2019 QX80 drain on battery

[primov8]

Alternators are built with a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging. This gimmick of an ecu-controlled alternator Nissan utilizes is just to signal the alternator when to turn on/off… that’s it.

I bought my ‘14 QX80 with 56K miles, via a private sale back in the fall of ‘16. I believe the very first mod I did once I pulled into the garage was disabling the ecu-controlled alternator. The other improvement was getting rid of the cheap OE battery and going AGM as I always do with any vehicle I’ve owned.
We've traveled pretty much throughout the entire country with this truck. Recently just passed the 190K mark this summer after another 3 week road trip from TX-CA-WA-AZ-TX; never an issue or worries about the charging system.

 

[RMixon1]

Alternators are built with a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging. This gimmick of an ecu-controlled alternator Nissan utilizes is just to signal the alternator when to turn on/off… that’s it.

I bought my ‘14 QX80 with 56K miles, via a private sale back in the fall of ‘16. I believe the very first mod I did once I pulled into the garage was disabling the ecu-controlled alternator. The other improvement was getting rid of the cheap OE battery and going AGM as I always do with any vehicle I’ve owned.
We've traveled pretty much throughout the entire country with this truck. Recently just passed the 190K mark this summer after another 3 week road trip from TX-CA-WA-AZ-TX; never an issue or worries about the charging system.

Thanks Primov8

 

[marctronixx]

yeah they have regulators just like the old dumb ones back in the day . i had a regulator go bad on a car i had back in the 90s and the battery light came on because of that. so parts fail but i dont think this mod would expedite that failure -- my opinion and im not an expert.

 

[superfoneguy]

I bought a 2014 QX80 a couple months ago with 115,000 miles. After a week of driving it on short trips I noticed a couple stumbling starts. Then my nephew needed me to tow a U-Haul trailer loaded with his stuff to his dorm, it wasn't much weight at all. The truck acted like I was pulling the space shuttle, not shifting properly, then shifting super hard. After a couple miles I would get up to about 45 mph and it would stay in 2nd gear and just bounce on the tach from about 3600 rpm to 2800 rpm, it was acting crazy. Also the traction control dash light was on. I figured I had a a transmission problem, so I swapped the tranny fluid several times. Then last month I loaded it up with people and drove from Portland to Sacramento and back- no issues at all, so I figured it just needed fresh fluid. Yesterday after a couple short trips around town the problem happened again- stumbling starts, then the truck acts like it has no idea how to shift and the traction control light was on again. After reading about this charging issue I popped the hood this morning and clamped my multitester onto the battery terminals and started the truck. 14.3 volts across the terminals- at first. After about 2 minutes of runtime the voltage dropped to 12.3! This is not normal. It stayed at 12.3-12.5 for the next 10 mins and I shut off the truck and removed the negative battery terminal IPDM connector. Started the truck and it stayed at 14.5 for 15 minutes. So now I will run the truck like I normally do and report back the results.

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[marctronixx]

After about 2 minutes of runtime the voltage dropped to 12.3! This is not normal.

Sadly it IS normal. It's nissans over engineering design that focuses more on saving petrol use and emissions at the expense of not fully charging the battery as it normally should with a "dumb" alternator. this thread recognizes that and offers a solution, to which you used and found the result acceptable as others did.

 

[superfoneguy]

Update: Since Oct 9th I've not had any stumbling starts or transmission symptoms. BUT:
When I 1st purchased the vehicle I drained\filled the transmission fluid and it was black as night. I've since drained\filled 4 times total. The transmission (or something else) has since moaned\whined quietly from 0-20 mph acceleration. After removing the negative battery terminal connecter that noise completely went away for about a week. It has now returned, but it happens far less. But at least the original problem so far hasn't reappeared

 

[Qx60er]

I bought a 2014 QX80 a couple months ago with 115,000 miles. After a week of driving it on short trips I noticed a couple stumbling starts. Then my nephew needed me to tow a U-Haul trailer loaded with his stuff to his dorm, it wasn't much weight at all. The truck acted like I was pulling the space shuttle, not shifting properly, then shifting super hard. After a couple miles I would get up to about 45 mph and it would stay in 2nd gear and just bounce on the tach from about 3600 rpm to 2800 rpm, it was acting crazy. Also the traction control dash light was on. I figured I had a a transmission problem, so I swapped the tranny fluid several times. Then last month I loaded it up with people and drove from Portland to Sacramento and back- no issues at all, so I figured it just needed fresh fluid. Yesterday after a couple short trips around town the problem happened again- stumbling starts, then the truck acts like it has no idea how to shift and the traction control light was on again. After reading about this charging issue I popped the hood this morning and clamped my multitester onto the battery terminals and started the truck. 14.3 volts across the terminals- at first. After about 2 minutes of runtime the voltage dropped to 12.3! This is not normal. It stayed at 12.3-12.5 for the next 10 mins and I shut off the truck and removed the negative battery terminal IPDM connector. Started the truck and it stayed at 14.5 for 15 minutes. So now I will run the truck like I normally do and report back the results.

Hey just for clarification. Did you drop the connector off that attaches to the current sensor block that is on the negative side of the battery? Also do you have a battery light on still on your dash?

 

[superfoneguy]

Hey just for clarification. Did you drop the connector off that attaches to the current sensor block that is on the negative side of the battery? Also do you have a battery light on still on your dash?

Yes I detached the gray connected that clicks onto the negative battery terminal. I never had a battery light on, when the transmission problem was happening, I had the traction control light on. So far the truck has started and drove normally, since I removed that connector.

