots of other cars(nissan) coming to a service with battery issue. He is never gonna buy nissan/infiniti.

Maybe he's right. I am not going to buy another infiniti for now. Really disappointing.

Even a tech at infiniti in big town, he said he hasn't known this issue.


Q1 ; Are they able to find out battery drin from VCV by a diagnostic test? How do they find out?

Q2 ; Does it ususally cost 375~400$ if I pay out of pocket?
(My warranty recently out and I have a private extended warranty)

 

Nissan dealerships cannot do warranty work on Infiniti vehicles even if it is under warranty. Look in the TSB forum and find a link to an actual TSB for this issue that you can print out and take with you.

 

the same happened to me but only twice. took it to a dealer and they gave me a stronger battery and it works fine now.

 

Blackbetty/I printed it out and showed it to them. They wrote it down on their paper. Not sure actual technitian checke it out. No time to work to the Infiniti. I'll move soon but not now.

Darryl865/Thanks. Do you know which battery size they changed from OEM one to? Maybe I can exchange my previous battery to a bigger one with paying a little more. More CCA?

 

im not sure. the service guy told me that the newer models (2011) have a stronger battery so they swapped my 2008 one out to the newer one. it was all under warranty so i didnt pay anything.

 

I had a similar problem with the battery in my G37xS sedan. After having to jump start it several times the dealer replaced the battery that came in the car (I think it was 550 CCA) with a 700 CCA unit. The machanic said that is the largest capacity battery Infiniti uses in their cars. No problems since. The machanic did sugjest I put a trickle charger on the batt. if I'm going to leave the car in my garage for a week or longer.

 

Just because the tech you talked to wasn't aware of the VCV causing the battery drain doesn't mean that's not the case. They hadn't heard of it when I took my car in either. But after performing the TSB my car has never drained the battery or failed to start since then, even leaving it sitting 2 weeks or more in cold temps. If it is the vent control valve causing a drain on the electrical system, it doesn't matter what battery you use. It will still drain over several days time unless you start and run the car. If your car is out of warranty, you might still ask for them to perform it for customer goodwill since its a known issue documented by Infiniti. The worst that can happen is they say no and you have to pay for it yourself. Or perhaps try a different dealership. Or buy a trickle charger and use it every night when you park.

Good luck.

 

dang didn't know that was a problem

 

Thank you guys.
Okay my car was at Nissan for 2 days. They test it and a service advisor told me everything was fine and VCV doesn't drain the battery and it works just fine.

So I told him I'd like to talk with a technician but he refused saying he's busy. Maybe you can wait until we close. That word made me a little uncomfortable. No point arguing with him.

And he said my bettery is the problem and don't get a battery from walmart(it was Everstart) so I said okay.

So I want to Wal-mart and they test it multiple times and all turns out "Good battery" which I was expecting.(cause I drove some distance today) At first they said they can't refund but after talking with an automative retail manager, he said okay.

I bought RED TOP OPTIMA BATTERY from a local autozone. But it was after 7 pm so I'll change my battery to RED TOP OPTIMA BATTERY tomorrow.


I still think it's a problem of VCV but what can I do?

I paid 49.87$ for a diagnostic study at Nissan.


Things I don't like G37S
1.Battery issue(hope it solves with RED TOP, which I think less likely)
2.Rattling Noise from Dashboard(at night, darn! It's loud!!)
3.Squeaking noise from the celing near the passanger side(sunroof noise?)

 

This sounds like another example of why we shouldn’t take our Infinitis to Nissan dealers.

 

Nah, Nissan dealers repair Zs, which are almost identical, and most have certified GTR techs.

Its the individual dealer, Ive seen some really bad Infiniti techs.

But you cant expect a Nissan dealer to perform Infiniti warranty.

 

I agree with you BB, the techs ingorance of the VCV problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Besides, why should it be necesary to use a trickle charger on a 43K car that can't hold a charge. Maybe the dealer should have mentioned this electrical engineering faux pas, it may have affected my decision to buy the car. That will be the day a dealer mentions any negative things about the product their selling.

 

I agree with you. The day when I dropped my care there, there was 2 Zs there.

Not sure for now what I'll do for VCV. Red Top Optima battery was put in early this morning.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_medi...pecs/25_35.pdf

So far of course fine. It's weekend so I drove some distance.
It was fine with Walmart battery at first, but gradually starting the engine was delayed and delayed and I was not able to start.

Dang, with G37S coupe I am concerned with engine starting(like mentioned above!!!). haha...With G37S coupe I have rattling noise coming from the dashboard...and another bothersome noise from the sunroof...c'mon!!! Infiniti!!

Happy new Year! Guys!

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. Try a different INFINITI dealer if you can. They will treat you better than Nissan I'm sure! The G has been the best car that I've owned and it's sad to hear people having issues. I hope you sort everything out and can enjoy the car!

 

Not to get into an old argument, and considering that sometimes an Infiniti dealer is too far away in certain areas; but since this problem may be unique to G37’s that is easily fixed under warranty, it still appears to me that Nissan dealers should be avoided.