I had my alternator go out on me coming back from Charleston in September, and had it replaced, no warning just dimming lights, loss of power etc. Now about two weeks ago my bat and brake lights started coming on every so ofter then going out sometimes for days? I disconnected the battery with the car running and and it stayed running (heard it was a way to test the alt.) I just don't no what's up I have the warning but no problems? I can put the radio on AM and hear the alt working?

 

your alternator has a bad diode.

 

i replaced it as well, and my light is sometimes on as well. but rarley

 

Ok if it has a bad diode where do i go from there? I need more info thanks

 

Well, I will let the experts chime in but from here, I believe you need another alternator or a rebuild. Did you do your own work or did you get it replaced at a shop? Do you know where the rebuilt alternator came from (autozone, napa or Advance)?

My 99 SE is out of comission and I haven't had the time to work on it to remove the alternator to get a replacement. I plan on DIY and am on the fence on where to get the replacement.

 

Replace it again.
the other possibility is belt slippage
PERSONALLY I would buy brand new.

 

Check your connections!

After replacing my alternator a while ago, I didn't put in the connector all the way, and after some time it came loose and my lights alternator warning lights came on.

For some reason, you have to push it in until you hear a click and then its good. My connector was crazy tough to push in all the way for some reason.

 

Their should be three wires to the alternator; ground, positive, and sensor. Sounds to me if you disconnected the battery and the car stayed on, the alternator is NOT the problem. There may be two possibilities either option a (which would most likely be the problem) your sensor wire is not connected to the alternator correctly, which in return tricks the ecu in thinking your car is not charging at all, and is producing 0 amps, when in reality it is working fine. Or option b (which is unlikely, but may be a possibility). You're new alternator may be pushing out to much power, i'm talking above 14 volts. when i changed the alternator in my Lincoln ls, with a high performance one, the battery light,abs light, and break light were on, and everything didn't work including parking sensors, cruise control, and traction control. Turns out my alternator was producing very high voltage tricking the electronics in my car that they were short circuiting, thus malfunctioning. I got an oem alternator and it worked perfectly. Sorry for the long post, just trying to help!

 

From where? I called all three local dealers here and they all said I cannot buy a new alternator. All they have is the remanufactured ones. Their prices are over $325 each for a remanufactured Alternator with a 12 month only warranty. Atozone and Advance both also have remanufactured alternators with lifetime warranties (labor not included obviously) for $159.99

So, where can I get a brand new alternator for a 1999 Maxima? The parts folks at each dealership said that the model now being so old, they will never get a new alternator for it as its been discontinued.

 

I have the brand new alternators available, They are not OEM. They are completely new aftermarket units. If you are interested send me a PM.

 

Ok thanks for all the help guys it's just reallly not wanting to pull the alt

 

Re-tighten your tensioner see if that helps at all..

 

I know this is an old thread, but for searchers sake, battery and brake light indicators together (plus others?) is caused by shorted out diodes in the alt. Just had that problem on 99 Maxima, had local parts store run the diagnostic, they said shorted diodes. I replaced alt, problem solved. Parts stored confirmed short when old alt was returned as core.