2003 Maxima Question; Is it possible to have a bad alternator and it not being detected by the car? or OBD2 reader? It only gets 11v and dropping under load when running but no warning lights on the dash! The car starts and runs after the battery is charged up again and runs ok with the charger plugged in but will inevitably die as the battery gets depleted. Any suggestions before I go in with the chain saw and start replacing the alternator?

 

Battery voltage is 12.6 volts. If the car is running, and you don't have more than 12.6 volts, the alternator is not charging the battery, as long as all connections are good. Looks like you are on the right track. Do you have a digital volt meter?

 

Alternator bad if the volts are under 13. take a volt and test the battery wile the car is on. under 13 you need a new Alt. Good luck

 

Tested the car running with a meter and it is getting less than 12V and dropping. My question is why there is no dash lights triggered by the low voltage in the system? is there anything else to check? crank shaft sensor perhaps?

 

if it is under 12v the Alt is bad, the dash light might be bad, but it happens,