Hey guys, and gals,

Just looking for some possible info here. About 2 weeks ago I was driving and came to a stop and my brake and battery light came on for about 3 seconds. About a week later it did the same thing. What could this be?

 

MY bad, I forgot to mention I have a 2009 SV w/sport package.

 

Maybe your battery light has something to do with your battery? I don't know what a "brake light" is other than the red lights I see when someone comes to a stop.

 

There is a light in the dash that says brake smart guy.

 

You might want to check the brake fluid reservoir make sure its up to the full mark. Low fluid will trigger that light especially when you brake to a stop.

 

Thanks Richard66. I saw somewhere someone said the alternator is going bad.

 

I know, we just like a little more info here than basic facebook nothings.

Alt is toast.

 

Agree this is likely the alternator on the way out.

 

Are you sure it was Brake AND Battery or Brake and Traction Control (more common) It may be your misread and it is just a bit low on Brake Fluid.

 

It was definitely brake and battery. It has happened twice.
I hear you user1. That was basically all the info I had. But so probably the alt going bad aye? Damn! Gonna be spendy.

 

Get the alternator tested, give you a better idea of what's going on and if it is in fact the alternator.

 

I bet is the alternator, check the connection to the alternator, make sure is good,

 

Will do guys. Thanks.

 

If you have a multi-meter, you can test the alternator yourself. Easy to do. I could explain it here, but there are a ton of good videos on Youtube explaining the procedure.

My money is on the Alternator. Your symptoms are tell tale signs of a failing alternator.

 

If both lights are on then alternator is dying. Exact same thing happened to my previous 2003. And it had also some frequent pluses of loss of power as it was about to shutoff. All on the interstate.
Test it soon, it'll keep getting weaker and may die on you on a highway.

 

Good info people. Thank you all.

 

FWIW my 7th gen is now on its 3rd alternator in 440,000 miles. I have never gotten a battery light and brake light at the same time and only got a battery light as the car died the 2nd time! But please do let us know what you discover.

 

I got both lights in my 2010 maxima and alternator died 30 min later

QUOTE=LtLeary;9229304]FWIW my 7th gen is now on its 3rd alternator in 440,000 miles. I have never gotten a battery light and brake light at the same time and only got a battery light as the car died the 2nd time! But please do let us know what you discover.[/QUOTE]

 

I know I'm working with fire here but my work schedule is so tight right now I haven't had the chance to even get to an autozone to have it checked. I'm hoping nothing happens before Saturday. That'll be when I can get it looked at. It was a week ago yesterday that I got both lights for the second time.

 

"working with fire???" Way to much work for me right now.

 

Update. I did get to take my car to an autozone yesterday and let them test the battery and alternator and the meter said both were fine so I'm back to square one.

 

Maybe the engine rpm's sometimes drops enough to trigger the battery light when you stop then turns off when you accelerated. Even though the battery was tested good it doesn't always absolve it from the problem. Did you check your brake fluid level? As that will trigger the other light if it's low, especially coming to a stop.

 

I have not checked the brake fluid. That will be my next move. The lights didn't go off when I accelerated. They literally only stayed on briefly when I was stopped and were off before I took off again.

 

Your battery might be failing, even though it tested good. This car is very sensitive to battery condition and a lot of folks here have solved electrical problems by swapping out the battery.

 

I hear ya 66. And thanks for the advice and what not.

 

Your alternator can trigger the brake light. Some sensors run on a 5V system so if the alternator output dips below 5V it can throw off other sensors. Check your connections / terminals. Clean them out with a wire brush or even scotch pad and recheck. Do what you can the quickest and easiest to get you in the right direction.

 

Thanks for the info 35DE.

 

Update: Up until yesterday I had not had this issue come up again. Yesterday I was in stop and go bumper to bumper traffic for about 30 minutes. About 15 minutes in this started happening again. Both light came on but more frequently and for a longer period of time. It does seem to be when my foot is on the brake and as I come off of it the lights go out. Correction, this was the day before yesterday. Yesterday no issue. But this morning on my way to work as a pulled in to a gas station the light came on again and came on and off as I left and drove about a quarter mile to my job. Could it be brake fluid?

 

I'm honestly leaning toward an alternator issue here, check your brake fluid but I honestly think the alternator every now and then is shorting out and not adequately charging.

 

Yeah, I just checked the brake fluid and it's full. This is killing me because I had battery and alternator checked, at autozone, and they said both were fine. But like you said MaximusN8, shorting so when they checked it it was obviously not shorting. How much is this gonna cost me?

 

This is a pricey job due to the fact they have to evacuate the A/C system, drop the compressor and then remove the alternator. Some have removed the front cooling fans and accessed the alternator from the top, avoiding evacuating the A/C system and removing the compressor, it'll depend on the garage and who is performing the repair on how they want to attempt to tackle it. Most garages will do it by dropping the compressor due to the fact it's what's on All Data and the FSM. I know if/when mine goes I will attempt it from the top by removing the cooling fans, and radiator hose. That seems the cheaper route to go with out removing the compressor then having to recharge it etc.

 

Insert cuss words here!!!

 

Right at $1100 for my alternator replacement (cheaper than the first one at $1200)

 

Sounds about right Lt.

 

Was that at the dealership? I'm not taking mine to a dealership.

 

This was at local reputable repair places. Not that all dealerships are that much more expensive, just that I could get it done quicker and cheaper elsewhere and more conveniently located.

 

Gotcha. I will be doing the same.

 

I got one estimate for $820. I was talking to a coworker and found out his son-in-law owns a shop so he reach out and he said he'd do it for $630. I googled his place and he appears to have a pretty good rep so I think i'm going to take it to him. My only dilema is when. Today is my wifes birthday so not gonna happen today or likely this weekend. And I know I'm playing with fire by driving it around. It's funny, I just love driving it. My wife works from home right now so I could just drive her car(HHR) but I don't.

 

I know from personal experience my dude, Happy wife happy life! So attend to her first by all means, then attend to the Max. I feel ya I love driving my car, but if it breaks down while your out and about wit her on her Bday that's going to be a mood killer.

 

Good point! We're not going anywhere actually. I just need to get home from work and go pick up some food from her favorite spot which is about 10 minutes from the crib. With my fingers crossed.