Ok, my Max just gave me another major headache. Three problems just happened in less than an hour. I was driving home from school and I get this wierd smell coming from the car, not sure what it is. Then I think the alternator just died, headlights went dim, radio went out and airbag light started flashing continuously. I made it to a friend's house and pulled over, shut the car off and tried to start it, cranked up, but engine did not turn over. Checked battery, headlights on bright, so I assume it has to be the alterantor.

My friend gave my car a boost and it started working, and everything was fine, headlights were on bright, but white smoke started coming out from the hood on passenger side, so I shut it off again. It was the exact same wierd smell mentioned earlier, smells like plastic burning, but I can't define this smell, really wierd, car may be burning oil? Not sure how buring oil is like on a car, but something was burning. I know there have been a recall on the alternators cause it would catch on fire? Dunno if it is the alternator, after I shut car off, the smoked stopped and I can't pinpoint where it was coming from. Not sure if it applies to my car, mine is a 98.

Later I tried to move the car closer to the curb, tried to put the car in neutral to move it and the brakes lock up, won't press down at all, dunno if that is just a locking mechanism because my steering wheel won't turn either or if my brakes just locked up with the car not even running. So right now I am really upset. Dunno what to do, I cannot afford to repair the car right now since I have to pay for school, gas is too expensive, almost $4 a gallon, and it would cost half the price to take the train home than drive. This car have gaven me problems in the past and I just can't afford to deal with it anymore. I am even considering about giving it away, seriously.

 

I'll take it!

 

Your alternator burnt up.

Brakes are not locked, the power booster is out of vacuum because your engine is not running, therefore you have a very hard brake pedal.

No engine running also means no power steering assist which gives you a hard to turn steering wheel.

Welcome to Automotive 101.......

 

ya nice alt, see if the recall is still in order. i had my die and the car wont do a thing

 

Ya, my bad, I'm not a mechanic, still learning about all this stuff. I was just upset and overreacting because I have spent so much money on fixing this car and I wasn't expecting to fork out more money again so soon. I will check on the recall and hope it's just the alternator. Thanks for help from all of you.

 

testtestest

 

so talking about a dying max.. i found this story on cnn thats pretty funny
http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/25/Auto...nons/index.htm

didn't want to start a new topic

 

i have an alternator if u are interested

 

i have a 97 SE and my alternator just died at like 80k miles. Call nissan and give them your VIN...they will tell u if its under the recall...sadly mine wasnt. Im pretty sure a majority of the recalls are early 97-98s...good luck wit it

 

I think the alternator recall is still in effect. take it in to the dealer and see if they'll fix it for no charge.

 

In fact it is...My alternator was dying, and I just got mine replaced this past week for free. Call the dealer up and give them your vin number.

 

I will try to call Nissan on the recall tomorrow, but I checked carfax on my car and it was built 3/30/98, so I don't think it applies to my car, plus mine has the red band and not the green band on the alternator that was being recalled. Bad news is one of my friend's mechanic started the car and the alternator went on fire, he putted it out quick and it looks like nothing was damaged, it will get towed this week to a shop.

I was just wondering if there is a reason why the alternator would just smoke up and catch on fire, possibly bad electrical connection? overload? Honest be told, this car is giving me a headache and I might get rid of it after I fix this problem.

 

Sounds like nissan needs to extend that TSB...I'd get into contact with nissan and tell them your situation, and what happend to the alternator.

 

Thanks for the help, was able to call a Nissan dealer today and they said my car was part of the recall and they can do the alternator for free, but if anything else got damaged I will have to pay for that, plus towing it. Seems like the battery on the car is dead too now, I am barely getting power to anything on the car (windows, power seats, etc.), when I put the car in the On position without turning over engine I get this humming sound coming from around the battery area. Don't know if its coming from the battery or something else...

 

battery is clean dead from not getting recharged from the alty. Get that alti fixed and a jump should be all you need, if not then a new battery also.


If you want to give away the car PM me seriously.