So randomly, I started to drive in the morning and noticed my brake and battery light on. Figured it was the alternator, so I went to my friends shop and they tested it with a voltmeter and it was reading 15.5-16v at the battery, so they said I needed a new alternator since the regulator went. Picked up a reman. one from autozone for 160 and put it in. After I started it, the brake and battery lights went off, but flickered once every 20 or so seconds. Checked the voltage and it was charging at around 17-18 volts. Then one of my headlights blew out, both low and high beams. Turns out when it was reading 17+ volts it turned off the lights, but every 20 sec., the car would drop to 15v and the lights would flicker on the dash and turn of since it immediatly returned to 17 volts. Question is, if the lights were on in the first place for overcharging the system, how come they went off when it reached above 17 volts? Also, should I ask to repay the labor (actually didnt pay anything, but got a real invoice saying I paid) and to buy me new headlights since theyre reman. alternator was faulty? Thanks.

 

Strange that the lights went off @ 17Volts. Perhaps a safty feature cuts power when the voltage level exceeds xx Volts??

Autozone isn't going to give you $$ for labor.

You guys should stop using reman. Autozone junk in your cars.
Pinnacle Nissan sells a new OEM alty for $200 bucks.
The extra $40 is well worth it for a job done right the first time with quality components.

 

Yea, no idea why it went off at 17v either. You would think that it would still be on since theres still a problem. I was talking with the owner of Meineke and he said that it's the law that they have to pay for the labor if they sold a defective part. In my case, I actually blew a headlight, wich really ticks me off since I had some nice bulbs. It's kinda f'd up how they could sell me a defective alternator which f'd up my car and not pay for damages...it's their fault for not bench testing it and selling it as perfectly good part. If they don't pay for the labor or the headlight, I might be smelling a lawsuit with Autozone. I read the agreement on the receipt and no where does it say that they won't pay for labor/damages so I guess the decision is up the manager. Anyway, thanks!

 

Anyone else got any clue?

 

I have been having a problem with my alternator too it went out 3 x already, every 2 months it seems to go I dont know what the problem is.

 

Well I replaced the alternater with another one today and it turns out this one is good. Thanks