Can anyone confirm for me how many wires should be attached to the alternator? 1 has a 2 pin connector - and, 2nd one which goes over the bolt/booted. Correct?

Is there a 3rd ground wire that is attached to the alternator, somewhere in the back? I am being told there HAS TO BE ONE, however I did not see one on the OEM and/or on AutoZone one. Unless there is one in the bolted booted wiring harness that acts as the ground?

It seems that there are others who are having similar battery drainage issue when the car is ON (and not the parasitic overnight drainage) and replacing alternators and batteries after one another is not resolving the bottom line issue.

 

The FSM does, in fact, show a ground cable going to the alternator in the wiring diagram. What isn't clear is exactly where it attaches. Certainly any of the mounting points would work (preferably the pivot). Ideally there would be threaded hole through the case of the alternator, that's where you should attach a ground.

 

So, ideally, there should be a hanging cable somewhere if indeed it needs to be grounded? I do not find it anywhere! Unless I have to ground it myself some point of the body to the alternator?

 

For it to be in the FSM implies that it was on the car from the factory. It's likely the alternator was serviced before and someone, for whatever reason, saw fit to toss it. To make it proper just get a cable at the auto parts store and put to one of the places I mentioned and then straight to the engine block and as close as possible. You have inspired to check mine for a ground cable. I don't have any electrical issues but I would like to see if it's wired correctly or not.

 

There is no ground wire. The alternator case is the ground. There is however a ground wire bolted to the bracket in front of the alternator which goes to the body. I have removed this ground wire with 0 problems.

Whats the voltage at with the car at idle?

 

As far as I remember, I've owned the car for 8 yrs from 74k miles and no alternator was replaced until now since the drainage issue started during driving, so replaced it with alternator from AZ and same issue, leading me to believe either the 2nd alternator is/was bad (however the original that was removed, verified at autozone that it passed their test). Therefore before I get under the car to remove and change it again with another one, just wanted to make sure since I am hearing contradicting stories. 'A guy' from Nissan says there IS a separate ground wire and I do not see it.

jdooley - hey if you do get to witness it, pls take pictures or draw it out for me if you can.

Maxima_Joe: Voltage on the vehicle is 12.50 (before started) and when started drops to (11.8x) at battery level and when checking from alternator to battery, same (11.xx). Wiring, bolts, connections, fuses been checked. 2nd alternator gave the same issue.

 

Have you replaced the cluster yet? If so sounds like you have a break in the wire running to the battery bulb. Does the bulb illiminate either when not charging or before the car is started?