Anybody familiar with a Timer Module Time Control Unit ?

[Huskyguy68]

What this unit does in vehicles : A Nissan Time Control Unit (TCU), commonly called a timer module.
Common Failure Symptoms
If this module fails, you might experience:

• Interior lights failing to turn off or not turning on at all.
• Intermittent wipers failing to sweep at set intervals or parking incorrectly.
• Door locks locking/unlocking erratically.

So what I'm experiencing on my 06 Xtrail (Canada model SUV) is power door locks /key fob not locking -locking.
Rear defroster will not turn on (that is combined with the heated sideview mirrors)
All overhead dome lights will not turn on. (Front map lights/middle dome/rear cargo hatch dome).
No buzzing Alert Warning sound when exiting the vehicle with head lights on.
Everything thing else works as expected. Rear and front wipers works/engine and power windows/heat/etc all good.

My little story: Two weeks ago I decided to brighten up my rear cargo area with a strip of LED 12V strip lights. (I previously did the same thing last year, but under my front dash/light up the foot wells. That went good, no issues.)
I spliced into my two wires for the cargo rear dome light. Had the battery disconnected. Could not get the LED strip to light up . Did all sorts of things to see what I did wrong. Gave up on the splicing into the dome light. I found a rear cargo accessory port (like a cigg lighter socket) and recalled I had something to plug into it. So I spliced two wires into that rear accessory port, hooked up my battery...LED strips lit up nicely.
Then I noticed I had no dome lights. Figured I blew a dome bulb. I happened to have another one on hand. Nope, no light. Then I noticed all three dome lights were off.

Eventually I discovered: No rear defogger function, my power door locks were not functioning , on the door itself and the Nissan key fob. The warning buzzer to remember to turn off headlights not working.
So over the course of the last two weeks I kept Googling/Youtubing what went wrong. Everything pointed to checking the mini fuses under the hood and under the dash. Checked them all , 5 times over. With a test light, with my OBD scanner which has it's own multimeter. Did all the tests with both tools I could find...nothing. I even did two ECU resets, which did nothing. I put in new 10A mini fuses , in the slots marked for rear defroster, Meter/room lamps/ECU...nothing.
I even seen a video saying I could pull my timer control unit, unplug and wait 15-30 minutes. Took the top part of my dash off, found three plugs and unplugged all three....waited....replugged, did ECU drain/battery disconnect.....nothing. Grrrrrrr.

So now I might be looking at having to buy a used or new Time Control Unit.......which I can install myself, but it's the cost involved, going by Google. The part itself might cost me $50-150 used. Or new from Nissan some rediculous price (my guess is $300-500. PLUS I keep reading if I replace that part , Nissan might need to reprogram it .....and whatever Fee they want for that....guessing $150-$250.

What have I not checked? what specific module or relay or fuse could be blown, besides this TCU, that might be a lot cheaper to replace?

I can get by with no dome lights (I have the under dash led strip/my rear led cargo strip working). But I know I will miss the rear defogger/side heated mirrors. The auto door locking/key fob power locks is a big pain in the butt. I cannot even lock my rear hatch, it has no hatch key lock . All I can do is manually lock each of the four doors and set my aftermarket alarm. The rear hatch is unlocked.

 

[Not Sure]

You need to get an all data or similar subscription for your car so you can get the wiring diagrams for these circuits to be able to properly diagnose the issue. I am no longer an automotive mechanic so I don’t have access to this information anymore, otherwise I’d gladly look it up for you.

What I can tell you is NEVER wire any aftermarket stuff into a modern cars pre existing circuits like this. If you absolutely have to have these lights operate seamlessly with the dome lights the best thing to do is install a photo cell that will turn them on when the dome light comes on. At the absolute minimum a relay needs to be installed in the dome lights circuit to activate them, they need to draw their power from a second dedicated circuit.

