Working on a 2008 Nissan X-Trail with a P1110 code and a crank sensor circuit fault that came from the dealer who replaced the crank sensor, not once, not twice, not thrice, but 4 TIMES!! Talk about the definition of insanity.

Anyway, their verdict was the car could not be repaired. So I get called out. Anyone who works on Nissans in which the engines are transversely mounted knows how much it is a pisser to get to the crank sensor, especially in a 4WD. So the easiest option is to get it at the ECU.

But NOOOO, Nisan decided to use tamper-proof bolts on the ECU. What the hell?? I have never seen this before. Has anyone ever encountered this?

---

I've encountered it on Audi's. I was able to just cut a slot in the heads and use a flat head screwdriver. Seems like the German cars come out with the over-engineered stuff first, but then eventually all the other car makers end up overcomplicating their designs as well. :-/

Steven McGrew wrote on May 30^th, 2018 at 8:26pm:

I've encountered it on Audi's. I was able to just cut a slot in the heads and use a flat head screwdriver. Seems like the German cars come out with the over-engineered stuff first, but then eventually all the other car makers end up overcomplicating their designs as well. :-/

Ain't that the truth! It's like a competition to see who can be the biggest jack ass.   ::)

Steven McGrew wrote on May 30^th, 2018 at 8:26pm:

I've encountered it on Audi's. I was able to just cut a slot in the heads and use a flat head screwdriver. Seems like the German cars come out with the over-engineered stuff first, but then eventually all the other car makers end up overcomplicating their designs as well.

Over-complicating design is one thing (hello BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW), but denial of access to a component that everyone knows access will be required to do testing and repair a vehicle sometime in its lifetime is just assholic and cuntish behavior. What next is in the future for us? Riveted brake pads? Connectorless components? Wire harnesses hidden under unboltable body panels? BULL!! This is just a big wag of the middle finger to vehicle owners and techies.  >:(

also have seen that on Mitsubishi pcm's and the newer Subaru ecm mounting brackets are a joke

so what did you end up finding

There was a break in the wiring harness. The rubber grommet was out of place where the engine harness enters the firewall.