So I bring my 93 GXE to the muffler shop to get the exhaust looked at. I needed a new flex pipe, which I got fixed. I went to leave the shop and the battery was low but not enough to turn over the engine. I have been having battery problems on occasion so I thought nothing of it and jumped my car and drove home (the battery is new).

So I go to start the car again and same thing happens, just very low on power now. I jump the car and now it is sounding rough. I go for a ride and it sputters as soon as I give it gas. So I turn around and have to give it the slightest gas so not to sputter and go a casual 15-20 mph on the way home. I go to park the car and then turn on the lights and the car dies. Any thoughts?

I am bringing it back to the mechanic tomorrow morning but just seeing what you guys think.

Peace,
Deadphish

 

any unusual lights on the dashboarrd, if so, your alternator may be dying.....or maybe you ahve a bad connetion with your battery???? did you clean the contacts???

 

Bad alternator is my guess or loose/faulty wiring to the alternator...

 

I see...the alternater is from 01-01-03...I cleaned the terminals when I brought it home and then jumped it and the problems started.

 

Would a bad or worn belt do that?...if my alternator was bad why then when I go to give it gas it sputters out...but that would explan the windows going up very slow and the engine dying when the lights go on.

 

It takes electricity to run your engine..injectors/spark plugs/sensors/etc. all need the correct amount of amperage to function correctly...

 

Having battery problems...the battery is new...

Sounds like you have a bad battery or a bad alternator. If your alternator was dated 1/1/03, was it rebuilt? A lot of rebuilds are crap. I had one on my Celica that lasted about 3 months and I had to take it back and get another one.

 

Voltmeter FTW

 

I run a rather large stereo system also and ever since I installed it if I turn it up past 18 which is loud but not extremely load the head unit cuts out...back to 18 and it stays on fine...I do believe it is my alternator though..I was reading another alternator page and am just wondering what kind to get?

 

Are you sure the amp is hooked up correctly...[amp on/off wire not hooked up] not having this wire hooked up will keep the amp on even when the car is off,thus draining the battery...

 

Its hooked up correctly...been hooked up for 3 years fine...also this mourning when I went in my car the battery had enough power to run the trunk release and the auto seat belts and door locks...if the amp was drawing the power it would be dead. I am pretty sure it is the alternator..but I dont know what kind I should get? A regular genuine part or a higher amp one to run the stereo better....urghh

 

The oem alty has plenty of juice to run your system and car...To save a few $$ try looking around in your area for a alternator rebuild shop...

If that is not a option then a genuine nissan alty would be the way to go...The autozone/advance auto remans are for the most part junk..[i am on my second reman,the front bearing is starting to grind...AGAIN!]

 

$268.00 for a new one from the nissan dealer in town...man that is expensive

 

If your plannin on sticken with the car, go Nissan.. If not, find a rebuild shop. But if you wanna do it yourself, I hear guys are getting the rebuilt ones as cheap as $80.

 

Well I went on an anlternator hunt the other day...used one for $60 dollars and now I am going to the rebuild shop to see if my alternator needs the $40 dollar rebuild or the $120 dollar rebuild. If it is the $40 dollar one I am doing that otherwise I am putting in a used one for $60. Rebuilt ones from the part stores are $153.00 and a new one $268.00.

 

Advance auto has cheaper rebuilt ones for your VG. Probably with a better warrenty then what you will get from the shops.

 

Ive heard in other forums that the advance auto alternators are POS..makes me leary of getting one from them.

 

Well I mean all auto parts store altys have a chance of early failure, but alot of them do give lifetime warrenties. I still havn't heard of a rebuild shop offering that, plus I don't see whats so special with their methods of rebuilding compared to the stores. I think if it's reliability your after, Nissan is the way to go.

 

I sent you a PM about the alternator.

 

So the problem is fixed...I hope. Well I took out my alternator and brought it down to the rebuild shop. They put it on a machine and tested it. Some light started flashing (maybe selinoid..not sure). So the guy took it apart and inspected the alternator. He didn't see anything wrong and cleaned it out and put it back together. So he then puts it back on the machine and it works perfectly. Take it back home and installed it. Car runs great. I am not sure how much longer it is going to last though but he said it looked solid. So my dropping a couple hundred dollars ended up bieng a free fix. Sweet