was driving the Armada today down HWY 99 doing about 50MPH, suddenly out of nowhere it just died, the car slowed down and I stepped on the gas and nothing. I just pulled along the side of the road. Afterwards I couldn't get the car to start. Just clicks and I hear it cranking but no juice. Now the "service engine soon" light is on, and the red battery light, nothing else. But I don't think it's the battery (we tried jumping it & all electronics work fine).

The Armada is a 2005 model with 56K on it, I bought the car back in FEB, of 2008 with 54K on it, I rarely drive the car (once every 2 weeks).

Just like that, funny thing was the electronics were all working fine. radio was still on, just no power (engine just died).

I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. Just drove it for 10-15 minutes only.

Couple things about my Armada:

- Unmodified, all stock except for a 10K HID kit
- No system, SUBS or amps.
- Had plugs, caps, and rotors done at 50K.
- Car drove with NO ISSUES until today.

The Armada is not our daily driver, it's garaged everyday driven once every two weeks or so. I don't leave the alarm armed cause it's in the garage.

Any ideas what it could be?

I've considered dead (BAD) battery, but I tried jumping and didn't work, all my electronics work fine, radio, windows, etc.

I've also considered I'm out of gas, since I had around a 1/4 or less tank left, but my gas warning light never came on, but I do have the issue with my gas gauge where it won't go all the way up to full, just goes up to 3/4 full, can't seem to get it all the way up. But I've run out of gas in my Honda Accord before and before the car dies from no gas it kind of stall, there was no stalling, just died (engine only).

* ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!*

I'm suspecting you're out of fuel, given that you say that your fuel gauge never goes above 3/4. Probably a bad fuel gauge sending unit, not an uncommon problem with the 05s and 06s. The same happened to our 06, my wife was driving it around town, and it just died. The fix involves dropping the fuel tank, so it's not a cheap fix. Did you get a warranty with the truck when you bought it?

Keith

Thanks for the reply Keith,

I'm assuming that my warranty will cover the fix, since my Armada is still under 60K. I'll try putting some gas in her today. That's so odd, cause I never got any gas lights

Yep, sounds like fuel sending unit and based on what you said, it should be covered under your warranty. You may have to pay a $50 deductible though!

Yep, sounds like fuel sending unit and based on what you said, it should be covered under your warranty. You may have to pay a $50 deductible though!

I rather pay $50 to get it resolved, never had this problem on any of my previous SUV's so I thought it was weird. Towing cost alone was $100 to have it towed 4 miles on a flat bed!

Thanks for the reply Keith,

I'm assuming that my warranty will cover the fix, since my Armada is still under 60K. I'll try putting some gas in her today. That's so odd, cause I never got any gas lights

The Armada warranty is for 36K, unless you have an extended warranty. The 60K warranty is for the powertrain. My guess is that it will not be covered unless you have the extended warranty.

As far as the fuel light coming on, your sending unit is telling the system that you still have 1/4 gas remaining, so the light won't come on.

Keith

The Armada warranty is for 36K, unless you have an extended warranty. The 60K warranty is for the powertrain. My guess is that it will not be covered unless you have the extended warranty.


CRAP!:mad:

anyone else have a problem with this being a warranty issue as well?

If it is the fuel sending unit that would be BS for Nissan not to cover it. It is a VERY common problem (I had it on my 07) that they should release a TSB on.

However, in my research it seems that some people (like me) cannot go up to a full reading on the tank whereas others would not register below 1/4. I am not aware of people having the same symptoms for the fuel sending unit although it is possible.

Don't discount the battery. On my wife's (gf at the time) RX300 she had what appeared to be a dead battery. I jumped it several times to no avail so I figured it was something else. It turned out there is a difference between a discharged battery and a DEAD battery. A dead battery cannot hold a charge at all no matter how much you jump it. I learned when the same thing happened on my sister's Explorer.

If the battery is original it is worth replacing anyway. Throw some gas in it and at least narrow down the issue.

Its the fuel sending unit. Damn it. I put in a gallon of gas and bam the engine fired right up. Now I have to fight with the dealers to get it covered.

Its the fuel sending unit. Damn it. I put in a gallon of gas and bam the engine fired right up. Now I have to fight with the dealers to get it covered.

If you search here you will find a lot of people who had this same problem. Perhaps you should print out the threads to demonstrait that this is a common problem.

Its the fuel sending unit. Damn it. I put in a gallon of gas and bam the engine fired right up. Now I have to fight with the dealers to get it covered.

At least you know what the problem is, and you won't be paying the dealer to "diagnose" it for you (read, change stuff until they stumble on the problem). The Mass Air Flow Sensor on my Maxima failed a few years ago, the dealer added fuel, re-programmed the keys, changed the battery, before they finally determined that the sensor was bad. Worse thing is, they spilled gas all over the side of the car, they didn't tell me that they had re-programmed the keys, which I found out when my wife's key wouldn't work, and they didn't bother re-programming the radio stations when they swapped the battery.

Nissan service sucks!

PS - you might try using a reputable local repair shop to do this fix for you, since you know what the problem is now. That is, if the dealer won't cover it for you.

Keith

~~~~~PS - you might try using a reputable local repair shop to do this fix for you, since you know what the problem is now. That is, if the dealer won't cover it for you.

Keith

Excellent advice, considering they may charge you less for the work. I would get an estimate from them and the dealer for specifically changing the unit.

As a side note the fuel pump apparently can be accessed from inside the cabin but you have to take apart a bunch of stuff. Dealers seem not to do this because it is more work and you could stink up the interior with gas but if you plan a DIY fix it might be easier than dropping the tank.

just my opinion... take it to you local autozone or whatever and have them test your alternator. The battery sounds fine. You can run a car on a dead battery (after jumping it...or after its last start) but you cannot run it on a bad alternator.

Typical symptom of a bad alternator is being able to drive it a bit and the car will die. The electronics will probably still work on the weak battery but you wont be able to start.

I just had this happen to my 2004 Armada and had it towed to the Nissan dealership and they diagnosed as a "faulty IPDM." I looked it up and an IPSM is an Intelligence Power Distribution Module.

Just before it died, though, I had an 1/8 tank showing but no warning light. I wonder if all I should have done was put gas in the tank (which I was on my way to do!) instead of getting it towed and charged $400 for the replacement. I pick it up in two days because the dealership didn't have the part.

The only time mine died was when i had to replace the battery.

Welcome to CA Comixfan!

Great info. Thanks!

The only time mine died was when i had to replace the battery.

When our battery died in the Armada, we couldnt take the key out of the ignition :eek: Apparently there is an interlock switch that links the shifter, brake pedal and ignition. The battery was so dead that the switch didnt get enough power to unlatch the ignition to get the key out. $180 later we had a new battery :crikey:

Welcome to CA Comixfan!

Great info. Thanks!

Thanks, BlakSpyda. When I came home from the dealer I immediately went online looking for someplace I could hopefully commiserate with fellow Armada owners. I'm glad this forum exists!

Yeah, me too. I found it looking for rims... 2 and 1/2 years ago!:D