Service Notice or Precautions: Fail-Safe

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Altima. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The TCM has an electronic Fail-Safe (limp home mode). This allows the vehicle to be driven even if a major electrical input/output device circuit is damaged.

Under Fail-Safe, the vehicle always runs in third gear, even with a shift lever position of 1, 2 or D. The customer may complain of sluggish or poor acceleration.

When the ignition key is turned ON following Fail-Safe operation, A/T check (position) indicator lamp blinks for about 8 seconds. [For "TCM Self-diagnostic Procedure (No Tools)", Refer to "TCM SELF-DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE (NO TOOLS) ".]

The blinking of the A/T check (position) indicator lamp for about 8 seconds will appear only once and be cleared. The customer may resume normal driving conditions.

Always follow the "Work Flow" (Refer to "WORK FLOW ").

The SELF-DIAGNOSIS results will be as follows:

The first SELF-DIAGNOSIS will indicate damage to the vehicle speed sensor or the revolution sensor.
During the next SELF-DIAGNOSIS, performed after checking the sensor, no damages will be indicated.