WTF Happen'd!?
 

I'm trying to figure out what happen'd to my Max the other day.

About a month and a half ago I bought a 97 Maxima SE. Runs w/o any problems and I really love the car. But just the other night as I was driving home from the club my speakers cut out. The radio still had power but there was no sound from the speakers. Then a few minutes later the ABS Light came on. I kept driving since I wasn't far from home but a few minutes later, the check engine light came on, and all the other lights on the dash came on one by one. Suddenly the car lost all it's power and I had to get to the side of the road.

Well I tried to turn it over but it wouldn't, it had nothing. No headlights, no brakelights, nothing. So, I went home and got my jump pack (should have kept it in the car) and jump that summ-b!tch. Well, the car started just fine and kept my foot on the gas to keep it reved. Then, it died again after about five minutes. So I gave it one more try w/ the jump pack and it started up fine and I made it home w/o it cutting off.

Now, I'm no car expert like most poeple here but I've been trying to learn more about them over the past few months. I've spoke to a lot of people and I keep getting the same response about what the problem might be, and that's the "Alternator". The car will turn over but very slowly. It has to build up in order for the car to fully start. I have it at the shop right not getting a Diagnostics Test but I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? Also, the car sounds a lot lounder when it is running and as I depress the gas pedal the noise gets lounder. Kind of a "Whhhrrrrr". Nothing really strange sounding, just not right though.

Any advise or feedback would be cool. I love my max and I don't want to hurt her!

Sure sounds like your alternator, let us know after they check it out, it could be just the belt but doubt it

Most likely dead battery due to alternator death.

:gotme:.........

Put me down as another vote in the alternator column.

believe it or not the same exact thing happened to me last weekend. i thought it was the alternator too, but i bought a new battery and tested the alt. and the meter showed the alt. was doing just fine-14 volts i think-( by the way i have a 95 and i still had the original battery) good luck
my gf has a 93 max and she had a simillar problem and it turned out to be a lose wire.

sure way of knowing when ur alternator is going out is,
1) your parking brake light is on (cut's off daytime running lamps is equiped to conserve whatever of the battery is left)
2) your battery light is on
3) abs light goes one (if equipped, turns it off also to save battery.)

same thing happened to me, it was definately the alternator

so if my parking brake light is always on since i got it back from one of the shops it means my alternator is going out? My max has 116k and the parking light started at 114, sometimes it goes off but mostly stays on now...what other symptoms can i look at to check it out ?!

WHAT??? :goofy:

Alternator, dead battery, lose wire... All good possibilities!

Check ground wires if lights dim very noticeably when you press the brake. Check all battery wires, GND and (+), check alt if Battery light comes on.

No 4th gen came with DRL's (daytime running lamps), so that is DEFINATELY out of the question.

check your fuse as well....my old camry died on me one time and we caused a lot of damage before we found out it was just the fuse

Ahh!
 

It's the Alternator...I'm gonna replace it tonight. Funny thing was, when I went to pick it up from the shop, it fired up just fine. Well, I'm still gonna replace the d@mn thing. Better safe than sorry, you know.

Sorry dude but ALL 4th gen's come with DRL's in Canada

Gold star for the guys who figured it was the alternator

My bad, you guys get all the cool stuff. . .like VLSD. . .

There was a recall on 97' alternators... might be a good idea to call up the dealer, cause I know a lot of guys had them replaced for free... including myself