well my car started to act funny this past week....not starting of all things. So I went and had the battery checked and then charged at the local auto zone and that seemed to work for it turned over fine for 3 days. then tonight when i was headed to the girlfriends house i started the car and my battery light in the cluster was on as well as the brake light. I just thought it was acting up as my "air bag" light has been blinking for 3 or so years. later on down the road my radio stops working and my clock and climate control displays start losing brightness and readability. then my ABS light came on and my brakes starting acting weird along with the shifts. As i am going along i start to feel the car losing power as i approach a hill. car starts to sputter and not accelerate and i just barely reach a entrance to a neighborhood as it dies.

what could it be? my bet is on the alternator.

 

Def. your alternator.

 

what he said

 

thanks guys....kind of figured it had something to do with the alternator.

does anybody remember the link put up here like a year ago and it gave a list of the VIN #s of cars that were having their alternators recalled. that is if i remember correctly.

 

Nature of Defect:
1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR:REGULATOR:STARTER Recall Number: 02V171000
Dates Manufactured: FEB 1997 to FEB 1998
Number of Vehicles Affected: 161000
Date Owners Notified On: JUL 2002

Vehicle: 1997 Nissan Maxima
Defect Description:
On certain passenger vehicles, one of the diodes used in the alternator may have been damaged when built. This can eventually result in failure of the diode and an electrical short which could melt the plastic housing.

Consequence of Defect:
If the combustible gas emitted by the melting plastic does not disperse due to air flow through the engine compartment, it could ignite and in turn ignite the fan guide in the alternator.

Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the alternator. Owner notification is expected to begin during August 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

 

more info:

97 - 98 Alternator Recall VIN # Info
I know this alternator recall is old news,

I found the following info and VIN # range on Nissan's site. I hope this info is useful.

1997-1998 Maxima Alternator Replacement

Applies to 1997 Maxima, the following Vehicle Identification Number Ranges:
JN1CA21D*VT218136 - 222389;
JN1CA21D*VT847525 - 877868;
JN1CA21D*VM518869 - 540253.

Applies to 1998 Maxima, the following Vehicle Identification Number Ranges:
JN1CA21A*WT300201 - 405210;
JN1CA21D*WT500001 - 615203;
JN1CA21A*WM800002 - 806538;
JN1CA21D*WM900001 - 923624.

Please be aware that not all VINs within these ranges may be affected by this campaign.

The number of vehicles potentially affected is approximately 140,000.

Reason for Recall
On some 1997 and 1998 Nissan Maxima vehicles, there is a possibility that the alternator may contain a damaged diode. This could eventually result in an electrical short which may cause a fire in the alternator that could spread to the engine compartment.