So my brake and battery lights started flashing last night. They flash on and off, at the same time, at random. Then they stay on for awhile solid, then go away and flash intermittently again. Everything Ive read so far has said this is the death toll of my alternator, but that has all been for 4th Gens. I have a 2004, but Im assuming same deal right?

Anyone else have this happen, thoughts?

Also, I was just about to bring in my car for the timing chain tensioner replacement as you can hear the characteristic high whine when reving that is in all the videos, and I've seen on a lot of peoples posts when theyve gone in to have that problem fixed, the dealer often misdiagnosis it as a bad alternator? Think I'm gonna have a problem getting the tensioner fixed since I do have a bad alternator (potentially)? Suggestions?

I have about 3500 miles left on my extended warranty

 

Update: mustve been the alternator as my car just died

 

yup ALT is done !

 

That sucks. Definitely the alternator.

 

Pardon my lack of knowledge, but why would dealers diagnose the timing chain tensioners being worn as a bad alternator? Is it possible the whine I heard, which sounds like every tensioner video I've seen posted, was just my alternator? I want to be prepared for a possible fight with the dealership. I noticed the whine in march, but don't know how long its been there....

 

well you should have had autozone or advance check the battery or charging system for free of charge.

since those lights came on then its your ALT gone.

Maybe Nissan wanted to make some money off you

 

Yea, I heard a wine right before my alternator went. Almost sounded like I had a supercharger before it went. lol

Not sure what it would sound like when the tensioners are worn.

 

Worn tensioners would be a metal ticking/clicking noise that goes to a higher pitch if you hit the gas, making the chain spin faster.

The alternator is just that, a whine. Way different if you've ever heard both.

I had to replace the alternator on my '04 at around 40,000 miles. Out of warranty of course. Blah.

 

Ok thanks. I just got the alternator replaced, just gotten paranoid over the tensioners as it seems this is a problem that WILL happen, not MIGHT happen. The videos Ive seen of tensioner noise from members here I thought sounded like this, but I dont have a metallic clicking, just the whine, which is gone now with the new alternator. Thanks for the input

 

I have a 2004 Maxima SL. In summer of 2009 it just would not start one day. I put a battery on it first then it died a few days later so I put an alternator on it. The brake and battery light had been on prior to this but I wasn't sure if that was normal or not. Ok it worked fine for almost a year then same problem, the car just lost power and died. I had it towed to a garage,battery and alternator tested ok. they charged the battery and it started and I have had no problems until now almost a year longer now. I was driving up interstate brake and battery light flashing approx 100 miles later it lost power and died. I put an alternator on it and drove it home, it worked fine for a couple of days now the lights are flashing again. I talked to a mechanic that says there is an intermittent problem with Nissans that I may charge the battery back up and not have any problems for a while or it may keep doing it and it would have to be doing it for him to find the problem. I also heard its probably a computer problem. Any ideas? I can't afford to fix it, its gonna take time to save up some money.
Thanks in advance

 

first fire the mechanic cause hes hosing you. buy a new battery and drive away

 

This is def the alternator.. Or generator as said in the FSM. Mine did the same exact thing, brake light and battery light started flashing then eventually stayed on steady.. so I replaced it myself. And the only thing that bothered me is the fact you have to remove the radiator, fans, idler pulley.. But its really simple.

 

that alternator bolt is a real ***** as well

 

Pretty sure my alt just went down on my 04 .. Just got done with at long trip with GPS and cellphone charging the entire way. With 150k on it, I think that accelerated the failure. Anyone know a decent place in Indy for the work?

 

nope dont be so sure to blame it on the alternator alone.. i had a simular issue .. ended up being a short with a ground connection

 

2008 maxima and my brake and battery light comes on and off ,, i was driving in the rain on the belt pkwy in brooklyn heading home i hit alittle water is that a possiablity for it to come on i only have 40,000miles on it

 

When my alternator crapped out I was around 90k miles and the whole car went into limp mode.