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Help! My car died!

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Old 02-09-2008, 02:23 PM
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Help! My car died!

Hey guys,
See if you can solve this one:
1) Today, I ran it for about 30 minutes on the highway fine.
2) Then after parking it and attempting to start it, it wouldn't start. I had to put the car in gear and had some close friends push it to start.
3) I attempting to drive home, which is about 10 miles away. Halfway, all the gauges keep flickering when I applied the breaks. The ABS went on. The airbag light went on intermittently. The seatbealt warning light reacted the same way. Soon after, the car had these symptons without me applying the breaks (unlike before). I pulled into the parking lot and it finally stalled. Right before that, when the engine was still on, I stepped on the gas but nothing happened!
4) I took out my bike and rode it home crying.

My car: 2000 Maxima GXE 5SPD.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
-khanh
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Old 02-09-2008, 02:27 PM
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Does the engine turn over when you try to start it? Maybe the alternator went out and drained the battery.
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Old 02-09-2008, 02:27 PM
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the begining sounded like a starter problem.

from what i heard maxis dont have the best of starters, iv survived for a while knocking on it with a hammer a few times to get it started before replacing it.

an alternator problem would explain the gauge lights flickering and failing to start.
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Old 02-09-2008, 02:36 PM
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should be the alternator
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Old 02-09-2008, 02:52 PM
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+1 on alternator
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Old 02-10-2008, 06:06 AM
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thanks guys. i checked it out with a jumpstart cable and another car. My car can start and idle fine but if you pull out the power source (jumper cable) it will eventually lose power. the headlights would slowly dim and the car itself will stall out within a minute or so.
another question though, is it easy to change the alternator? what kind of tools would I need? if anyone's ever done this, please lend some advice. it doesnt look easy to remove and install. also what kind of tools would i need?
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Old 02-10-2008, 06:41 AM
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Here you go... !!!!

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/500
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Old 02-10-2008, 09:19 AM
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lol that looks kinda hard. i'll call the dealer and see how much they charge. if its not too extrme ill have them do it. otherwise, i'll do it myself. thanks. you guys are invaluable.
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Old 03-06-2008, 05:53 PM
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Nissan Quoted me 520 installed.....and after I laughed I bought one for 250 and gonna put it in this weekend at my shop.......Does anybody know if a 2001 AE is a 110 or 100 amp?
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Old 03-06-2008, 06:08 PM
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It could be the battery... Most shops can test the battery and the Alt to tell you what one it is.

Many people have also found both are fine, it's ended up being a lose connection.
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Old 03-07-2008, 09:22 AM
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Try the battery, it probably just drained out
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Old 03-07-2008, 09:30 AM
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oh yeah i forgot about this thread. it is the alternator after testing with a working battery. the alternator is replaced along with a new drive belt.
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