Modern cars are not like older ones and there electrical systems are very sensitive and only designed to work with the factory provided loads. In many cases the systems are Can bus or PWM not constant on off circuits even on something like a lighting circuit. Even EMI from aftermarket accessories that are completely separate from the cars electrical system can wreck havoc with it.

 

[SC Maintenance]

They never sold a Xtrail here nor have I ever looked at one. However I can give you some generic advice on Nissan modules in that they will often tell you they need to be "programmed" but thats not always true.

Anything controlling the key security - usually the ECM and BCM do need to be programmed / vin coded / key coded.

Often later in life Nissan would sell a generic module and program per application - once they were out of production. Basically because there was no firmware loaded. So now the dealer gets to charge for programming also.

For most other stuff if you get the identical part number from a recycler there plug and play. But it must be the IDENTICAL number - not just look the same, because again - could be the same module with different firmware.

 

[Huskyguy68]

They never sold a Xtrail here nor have I ever looked at one. However I can give you some generic advice on Nissan modules in that they will often tell you they need to be "programmed" but thats not always true.

Anything controlling the key security - usually the ECM and BCM do need to be programmed / vin coded / key coded.

Often later in life Nissan would sell a generic module and program per application - once they were out of production. Basically because there was no firmware loaded. So now the dealer gets to charge for programming also.

For most other stuff if you get the identical part number from a recycler there plug and play. But it must be the IDENTICAL number - not just look the same, because again - could be the same module with different firmware.

good advice...so I called my local Nissan parts dept.
New part is called a Smart entrance Controller. ...$750 plus tax out of Calgary/100 klms away or so.
So forget that.
Parts guy checked with his service tech who was actually familiar with my issue. He said I can get a used part, no need to reprogram that particular part.
I called around a few auto recyclers. One junkyard 30 minutes from me, I texted them photos of mine...$150.

Then I called on a junkyard way the heck out in the far suburbs. (90 minute drive freeway one way) .....told that person what I need...two Xtrails in the yard. ...$20!!!!!.......I used a fuel calculator off Google. (gas is friggin expensive in my city Vancouver Canada...even before Iran kerfuffle)....a return trip of 135 klms to go fetch this part will cost me $26 in regular gas.

I think well worth the drive this Sunday .
And yes. I too read the part must be identical.....mine is a 06 Xtrail.....the far out junkyard is a 05. I have pics and photos on my cell, including the serial number of the Smart entrance Controller. (I removed it last week to see if unplugging it for 30-45 minutes would reset it , as I read it might do that, but it did nothing).

These Xtrails were sold all over the world , except in the USA market. ...Mexico, Canada, Russia, philipines, Thailand, you name it. Unknown in USA, unless you see one with Mexican plates or canadian plates. A very good vehicles with a decent 4x4 system and a Altima 2.5L . Canada only got the 2.5L gas, worldwide it was sold with gas, deisel and even a hi-po turbo 4 cylinder in Japan.
Tons of Xtrail forums online from all the countries.
I bought it in 2015, now 232,000 klms, runs great, clean interior, exterior 85% nice(scratches, dings and dents from previous two owners).Only has 165Hp, 4 speed auto/OD.....but with fresh oil/filter/plugs, clean tranny fluid, upgraded ground wires etc, it zips along pretty good and keeps up with modern SUVs and cars in traffic or the freeway. Not a SUV rocket, but scoots pretty good and gets decent mpgs , as reliable as a used CRV/Rav4.

Having said all this...lol.....no more automotive unicorns for Me!
Tired of hunting down parts for a SUV only sold in Canada for two model years. Rockauto was not bad with stocking some common items. I just want a vehicle that I can walk into or call up my local auto parts store and they have what I need. Like a Rav4 or Corolla.
It's now a 20 year old vehicle, not looking to dump any more big ticket money into it .
If I ever get any big expensive engine or transmission repairs, heck, sell it as a mechanic's special for $500.
As is, worth about $4 to 5K in my local area. Obviously a bit less with electronic glitch I currently have.