Im up to my 3rd alternator... soon to see a 4th >:o
06-30-2003, 07:47 PM
#1
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Im up to my 3rd alternator... soon to see a 4th >:o
Alternator #1 - oem alt died around feb this year, this was that whining noise problem i posted about this past winter
Alternator #2 - got a "rebuilt" one from a parts store, that died around late may
Alternator #3 - the oem alt from my parts car, which is now on its way out
all 3 followed the same symptoms... the whining noise develops as the alt starts crapping out and without the alt to supply charge to the battery, the battery eventually dies
now i might have a few ideas i can try, but would like additional thoughts..
in case this may be a source of troubleshooting; which i somewhat doubt due to its inconsistency........ on alt #1, i ran my stereo (subs + 600w amp) about 5-6 months before it died. On alt #2, i had my stereo in for only about a month, but that still died 4 months later. On alt #3 i now have my stereo back in and its dying
i keep going through alternators in this car like gas
Alternator #2 - got a "rebuilt" one from a parts store, that died around late may
Alternator #3 - the oem alt from my parts car, which is now on its way out
all 3 followed the same symptoms... the whining noise develops as the alt starts crapping out and without the alt to supply charge to the battery, the battery eventually dies
now i might have a few ideas i can try, but would like additional thoughts..
in case this may be a source of troubleshooting; which i somewhat doubt due to its inconsistency........ on alt #1, i ran my stereo (subs + 600w amp) about 5-6 months before it died. On alt #2, i had my stereo in for only about a month, but that still died 4 months later. On alt #3 i now have my stereo back in and its dying
i keep going through alternators in this car like gas
06-30-2003, 09:30 PM
#4
Re: Im up to my 3rd alternator... soon to see a 4th >:o
Originally posted by Maximan190
Alternator #1 - oem alt died around feb this year, this was that whining noise problem i posted about this past winter
Alternator #2 - got a "rebuilt" one from a parts store, that died around late may
Alternator #3 - the oem alt from my parts car, which is now on its way out
all 3 followed the same symptoms... the whining noise develops as the alt starts crapping out and without the alt to supply charge to the battery, the battery eventually dies
now i might have a few ideas i can try, but would like additional thoughts..
in case this may be a source of troubleshooting; which i somewhat doubt due to its inconsistency........ on alt #1, i ran my stereo (subs + 600w amp) about 5-6 months before it died. On alt #2, i had my stereo in for only about a month, but that still died 4 months later. On alt #3 i now have my stereo back in and its dying
i keep going through alternators in this car like gas
Alternator #1 - oem alt died around feb this year, this was that whining noise problem i posted about this past winter
Alternator #2 - got a "rebuilt" one from a parts store, that died around late may
Alternator #3 - the oem alt from my parts car, which is now on its way out
all 3 followed the same symptoms... the whining noise develops as the alt starts crapping out and without the alt to supply charge to the battery, the battery eventually dies
now i might have a few ideas i can try, but would like additional thoughts..
in case this may be a source of troubleshooting; which i somewhat doubt due to its inconsistency........ on alt #1, i ran my stereo (subs + 600w amp) about 5-6 months before it died. On alt #2, i had my stereo in for only about a month, but that still died 4 months later. On alt #3 i now have my stereo back in and its dying
i keep going through alternators in this car like gas
result >>> no amp, but great reliable car. and no more alternators.
my two cents.
07-02-2003, 12:43 PM
#6
sounds like you need to change your listening habits also. do you listen to the stereo for long periods of time while the car is off? this can severely drain the battery, then the alternator has a horrible time trying to charge the system back up as soon as you start the car. this can cause it to overheat and blow up parts.
the whining noise... was it bearings or electrical parts whining? if it's bearings, another possible cause is you tighten your belts too much and cause it to ruin bearings... then the stuff in the alternator begins to self-destruct because of the extra heat produced by the bad bearings.
the whining noise... was it bearings or electrical parts whining? if it's bearings, another possible cause is you tighten your belts too much and cause it to ruin bearings... then the stuff in the alternator begins to self-destruct because of the extra heat produced by the bad bearings.
07-02-2003, 07:42 PM
#7
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Originally posted by Matt93SE
sounds like you need to change your listening habits also. do you listen to the stereo for long periods of time while the car is off? this can severely drain the battery, then the alternator has a horrible time trying to charge the system back up as soon as you start the car. this can cause it to overheat and blow up parts.
the whining noise... was it bearings or electrical parts whining? if it's bearings, another possible cause is you tighten your belts too much and cause it to ruin bearings... then the stuff in the alternator begins to self-destruct because of the extra heat produced by the bad bearings.
sounds like you need to change your listening habits also. do you listen to the stereo for long periods of time while the car is off? this can severely drain the battery, then the alternator has a horrible time trying to charge the system back up as soon as you start the car. this can cause it to overheat and blow up parts.
the whining noise... was it bearings or electrical parts whining? if it's bearings, another possible cause is you tighten your belts too much and cause it to ruin bearings... then the stuff in the alternator begins to self-destruct because of the extra heat produced by the bad bearings.
the only belt ive touched since ive owned the car is the alt belt, (i didnt put on a UDP yet so i havent messed with all the belts) even the factory alt made the noise
07-02-2003, 10:04 PM
#8
How about when idling
Do you bump your stereo when idling at long periods at a time (stop lights, parking lots, driveways, etc) Putting a heavy demand on a alty at constant low rpm isn't good. How about your power and ground cables, are they the proper size for "your" system? Wouldn't cables that are too small also put a heavy load on the alty, basically choking/starving the alty of that needed electron flow.
