I just recently got alternator replaced less a month ago. I was heading back home from college in NY all the way to MA. The battery and brake lights came on and suddenly I lost cruise controls and my radio stop functions so I pulled over called triple AAA's and the guy said it the battery so I got a battery replaced for $130. I started driving for 5 hours no problem until I stop for gas, then I started up my car battery and brake lights came on again I was like what the hell?! I thought maybe it was a computer errors that need to reset. In the next 5 miles airbag, ABP, all lights on my dash came on and lost my radio, everything wasn't fictions and suddenly my car stalled on me 85mph lucky I pulled over fast as I can! I couldn't start it up anymore the flashers wasn't working nothing at all was working. I had to call get it two again the shop was closed. I was close to home but my friend had to pick me up.

I had a really such a bad day it really disappointment me. The alternator is brand new aftermarket 200amps high output and it less 1 month old!

What do you think this cause a problem alternator or short circuit in the car somewhere?

Fyi... I have 2800w rms loud stero system in my car. Before that I never had a issues for 1 year.

 

Do you have a voltmeter? Should start at the battery with the car running and validate you're getting 13-14 volts. If no good, try to get a reading off the alternator. It could a bad connection, or it could be a bad alternator.

S

 

I vote bad alternator. Aftermarket is hit or miss.

 

+1

 

This is the website I ordered my alternator from http://www.mechman.com/ it one of the best top made. It is defective but good thing is I can get a free replacement.

 

Glad you found out what it is. The warranty is helpful for sure.

S

 

Be sure after you check the voltage with the car running you start loading it down!!
1. Bright lights or low beams and fogslights
2. Emergency Flashers
3. Brakes
4. Blower Fan motor full speed
5. All interior lights on
You should still be putting down at least 13.0V

 

Either bad alternator or the battery cables are not tight.

 

Hi guys I have a 2003 Nissan maxima 6 spd.

This is what happened to me. My battery light came on 2 weeks ago while I was driving and the car started to lose power after a while and died out. Got a jump from my friend checked the voltage while car was running and it kept dropping all the way to 9 volts , and died.

I got a new battery from auto zone.
An alternator from parts authority, and replaced both parts.
upon starting the car battery light was still on the dash with brake light.
checked voltage at the battery and it was at 15.45 volts , clearly over charging. I brought it back to get a refund but they told me they do not give refunds on electrical parts but they would give me a replacement alternator.

I would have rather got a refund and got OEM at this point so I know I wont have to re do the alternator replacement( not a big job but still).


So I put in the 2nd alternator from them and still the same problem.

How likely is it both after market parts are defective from Parts Authority??

Are there other possible cause for over charging on a 03 max?

any input would be helpful , thanks

 

Sounds like you got a defective alternator

 

These cars are picky PICKY picky PIKY pIcKY piKcY about alternators.

Go replace it

I'm on the 4th one within a year and not happy about its performance at the moment

 

^True. That is an alternator problem

 

yea that's what I thought , now I have to convince parts authority to give me a refund. They better on a defective alternator twice!!

 

I think these altenators are really tough as nails.....I think people don't troubleshoot thoroughly and replace the wrong parts upon their diagnosis...testing an altenator is more than running the engine and reading your Voltage output!

 

AMP alts are sometimes a hit and miss. It was when I use to do my own maintenance.

 

Wow...this one brought back memories

I remember going through a handful of alternators a few years ago. The brake light comes on along with the battery light due to a diode in the harness (See the post below, it tells you where the diode is in the wiring diagram


https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...t-problem.html

Electrical diagram here:

 

Does the second one produce +15.45V as well? If so, I'd check your voltmeter by measuring some well known voltage- like another car. Battery + Brake light definitely point to the alternator.