My car died last night....anyone care to diagnose it?
11-10-2001, 07:22 AM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,138
My car died last night....anyone care to diagnose it?
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
11-10-2001, 07:29 AM
#2
Re: My car died last night....anyone care to diagnose it?
Originally posted by JJW95SC
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
11-10-2001, 07:32 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 200
is this a 3rd or 4th gen?
Just curious because you say the speedo went to 0 while you were doing 70. I didn't know the speedos were electronic, at least on the 4th gen.
Could be the alternator because it sounds like your battery isn't too good from what you describe. But usually you get a warning such as the battery is discharging.
Hopefully you'll be back on the road without too much $$$. Good luck.
Could be the alternator because it sounds like your battery isn't too good from what you describe. But usually you get a warning such as the battery is discharging.
Hopefully you'll be back on the road without too much $$$. Good luck.
11-10-2001, 08:02 AM
#5
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,138
I agree with you guys that the alternator should be checked first. I hope that (and a new battery) fixes the problem.
Anyone know what a dealer price on an alternator replacement would be? Battery?
BTW, I'm sure that the speedo went to zero at the same time the throttle stopped responding. Just prior to that point, I knew something was wrong so I was checking the dash often to see if any lights went on. That's when I saw the needle drop.
Jim
Anyone know what a dealer price on an alternator replacement would be? Battery?
BTW, I'm sure that the speedo went to zero at the same time the throttle stopped responding. Just prior to that point, I knew something was wrong so I was checking the dash often to see if any lights went on. That's when I saw the needle drop.
Jim
11-10-2001, 08:08 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,215
Originally posted by JJW95SC
I agree with you guys that the alternator should be checked first. I hope that (and a new battery) fixes the problem.
Anyone know what a dealer price on an alternator replacement would be? Battery?
BTW, I'm sure that the speedo went to zero at the same time the throttle stopped responding. Just prior to that point, I knew something was wrong so I was checking the dash often to see if any lights went on. That's when I saw the needle drop.
Jim
I agree with you guys that the alternator should be checked first. I hope that (and a new battery) fixes the problem.
Anyone know what a dealer price on an alternator replacement would be? Battery?
BTW, I'm sure that the speedo went to zero at the same time the throttle stopped responding. Just prior to that point, I knew something was wrong so I was checking the dash often to see if any lights went on. That's when I saw the needle drop.
Jim
11-10-2001, 08:16 AM
#7
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,138
Re: is this a 3rd or 4th gen?
Originally posted by pmar
Just curious because you say the speedo went to 0 while you were doing 70. I didn't know the speedos were electronic, at least on the 4th gen.
Could be the alternator because it sounds like your battery isn't too good from what you describe. But usually you get a warning such as the battery is discharging.
Hopefully you'll be back on the road without too much $$$. Good luck.
Just curious because you say the speedo went to 0 while you were doing 70. I didn't know the speedos were electronic, at least on the 4th gen.
Could be the alternator because it sounds like your battery isn't too good from what you describe. But usually you get a warning such as the battery is discharging.
Hopefully you'll be back on the road without too much $$$. Good luck.
Sorry, I should have said this is my '95.
Jim
11-10-2001, 08:21 AM
#9
Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 94
Alternator is definitely toasted .... the voltage regulator could have gone out which would cause the other problems and the death of the alternator. Start with the voltage regulator ... if it is toat it is time for a new alternator and battery as well.
Good luck man.
Good luck man.
11-10-2001, 09:46 AM
#10
Originally posted by JJW95SC
I agree with you guys that the alternator should be checked first. I hope that (and a new battery) fixes the problem.
Anyone know what a dealer price on an alternator replacement would be? Battery?
BTW, I'm sure that the speedo went to zero at the same time the throttle stopped responding. Just prior to that point, I knew something was wrong so I was checking the dash often to see if any lights went on. That's when I saw the needle drop.
Jim
I agree with you guys that the alternator should be checked first. I hope that (and a new battery) fixes the problem.
Anyone know what a dealer price on an alternator replacement would be? Battery?
BTW, I'm sure that the speedo went to zero at the same time the throttle stopped responding. Just prior to that point, I knew something was wrong so I was checking the dash often to see if any lights went on. That's when I saw the needle drop.
Jim
11-10-2001, 10:28 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: My car died last night....anyone care to diagnose it?
Your Alternator just went. Those are the signs of it going usually but it went right away on you.
Originally posted by JJW95SC
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
11-10-2001, 12:44 PM
#15
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 11
Re: My car died last night....anyone care to diagnose it?
iwannabmw has the right idea. battery was relied on. happened to my 98 maxima but not that big of problem. sold the car and got a 2002.
Originally posted by JJW95SC
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
Driving home from work, I've gone about a mile and I notice that the radio isn't playing quite right, reception seems to fade in and out even when I'm stopped at a light. Then the radar detector goes off and then on a couple times and then goes out entirely. No idiot lights go on at all. I also notice that when I switch on my parking lights the radio reception gets worse, then gets better again when I turn the lights back off. The car is still running fine so I continue driving. I notice that the rightmost digit of the clock is only about half as bright as the other two. Odd, but the car is still running fine.
After about another five minutes, the speedo needle drops to zero (although I'm still going about 70) and the throttle fails to respond. I move over to the shoulder...the engine is still running but I can't get more than 1k rpms out of it. Finally the whole thing stalls out and won't start. I'm stuck.
So I check under the hood and there's no obvious problem. Belts, hoses (that I can see) and battery connections seem okay and everything looks normal. So I get a towtruck to bring it home, etc., etc.
I'm thinking it is either a problem with the alternator or something belt related. The car is at the shop but they won't be able to look at it until Monday. What a pain.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Jim
11-10-2001, 04:29 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 261
alternator, probably
Sounds like your alternator, like everyone is saying. But wouldn't the battery light come on?
Back in the day, when i had a big old truck (95' silverado), my alternator went out. I could tell that it went out because of some weird noises, and the voltage gauge was a little low, and would not go up if you reved the engine, etc.
The maxima does not have the voltage gauge, I wish it did, but it doesn't. But I thought there was a battery light that came on if the voltage dropped too low?
Back in the day, when i had a big old truck (95' silverado), my alternator went out. I could tell that it went out because of some weird noises, and the voltage gauge was a little low, and would not go up if you reved the engine, etc.
The maxima does not have the voltage gauge, I wish it did, but it doesn't. But I thought there was a battery light that came on if the voltage dropped too low?
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