07-02-2003, 10:57 PM
#9
Re: How about when idling
Originally posted by CandiMan
Do you bump your stereo when idling at long periods at a time (stop lights, parking lots, driveways, etc) Putting a heavy demand on a alty at constant low rpm isn't good. How about your power and ground cables, are they the proper size for "your" system? Wouldn't cables that are too small also put a heavy load on the alty, basically choking/starving the alty of that needed electron flow.
Do you bump your stereo when idling at long periods at a time (stop lights, parking lots, driveways, etc) Putting a heavy demand on a alty at constant low rpm isn't good. How about your power and ground cables, are they the proper size for "your" system? Wouldn't cables that are too small also put a heavy load on the alty, basically choking/starving the alty of that needed electron flow.
back to the point........
wires have a finite resistance. small wire has more resistance than a big wire. (for an illustration, try blowing air through a tiny coffee straw, then get one of those big McDonald's straws and blow through it. BIG difference!)
there's voltage drop in the power cables due to the resistance in it, so if the amp is trying to put out 300W of power (assume the amp is 100% efficient.. it's closer to 35%, but we won't go there)..
Assume there is NO resistance in the cables.... the amp sees 12V.
300W/12V = 25A so the amp pulls 25A of current from the battery. no cable loss.
now assume the're 1.5V of voltage drop due to the small power cable.
300W/10.5V = 28.6A
so the amp has to draw MORE current from the battery to drive the speaker at the same power level... but the battery is still putting out 12V, right? (yes, I'm right. don't argue.) so that's 12V at 28.6A...
the battery is spitting out 28.6A*12V = 343W of power!
that's 43W more than the amp is using...
where'd that power go?
HEAT. it's literally cooking your wire. feel your power cables after the stereo has been at full power for a while. if they're more than slightly warm to the touch, then you need bigger cables.
07-03-2003, 12:08 AM
#12
matt,
as i have been on here, i have read by now, of course, scores of posts from you, perhaps hundreds. and when i read that above one, i was like "holy sh*t, this is this guy's area of total dominance." you nailed that to the wall.
as i have been on here, i have read by now, of course, scores of posts from you, perhaps hundreds. and when i read that above one, i was like "holy sh*t, this is this guy's area of total dominance." you nailed that to the wall.
07-03-2003, 12:40 AM
#13
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 80
I bogged out in about a foot of rain that fell in 30 mins. It displaced my bushings which caused the alternator to die. I fixxed that, then it rained again and my alternator shorted out.
Any suggestions on a good replacement alternator?
Any suggestions on a good replacement alternator?
07-03-2003, 09:12 AM
#15
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 80
I wish I could do that. Here in Calgary we can have all 4 seasons in 20 minutes. Hell yesterday we had +25 celcius when I woke up at 9 am, then it dropped to about +5 celcius, then it hailed, rained and back up to about 28 by 2:30ish.
My maxima is my everyday driver and I'm not going to not drive it the rain, simply because I have to get places. I have a skirt on the bottom of my car and was thinking of moving my skidplate more towards the front of the car but I don't know if that would be such a good idea. Leaving the oilpan exposed and all.
My maxima is my everyday driver and I'm not going to not drive it the rain, simply because I have to get places. I have a skirt on the bottom of my car and was thinking of moving my skidplate more towards the front of the car but I don't know if that would be such a good idea. Leaving the oilpan exposed and all.
07-03-2003, 10:57 AM
#16
water will still get around the skidplates and whatever covers are down there. if you MUST drive through high water, then do it slowly. you can't just bulldoze through it like your car is a 4x4. if you do, expect to keep replacing alternators. it's that simple.
07-03-2003, 11:10 AM
#18
if you're going to go through deep water like that, you need to slow down WAY more than that. like 2-3mph (3-4KPH) maximum.. any splashing at all will cause it to dunk the alternator, then you're skrood.
07-03-2003, 12:29 PM
#20
Maxima != Off-road vehicle. If the water is that deep, then you're no longer technically on a road.. you're driving through a lake. stop the car, back up, or shut it off.
Otherwise, we'll start to call you Russ.
Otherwise, we'll start to call you Russ.
i used to off-road in my max, and I know I'm not the only one 
07-04-2003, 12:15 AM
#24
no... I'd been at a party until 3am, after working a 14 hour day at work.. I'd had a couple [dozen] beers and "nodded off" while driving home.. parked it in a drainage ditch about 50 ft from a river. I'm lucky to be alive at this point.... only thing that kept me from sinking the car in the river was hitting a tree stump buried in the mud.
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