My car's been sick for the past few days. Since I'm away at school, and nobody uses the car, the battery died (I know, I'll disconnect it from now on). When I jumped it, it ran fine for a while, but in the middle of the day it just started to get weaker and weaker. Eventually I left it and came back and it wouldn't start. This happened about 3 times during the day, with a weird smell coming from the vents and lingering under the hood the whole day. I jumped it yesterday and it stalled after I disconnected the two batteries after about 10 mins. Is my battery overcharged, or do you think there are more serious problems?

-95SE

 

Maybe your alternator bud...
check it out

 

or starter

get someone to start the car for you, while you bang on the starter with a screwdriver or something. if the solenoid is stuck, this may get it going. when it works, drive straight to autozone, get a new starter for like $125 after core exchange.

 

Alternator

 

Well, I searched alternator troubles and became enlightened. Turns out the alternator is the most probable cause of the problem. However, it looked like there were only recalls on 97-98 models. I gave my Nissan dealership a call, and gave then my VIN, and they said my starter had been recalled too. So hopefully by Monday I'll be on the road again with a tuned up, running Maxima. But it looks like I'll be a homebody until then.

-95SE