2002 Nissan Sentra ECM question

CROBERSON1

MEMBER
2002 NISSAN SENTRA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
88,000 MILES

I took my 2002 nissan sentra se r spec v into nissan because it runs most of the time in "limp" mode. They said it "might be" the computer and wanted $1000 to replace it. However that seems like alot of money for a "maybe" it does run right occasionally and right before it goes into limp mode I hear a relay click off in my dash on the passenger side, usually upon acceleration. I have been told that it could just be a sensor causing the problem but since an obd11 computer will not talk to my ecm I cant pull any codes. I was told it was probably a short between the computer and the connector. Should I fork out for a new computer and hope thats what it is or is there something else I can do?

thank you for all your help
christine roberson

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

If you are resourceful enough to utilize your car's On Board Diagnostic (OBD) system, you're way ahead of the game. (Don't forget you can have your codes scanned free at any AutoZone). If you've plugged into your car's diagnostic port and aren't reading anything at all, you might think that your OBD-II brain has fried, but don't declare it dead yet.
On many cars, the ECM (that's the electronic brain) is on the same fuse circuit as other electrics like the cigarette lighter/accessory port. The lighter is prone to blow fuses on some vehicles, and if there's no juice going to the ECM, it can't tell you what's wrong.