Hello everyone
well….my 1995 Maxima has 296,000 miles on it and, as much as it pains me to say this, I’m afraid she may be nearing the end.

im having several different issues but the newest one is the battery light just came on along with the brake light. The car will start but does the battery light mean the battery isn’t charging and the alternator is going bad?

also…the emergency brake is not engaged so why would the brake light come on at the same time as the battery light.

Thanks in advance for any info/help you can provide

 

Your symptoms mean that your alternator is toast is needs to be replaced. Do a load test while the car is running to confirm. Then replace with an alternator from Autozone, Pepboys etc that comes with a lifetime warranty.

 

Thanks Wizard! I was afraid of that. I’m actually changing the ac compressor tomorrow so I’ll swap out the alternator while I’m there.

SHOOT! DARN! HECK!

 

The old saying..... while you are in there anyway, you might as well....... appiles here.

At least you won't be doing some if the same things twice, and a month apart.

 

I guess your car loves you! Mine never thought about saving me extra work when anything broke!

At that kind of mileage, you might find the Alternator Wiring Harness (24076-40U00) might be compromised, if so, replace it. And if the OEM one lasted this long, you know what to do.

 

Today my alternator died too. Is it possible to replace it without removing the radiator fans?

 

YES!
Obviously, the belt has to come off. Then there are 4 bolts that hold the AC compressor in place that need to come out. 17MM Bolts IIRC. Hang the compressor with a wire hanger so less stress is on the charged lines...

Then you can get at everything to remove the alternator. IME, Hitachi rebuilt for our Maximas is the best!

 

Hitachi 2 yrs and going strong for me. Not a job you want to do twice, autozone can keep their lifetime warrantee. Pretty sure Hitachi is the OE manufacturer of a lot of the electrical parts and sensors so they know what they are doing.

KP is right you can leave the fans there and remove it from underneath. Be prepared to hang the compressor and move it with your knee while your twisting the alt into place with one hand and sticking the long bolt in with the other. It’s a little tricky but it can be done. Definitely don’t want to do it twice if you don’t have to.