PH98I30

I replaced my alternator 2 years ago and it has failed. I don't remember the brand but I got it from Napa. A friend put it in. He is an ASE mechanic and did a good job. Now its making a whirring grinding type noise, sparks are coming out the back and I can smell burning rubber(probably the belt.) So, what is the best replacement alternator brand? What was OEM for our car? I'm putting this one in myself.

LWilspeed

I don't recall what was OEM on the maxima but I have had pretty good success with Bosch alternators. If you can afford it I would recommend buying a "new" alternator rather than "remanufactured", the new seem to last much better than the reman units.

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

My advice would be to get yourself familiar with the removal and installation of the unit ... it's not complicated, just a little awkward and consumes a little bit of time.

Once you're able to tackle it yourself, purchase a replacement unit, either re-manned or new, but making certain it includes a life time warranty.

PH98I30

I can do the mechanical work. The only reason I didn't last time is that I was busy and had no time. I've done timing belts, O2 sensors, brakes and power steering pumps. This shouldn't be hard. I'm leaning towards a Hitachi or Denso alternator. Are the store regulars AutoZone and O'Reilly's crap?

Maxima 97 SE

2310M-0L706RW And 2310M-31U02R, which is the one I have in my car. These are oem original Nissan alternators. The only difference is that 0L706RW is remanufactured in Mexico where as the one I have 31U02R is remanufactured in USA but both are made in Japan which is what the label says on the alternators.

bigd480

I used the Bosch AL2365N - one of the few new units you can get - about $140 on Amazon or RockAuto and has lifetime warranty. And yes - all the parts-store reman ones are a total crapshoot.

More info:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...nid=456&jpid=4

lux97Max

iTrader: (24)

There was this guy not to long gloating over about this alternator for our cars that cost 28.00. Here is the thread and link to alternator
https://maxima.org/forums/4th-generation-maxima-1995-1999/688280-alternator-deal.html

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

I read that link when it first got posted. I don't know how that could be legit. Six days ago when my alternator went up in flames, I'm happy to say that I NEVER considered trying that.

I put a reman from O'reilly Auto on my car. Of course six days is too soon to say anything.

Bobo

I made a comment in February 2009 about using a rebuilt starter when the one on my 95SE failed. At that time, I was advised on the .org to only go with a new alternator when the time comes. 6.5 years later the original OEM alternator has never been replaced. I will go OEM when it gives up the ghost.

PH98I30

That's why I was asking about the OEM brand of alts. Do all the Gen 4 alts work in all our years? Are they interchangeable from 95-99 or do some years not work in others?

Maxima 97 SE

The alternator I got 2310M-31U02R oem Nissan was from an Infiniti i30 1996-99 model which was sitting at pick n pull and the alternator was in brand new condition which I got really lucky with. My original alternator lasted me 267,000 miles before it had gone bad and now I am expecting this one to last a very long time as well even though my car has 320,000 now. All maxima 95-99 and Infiniti i30 96-99 have same parts and alternators. Your best bet is to go to a local junk yard or pick n pull and get an original one from there and save your self 400.00 for a new one from the dealer and make sure it has sticker that says Nissan on it. I had paid only 25.00 to pick n pull and you have to remove it yourself which was like 10 minutes. But here a link to the cheapest and best deal for a brand new original Nissan oem alternator on eBay for 190.00 dollars which I think you can't beat. Here's the link http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-1999-Nissan-Maxima-Alternator-Generator-OEM-NEW-Genuine-2310M-0L706R-/321821366780?fits=Year%3A1997%7CMake%3ANissan%7CModel%3AMaxima&hash=item4aee0c59fc&vxp=mtr

PH98I30

I was going to check out the yards this weekend. There are 3- Gen 4 Maxi's that came in this week. 2- 97's and 1- 98. I will check the yard and hopefully find a recently replaced one. And yes, they are $25. Thanks, it beats paying $190 and I will get some removal and installation experience.

Maxima 97 SE

If you look at the pictures of the alternator that is being sold on eBay you will see a silver sticker that has the Nissan logo on it and it has the model number on it as well. That is what you should look for when you go to the yard and pull out an alternator is for that sticker which will verify of it being original.

PH98I30

Thank you. I will be looking for that.

PH98I30

I pulled a alternator from the JY and replaced my old one. IT was half price day this weekend at pick a part, so I got it for $12.50. I will rebuild the old one. The car is up and running. Thanks for every ones help. Not too difficult of a job. The worst was the brittle plastic connectors on the AC and alt plugs.

Maxima 97 SE

Is the alternator an original Nissan one?

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

I ... gesss ... I'mmm ... nottt ... quite sure why, after your 16 to 19 year old alternator failed ... you'd replace it with another 16 to 19 year old alternator.

Assuming you have your salvage yard unit rebuilt, you're certainly not gonna get a LLT.

Maxima 97 SE

The alternator I got was a newer replacement alternator that Nissan sold. How I know this is because the original part number is totally different than the one I have and the original part number does not end with an R because it was not remanufctured it was new and the ones Nissan sells now are remanufctured.

PH98I30

The alternator I pulled was a Nissan alternator. It had Nissan logo stamped into the side. The labels were on the alt but were peeling off and messed up. It was pretty clean, so it was a replacement in that car... it wasn't the original. Whether it was a rebuild or not, I don't know. My other one had the bearings go out. I'm satisfied for now. If I have to do this job again it will go much faster now that I know the nuances.

reallywildstuff

I found this thread while researching my alternator needs...I don't believe the statement above is 100% correct.

"125 amps" apparently refers to the 1996-1997 spec part (2310M31U02RW) - Bosch AL2365N ($143.55) or AL2365X ($208.12) , Hitachi ALR0020 (most expensive $280)

compared with the "110 amps" on the 1998-1999 spec part (2310M0L706RW) - Bosch AL2389X ($165.46), Hitachi "W01331834092HIT" ($198.39)

more info in this thread:

https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...t-new-one.html

I grant that the parts may _interchange_ 96-97 to 98-99 - but I don't think its correct to say that they all have "same parts and alternators".