It is raining here in Vancouver today and in the morning I noticed the windshield wiper is a little slower than usual. I thought it was just blade. Then in the evening I noticed dash light is dimmer (than usual) as well. When I came home, after I pull into the parking spot, the headlight isn't bright at all when I looked the reflect of the light from the wall.

At first I thought it was the battery is dying, cause it is ~3 years old anyway. But after 1.5 hours later, I needed to go out. After I started the car, I heard this whinning noise. So I opened the hood (the car was still running), and immidiately I notice smoke coming out from right side of the coolant reservoir, right above the alternator/starter area. Due to the lack of light in the parking spot and I don't have a flash light in my car, I immidiately turned off the car and went upstair to get the flash light. When I came back down, I started the car again, this time no smoke.

I immidiately remember something -- Nissan alternator recall. I did a search and browse to Nissan's site. Sure enough, my car is within that list.

Based on the descriptions, do you think it is the alternator problem? If it is, is it safe to keep driving my car? At least a short trip to the dealership?

I drove my car from US to Canada last year, will Nissan Canada honor that recall? I can't find anything on www.nissancanada.com

Since I am afraid to drive my car right now, I am desperate. Any advices will surely appreciated.

 

Yes, it is potentially dangerous to drive your car right now - especially if you saw it smoking.

You have a failing alternator, for sure. Usually it's the alternator bearing, which, when it goes bad, produces an excess of heat & sometimes smoke & sometimes fire. (Yes, it has happened to people on this board!)

First, call your local Nissan dealer with the VIN # handy - tell them your alternator seems to be acting up & you want to know if your car falls under the alternator recall batch. The VIN# will allow them to check for you.

Second, if you have towing coverage & the dealership is not too far away, consider having your car towed there for service. That's the safest thing you can do - the last thing you want is an underhood fire.

If Nissan Canada will not honor the recall for some reason, you might consider a more economical option than having it serviced at the dealer.

Either way, get this dealt with ASAP.