Hello everyone:

I think I am in a big problem. Hopefully someone will be able to give
me some idea about what to do. Last Saturday I tried to start my
xterra and it wouldn't start, the headlights didn't work, the remote
worked only partially. It just made a click noise. After waiting for a
couple of minutes I found that the stereo was working but again
nothing else worked. So I called some one to tow the xterra. He
came with one of those big trucks and tried to jump start it once.
But nothing happened, it was behaving exactly as before.
The Nissan dealer looked at it and said that the computer for the
car is bad, smart control module is bad, and transmission control
module is bad. They are saying that I have to pay for it because
it is not covered by the warranty (my xterra is a 2000 model with
less than 20,000 miles on it). They are saying that what happened
to the xterra could only happen if it was hit by lightening (it was a
bright cloudless day) or if someone tried to jump start it with
reverse polarity. The persontowed the car has been in business
for 30 years. He is a professional.

Now what are my options? Do I have to pay the bill? Aren't they
suppose to take care of the problem?

Please help me out with this. Thank you for your time.

-Zsi

Zsi97@yahoo.com

If he had applied the jump backwards I doubt the vehicle's reaction would have been the same after turning the key. This might preclude the tow truck driver from being at fault.

However, a friend of mine had all his light bulbs burnt out in a Corrola from a tow truck jump. I find it hard to believe the various computers in the X are not reverse-polarity and overvoltage protected with a zener diode shunt and fuse.

In any case you need to get the vehicle repaired. Perhaps then more info will be uncovered.

I had a Dodge Dakota that while driving it all the gauges pegged and everything came on that wasn't already, pulled over had it towed to the nearest dealer and when they looked at it said the CPU was bad and had never seen a bad one before, the whole thing, not just components. so they had to order the part as it was non-standard and didnt carry one, even at a truck dealership. Got it, put it in, viola! it's fine. It was covered by the warrenty but I beleive I had low miles.

If you have 20,000 and it is not covered then I would have them write a statement explaining they think it is lighting, explain why you can rule out the tow truck driver, and submit it to your insurance, lightening should be covered. you'll have to pay a deductible but it wioll be far lower.

Also what are the chances someone tried to hotwire it frying the electrical in an attempt to disable the security?

Somebody remind me what the cutoff dates for the warranty is. Both types os the stock warranty.

I have a 2000 at 29398

3 year /36k bumper to bumper
5/60 powertrain

Thanks I just crossed 30k