A cracked tail light means your 2005 Frontier dies.
My 2005 Frontier with 4,200 miles died the other day. Took it to the dealer and they are saying it's water damage causing the problem, and thousands of dollars in damage as a result. Turns out a tiny crack in the tail light was letting water into the light fixture, and according to the dealer the water getting into the tail light was enough to cause the Emission Control Unit, and several other components, to short circuit and fail. Due to the fact that it was a cracked tail light, it's not covered by warranty.
I don't know about everyone else, but the fact that a simple crack in your tail light and driving in the rain is enough to disable a Frontier and cost you several thousand dollars is a bit preposterous. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, or does anyone out there even see this as a possibility? It seems a bit absurd that such a tiny every day occurence could do this. Am I being unreasonable?
Are you being unreasonable? No, I don't think so. Now, I certainly don't pretend to know everything about vehicle electrical systems, and even less about a 2005 Frontier, but that this little issue can sideline a vehicle and cause this much damage seems a little "off" to me. Electrical systems have fuses to guard against this type of damage. I've heard of guys cross-wiring the batteries and making actual sparks and still not killing the computer - - thanks to fuses.
I don't know, but it sounds as if the dealership is coming up with excuses. I am looking to hear what others have to say about this.
I definately be calling the Regional Rep on this one! Sure sounds like BS to me! As previously mentioned, if water entered the tail light and caused a short that killed the computer, then there's definately a manufacture's defect in the design! If any electrical component were to short, you only have to replace the 10 cent fuse that should have been designed into the circuit to protect it. If there wasn't a fuse designed into the circuit, then I would call it a very poor design and the manufacturer should still be responsible! You may want to talk to a lawyer also, they can write a letter on your behalf to the dealership and Nissan Corporate and get someone's attention! I know this is a shameless plug, but check the link in my signature, this is just the type of incident where this service will pay for itself with just one use! Good luck!
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What they are saying is basically impossible. If it did happen - it's a manufacturers defect and will be covered under your warranty.
The tailight system has it's own fuses and I have never in all my years heard of a shorted out tail light disabling a vehicle or causing computer damage.
Do not accept this and DO NOT PAY...contact Nissan directly and this will be resolved - or better yet go to another dealer. one who isn't full of crap.
There is no way a tail light could short out the entire system. NO WAY. The computer and the tail light are on completely separate circuits, and a short in the tail light circuit would blow the fuse on that circuit in an instant to protect the rest of the system.. that's why they have fuses in the first place!!!!
They're flat-out, completely, totally, LYING. Period... no ifs, ands, or buts.
If you don't think they'll want to budge on the issue, either go to another dealer or take it to a third-party mechanic and have him inspect it so you can get more ammo.
just another voice of support here.... that is BS!!!!! There is NO WAY a short in the tail light could/should cause any problem other than a blow fuse!!!!!! THATS WHY we have fuses
sorry, im pissed... I bought the frontier because CRAPPY honda would not fix the transmissions in 99-04 acura TL's... They would replace but not repair... same dealer crap...
Fight this man, they're full of crap!
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I've worked on every system of a modern vehicle in the past 10 years and not once has anything like that ever been a possibility...
The wiring to those tail lights is for lights and thats it - you get a short there, you pop a fuse. If it back fed into another device on the truck, it is because of poor design or grounding...
Until they get the ECM to control your tail lights, I'd say you're not at fault. Actually, you may want to start with that defence to the dealership. Ask them what the ECM does with the tail light. Ask them where the sensor is mounted in the rear of the truck. Remember they have to PROVE that the tail light crack directly caused the ECM failure or they are breaking the law. You might want to remind them of that too.
The only time I've ever seen an ECM go bad was when a sensor connected directly to it shorted out. The tail lights are connected to the steering column and brake switches via fuses and relays.
Anyway, try another dealer... get a second opinion.
- Greg -
Last edited by MrFancypants : Jan 18th, 2006 at 01:18 PM.
I'm glad to hear I'm not crazy. The dealer tried to tell me that I had to pay $350 for a new taillight before they could determine whether or not it was the cause. When I pushed them on it they got defensive and said if I don't like it take it somewhere else. Only problem is the next dealer is 40 miles away. I've since talked to corporate and the owner of the dealership for assistance.
So, for the record, never buy from Santa Barbara Nissan. I'll post again when I get resolution.
...When I pushed them on it they got defensive and said if I don't like it take it somewhere else. Only problem is the next dealer is 40 miles away. I've since talked to corporate and the owner of the dealership for assistance...
Thanks for the update. As a number of folks have already mentioned, report this - in writing - to Nissan head office - - as high up as you can go, wherever you are at. The "powers that be" at Nissan need to know how this particular dealer is representing there corporation. The dealer's behavior reflects very badly on Nissan, and I am sure that the powers at Nissan would not wish this behavior to continue.
So, let us know what eventually happens with this.
If this situation is real, Santa Barbara Nissan opens them up to a lot of criticism. To shake a person down for $350 before diagnosisng the cause is larceny. Look at the nice stores Nissan created for its dealership. In no way will they tolerate a dilution of their brand due to crookery at the Service desk.
You don't need to be an electrial engineer to know that a short in the tailight cannot kill the ECU. It's like getting a cut on your foot that leads to cardiac arrest. Engineers design barriers to prevent overloads that would damage the ECU.
My vote is to bypass the bozos in Santa Barbara and go directly to Nissan USA.
This situation is all too real CT_Nismo. Trust me on that one.
So I got the owner of the dealership involved, and instead of making me pay $350 for a tail light assembly I could fix myself (that goes for $140, by the way) they are taking one from another truck to test their theory. I expect to hear from them later today. As an aside, when I asked the owner if he thought that a cracked tail light was enough to disable a truck, he said that he'd seen stranger things happen. Not very reassuring. The owner seems reasonable so we'll see what happens.
Also, they told me that not only was the ECU fried, but I think they said the Body Control Module (BCM). I don't know what that is, but for both of those to fail from a broken tail light makes this even crazier.
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