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[hgadair]

Take it to your local infiniti dealership....they know the exact cable to cut that goes from alternator to battery. Should be at no cost.

is your car still doing ok? Im ready to give up everything we do and i still got stranded from the alt not charging battery

can you tell me what wire you disconnected, /?

Alternators are built with a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging. This gimmick of an ecu-controlled alternator Nissan utilizes is just to signal the alternator when to turn on/off… that’s it.

I bought my ‘14 QX80 with 56K miles, via a private sale back in the fall of ‘16. I believe the very first mod I did once I pulled into the garage was disabling the ecu-controlled alternator. The other improvement was getting rid of the cheap OE battery and going AGM as I always do with any vehicle I’ve owned.
We've traveled pretty much throughout the entire country with this truck. Recently just passed the 190K mark this summer after another 3 week road trip from TX-CA-WA-AZ-TX; never an issue or worries about the charging system.

can you tell me how you pulled the ecu-controlled alternator.? i have tried the gray clip to battery and the clip to the neg side of battery and it still does the same thing? any help wound be appreciated thanks

 

[marctronixx]

did you look at these posts in this thread? i know you stated you had some issues with the gray clip, just wanted to make sure you saw this procedure. the second link has a video. its possible your car may have a different color wire loom which may be the reason you have an issue.

2019 QX80 drain on battery

Does the blue wire at the negative battery terminal have to be cut or can you just leave the connector disconnected? obviously this can void any warranty and doing this mod you do it on the understanding that its a modification and not sanctioned by nissan. lots of people have had success with...

infinitiforum.net

2019 QX80 drain on battery

Does the blue wire at the negative battery terminal have to be cut or can you just leave the connector disconnected? obviously this can void any warranty and doing this mod you do it on the understanding that its a modification and not sanctioned by nissan. lots of people have had success with...

infinitiforum.net

 

[G-681323]

Hi everybody. I believe I have the same problem but I am confused as to which wire to disconnect. There are three colors discussed; The yellow wire in the posted video, Primov8 did the blue wire and Kcrebel calls it the red wire fix. I have a 2018 QX80 and would like to to disconnect the correct wire between the current sensor and the ECM. What color is it please?
Thank you,
Mikehasson

It’s the blue one I cut and solved the problem

 

[G-941082]

I purchased preowned 2015 model and experiencing the same problem since 2019. A search onlined reveals this porblem to be chronic and yet Infintity refused to resolve the matter. It is unacceptable to depend upon an extrenal charger to maintin a $50k machine, It is time we organize a class action lawsuit to hold Infinity accountable instead of putting up with this problem. If anyone knows of a lawyer who would take up this case, please count me in.

I agree this is rediculous

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[jreeves45]

I have a 215 QX80 that will not start. It was not having any issues before I parked it the night before. I tried jumping it and the local auto store said the battery was good aftert they tested it. Replaced the battery in both smart keys. The most activity I can get is the 'Lock' light comes on briefly on the push button start and the immobilizer light flashed on the dash. Will this fix help this issue?

Thanks.

 

[Gryphon3815]

I read this chain and have a question, my car looks fine till i turn the ignition key and then bam it dies, i have to touch the jump starter to it for a second and its back and running fine, had the battery checked, came out fine, charging system check(O Reilly and dealership), all came out good.

i did not see this issue till the Nissan dealership replaced my ignition wires as the factory ones got bitten out by a family of chipmunks. One week after that my starting woes started and wont go away, i even got a trickle charger and leave it connected to the car, so every night its plugged into it, however its still dying out. I somehow do not think its a battery issue- why - i had several different checks done on all the battery, alternator etc and all seem fine. I will mention that someone told me they had a similar issue and apparently there is a connection issue that the nissan guys goofed up with and i have to take it to a Infinity dealership to get it fixed.
Any help would be great.

 

[pjdavep]

i did not see this issue till the Nissan dealership replaced my ignition wires as the factory ones got bitten out by a family of chipmunks. One week after that my starting woes started and wont go away,

Check that the connections to the battery are snug. Sounds like loose ground.

 

[Ntpier]

I've been meaning to make this modification for some time and finally got around to looking at it today. I took several pics because I think many of us in here could use some visuals to make sure we understand what needs to be done.

I located the connector on the negative terminal of the battery.
View attachment 911

The clip can be removed by pressing on the release tab near the bottom of the clip and pulling the clip out.View attachment 912
View attachment 916

Once the clip is out you can see there are 4 wires. In the case of my 2017 model, there is one red, one pink/purple, one green and one teal looking color.View attachment 914View attachment 913

I was planning to test the wires to find the 5v one that @primov8 mentions but my meter pins are much to large to fit inside the connector.View attachment 915

Assuming I can find a pin that is small enough to fit inside the connector and locate the 5v wire, I'm not sure how best to disconnect it. De-pinning the wire from the connector looks like it would require special tools. @primov8 Can you post a link to the product you used? I believe you said it was some type of connector?

Which color wire did you cut?

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[G-181149]

Is there a risk that when you cut the red wire at the IPDM that the alternator can OVER charge the battery on long trips?

No

 

[G-730172]

My 2019 QX80 continues to have some kind of battery drain. My son watched the factory DVD system for about 25 minutes, all of a sudden everything clicked off. A few minutes later I tried to start the car and it was dead. My dealer has already made an computer adjustment and replaced the battery once. I love Infiniti, as a matter of fact this is the 6th one that I have owned. I can’t believe that a $72,000.00 car will not start after playing the factory DVD system about 25 minutes. Something is not right. Is anyone else experiencing this??????

I have a Qx80 Infinity, I am having battery draining issues, this is my 3rd battery I replaced