Alright guys, need your help on this one. I have an intermittent issue here:
When it happens: Usually during hard acceleration or during a bump.
What the eff happens: Left side of gauge cluster goes dim, both my headlights die off, and ABS light comes on. This happens for total of 1 second, then comes back on. It is noticeable as my speedometer has to climb back up and my HIDs must restart.

What could this be?

 

Bump, anyone?

 

alternator going bad? sorry im not sure but just giving you something to check and bump to your thread.

 

Grounding issue?

 

Check your battery ground to the chassis. Make sure there's no rust between the terminal, screw, and the body.

I had the same problem before, not on the maxima, but same exact symptoms. Freaked me out when it happened.

 

A simple way to check is to leave your car or the dome lights on, open up the hood, wiggle your battery ground wire. If you see your dome light dimming, then it's definitely the ground wire.

 

When this thing happens, you couldnt start your car tho. it happened to my friend the last time.

 

could it b a fuse or a relay?

 

It will start, but really depends. The problem is that the grounding does not have a good/stable connection (but good enough to start the car), so almost all of the time the car will start. However, when it hits a bump (like what the OP is experiencing), the connection is loose, which can also happen just by the normal vibrations when your car is in motion.

In your friend's case, probably the connection was bad enough so that he couldn't even start his car.

 

Electrical problems are the worst, especially if it's intermittent. Maxima's are known for grounding issues. It's wise to invest in a grounding kit, or make your own kit.

 

I have the Shinjiduo grounding kit, and I do believe its my battery to chassis ground as my interior lights seem a little dimmer at idle now. I will be doing the 0/1 gauge replacement of the ground like Metal Maxima did soon.

 

Update: This intermittent issue became prominent.

Friday, I replaced my RH headlight harness/ignitor/ballast because exposed wire met rain and melted the harness and ballast. I noticed my lights were flickering and my speedometer were bump sensitive.

Problem: Completely loose positive battery terminal, replaced it today with a new one.

Now, if I add any additional electrical demand, my speedometer goes to 0, my ABS light comes on and everything starts to dim out. Stereo works fine, headlights will not. If I try my low beams + high beams, I get a clicking from the RH relay box.

I already tried disconnecting my RH headlight to see if I had a bad ballast/ignitor, etc.. but it wouldn't make sense why my speedo/abs light are acting that way. I'm going to check my grounds and possibly replace the relay for the RH headlight. BTW, the car runs fine. Daytime with no lights, no blinkers, and only stereo, she drives fine.

What could this be? Please help! I just got the headlights working, and now half the electrical system is killing itself.