Infiniti M35 Tech in the house?

Changed the battery recently.  I must have done something wrong, because I bricked it.

I-Key does nothing, buttons do nothing, light at key pocket doesn't light, no light on the dash saying "key", no light of foot on brake. Nothing.  I -know- the fob batteries are good.

FSM says that if the fob does nothing, and the batteries are good, replace the Intelligent Key Module.  $1065CDN new, but I got one used off ebay for $90 - a gamble.  Now the car recognizes that there is a key, but does not respond that it is ITS key.

With the 4-ways on, I'm using TopDon TopScan app and OBD2 adapter and can talk to the BCM, but not the ECM.  TopScan says there are two faults: "B2551 Steering Lock Unit," and "B2590 Discord BCM-I-Key," which make me think it's a key registration issue. Which would make sense.

I have Nisscan NDSII which allegedly can reprogram my keys, but it does not connect to the ECM because, I think, the ECM isn't active at this stage.

Is the Steering Lock Module keeping the ECU from waking up so I can reprogram keys?

Is there a way I can make the ECM wake up?

Thanks.

I'm not familiar with Nissan immobilizer system, but the way others I am familiar with work is a module reads the key, if they match the steering is unlocked.  A code is then sent to the engine ecu, if they match the engine will start. So to use junkyard parts you would have to get a key, the module that reads the key & the engine control module from the same vehicle.

On bmw's that I work with the cas module that reads they key would occasionally loose sync with the steering column lock preventing the steering lock from unlocking & the ignition from turning on, this sounds like what you are experiencing.  Resetting the steering lock sync with a scan tool would fix those.  I would put the factory intelligent key module back in & see if you can resync it to the steering lock using a good aftermarket scan tool.

If a module has failed launch has a xprog system that can program keys & modules.  

Not quite as specific a solution as I'm after, but thank you.

Anyone else?

The kind folks at TopDon activated the IMMO option on my TopScan tool, which gets me in to be able to "learn" various modules and reprogram keys, but it still is unable to "see" into the car.

The eBay Keyless Entry module also seems to get pretty hot, even with nothing happening, so that and te fact that it doesn't let me get further into the car tells me something.

Zero M35's in the local wreckers, and local wreckers are disappearing at an alarming rate.  In all of eBay there is one other that they are calling a "Seat Controller" but they do not post a picture and confirmation of part numbers, and have not responded to my repeated requests for a picture and confirmation.

I went to Infiniti and explained my predicament, and asked if there was someone there smarter than me who can at least point me in the right direction.

Nope.

But they suggested checking fuses in the Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) - except none of those fuses run the items I'm trying to turn on. Plus, they are all good anyway. And in this Infiniti, the Power Distribution Unit is activated by the keyless module. 

So....

I ordered a new Keyless module. Parts guy was nice to me - $860 instead of $1065.  It'll be here Thursday.

In reply to SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) :

No help now but is this one of the cars that you should use the OBD II power adapters when changing out the battery?

Nope.

I pulled the battery way back when we first got it to do some servicing.  No problemo.

Should I have?  Maybe.

In the meantime, Mrs.Skinny and me just got back from buying her next car (look for the new thread...).  Oh, we'll keep the Infiniti for a bit once it's going again, but I want to get out from under it soon. Before the next expensive thing pops.

What year is the vehicle?

. I'm at a Nissan dealer and Ms are rare so I don't have the knowledge off the top of my head but I could check at work tomorrow. Assuming it has a physical steering lock....Is the steering wheel locked currently, or can it be rotated?

The motor to extend and retract the pin can get weak. Removing the knee shields and tapping the steering lock unit with a hammer while trying the ignition button a bunch of times can get them working again for a little while.

Done that, but I can't talk to much of the vehicle; the dash doesn't even light up at all.  It's certainly wired different than the G35.

It's a 2006 M35x.  They are super rare here too.  My IMMO software can allegedly unlock the steering lock  - IF- it can connect to the car at all.  It's not able to connect yet.

The Steering Lock unit gets power from the PDU, but the PDU gets its power from the I-Key Module.  No I-Key, no PDU, no Steering Lock.  Win/win/win.  Grrr.

If you've got access to the full ESM (which based on your posts it sounds like you do) and a scan tool capable of talking to the BCM and ikey unit then you've basically got all the tools I've got. 

The ECM won't be powered on until the NATS system is happy. 

B2590 is a generic immobilizer code. I would chase down the B2551 code. I can send you a copy of the repair flow chart for that if you don't already have it.

I didn't get ANY codes with my own I-Key module.  I'm assuming the B2551 is because the used I-Key module and the existing SLU don't know each other.  But that's an assumption.

Okay yeah, I would agree the replacement Ikey module that hasn't been programmed yet is the source of that code.

Is the steering wheel currently locked?

Yes. Locked.  My scan tool has the ability to unlock the steering, but until I can actually try unlocking it, I'm not going to condemn it.  Yet.

There are many more steering lock modules available used than I-Key modules.

OHMYFREAKINGGODYAY!!!!

Picked up the Intelligent Key Module, and installed it. 

Used my TopDon TopScan bluetooth scan tool and the dash lit up like it was supposed to.  Could not get it to reporgram the keys; it wasn't connecting to the ECU.

Used my Nisscan NDSII software (Consult2 Clone) on a laptop, but it could not connect to anything at all.

So eventually, I used the TopScan to wake up the electronics, then unplugged the dongle while it was all still awake and connected my laptop and NDSII, which was now able to see the ECU and program the keys.

FREAKING RUNS!

OMG OMG OMG OMG!

For Sale: 2006 Infiniti M35x

So this scenario is most certainly one you would not want to experience on a regular basis. Was your plug and play a "lucky" routine or is it possible to focus on certain components to pursue.... or as your final thread line indicates not worth the effort(time /aggravation)?

I'm very gun-shy with it.

TopScan is a scan tool I got for free to do a review and youtube video on, it apparently isn't released to the public yet.  NDSII is somebody's home-brew equivalent to Nissan's "Consult2" scan tool.  There are likely some communication inconsistencies here, none of which I'm interesting in chasing.

I drove it in to town to run an errand, and just like being away from it for a month while the transmission was being repaired, now that I'm back in it, I'm like "Oh yes, I l-o-v-e this car."  But I'm gun-shy.  What is going to pop next?  And how expensive will that be? A steering lock module is $2000.  No thank you.

My philosophy with vehicles is $1000 per year.  I bought this car for under $4000, so it needs to last me four years.  I can make a Nissan last four years. But then within months the transmission blew.  I can't just walk away from the $4000 I just spent.... So it gets fixed.  Now I need to keep it another four years.  Up until I bricked it, it owed us three years, or at least could have been sold for $3000.  Except now this.  And then what next?  It might be perfectly fine, but I want to get rid of it before the next big thing happens.  I want a simpler, more wreckers-plentiful car.  Maybe better on gas, too.

And that's already in the works

I have a 2008 M35. My passenger side rear brake light is out. How do I fix this?  Is it just a bulb that I replace or do I have to replace the whole light?