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Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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Andrew
Novice
Aug 31, 2008, 6:29 PM
Post #1 of 7
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Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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First off, my car is killing me...
It is a 1993 Nissan Sentra 2D, 1.6 litre V6 automatic
Roughly 109,000 miles
My car recently failed a Maine State Inspection because the brake and battery light came on and stayed on. Their diagnosis (which was confirmed by several other sources) was an alternator that was overcharging.
I changed the alternator about 3 weeks ago, and at first the lights didn't come on. Then, the past few weeks the lights would come on sporadically without any reason, and then shut off. You could hear the alternator kicking in and kicking out as the lights came in.
Last night the lights came on and stayed on, and the alternator won't provide a charge.
Earlier tonight I unplugged every wiring going into the alternator and unplugged the battery wires in the hope that it was a loose connection.
No such luck, and now I'm at my wits ends... ...
I've tried every connection available to me, starting from the 3 plugs that go into the alternator (a ground, a box-like plug in, and the wire that goes back to the battery). Those 3 wires run to another plug in, and then that plug splits into two cords that run into the engine area (and out of my view).
Do you have any possible ideas of what needs to be checked or changed?
(This post was edited by Andrew on Aug 31, 2008, 7:23 PM)
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carjunky
Enthusiast
Sep 1, 2008, 10:26 AM
Post #2 of 7
(3104 views)
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Re: Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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Hi Andrew,
Did you buy a rebuilt alternator ? Curious if you got a bad one from the start.
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Andrew
Novice
Sep 1, 2008, 10:54 AM
Post #3 of 7
(3094 views)
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Re: Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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It was listed on the box as being "refurbished in Mexico", so that's a yes.
I also want to list this as well, as it could help shed additional light on the issue.
In the past few weeks since I changed the alternator I would notice the battery/brakelight coming on intermittenly. When I say that, it would flicker and click for minutes at a time. The light would never really stay on, you'd just hear a "click-click-click... click-click-click". Sometimes this would cease and the lights would be off, other times I'd reach my destination and shut the car off. And then upon returning and restarting the car the lights wouldn't be on.
Also, and this probably sounds weird, but when I initially put the alternator into the car I drove it to Autozone. The manager came out to check it, and for a few moments the alternator wasn't putting out a charge. The manager scratched his head, and he wiggled the ground wire (not the connection end, just the wire itself). Somehow it managed to do the trick and the alt kicked in. At that point I tightened both the ground and "to battery" connections just to ensure it wasn't a loose wire.
Later today I plan on having the alternator checked to see if it's working and what it's charging at.. When I drove it about 5 minutes last night I didn't notice the lights dimming, however when I turn on the windshield wipers there is a distinct "slowness" to them as they don't move at their usual rate.
(edit) Remove hyperlink only....
Does this help any?
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Sep 1, 2008, 11:50 AM)
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Andrew
Novice
Sep 1, 2008, 1:45 PM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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I just got back from AutoZone, and had the battery tested. Unfortunately the guy who helped me didn't have ready access to a device that could test the alternator.
My battery is a bit on the smaller side, 540 amps.
After starting the car up and running the battery read 11.0 with a fluctuation of -.2 to -.3 ... Even when I held it at roughly 2000 rpm he didn't notice any difference in the battery, it still stayed within the 11.0 range...
Tomorrow when I get the alternator tested I'll provide more info...
Does this provide any additional help?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 1, 2008, 4:22 PM
Post #5 of 7
(3080 views)
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Re: Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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Yes:
The alternator isn't putting out clearly with those results. Battery amp really only counts for starting power and how long it will last without help from the alternator otherwise it's not the factor. 540 CCA is more than enough for most cars.
What's most interesting is when the plug/wiring was played with back a while ago it snapped to right while doing that. If the alternator plug recieving plug is marginal it may bench test all the time. It can be tested just as you just did with the voltmeter. A battery just sitting there charged is pretty close to 12.2V. When operating the alternator/regulator will boost up the voltage ALL the time engine is running to over 13V - and not over say 15v. With everything that draws current on it shouldn't drop below that 13v while running with the exception of the couple seconds a power window or seat might be used.
Headlights, blower fan, RWDs are high consumption items and it should not only keep up with all on but still be able to restore the battery to full charge awaiting the next time you start it. Turning those items on and watching voltage drop is a fair "load" test on the alternator while in the car which is better in this case as it's intermittent on you. It may not be conclusive to bench test it unless that happens to show it not charging then you would be sure. With the bad luck that it works just while they test it off car you still aren't sure??
Try to keep this battery charged with a home/shop charger so it's know fully charged when you are working/testing. Wiggle the wires as done before - start at just plug ins and try not to touch the wires and if no changes "manhandle" wires going to those plugs, one by one if need be, as a wire could be frayed unseen inside the insulation and appear good but be a total disconnect at certain times. You may get lucky and find just one trigger spot of wire or a plug that will always behave and make misbehave while wathching and work on that. If nothing ever is changed again by that test then hope it shows NG when bench tested.
Don't be bashful about the possibility of a faulty newly remaned atlernator. They don't replace every little thing in them and if it tested when rebuilt from one that was also intermittent now you own it When I get one that clearly has an intermittent problem and it happens I mark them such that a rebuilder will hopefully check it out harder or replace more then they would otherwise to stop the chain of this happening. It doesn't benefit anyone to have one of those out there but they are.
Try the tests. If you don't have your own voltmeter consider getting a cheap one. Some are just too small but do the trick for like $10 bucks. Some others plug in a power port but it would be nice to watch it while you are underhood.
Bet you can find this yourself,
T
Ps: That edit I did was to remove a link that probably snuck in from you copying your post from another car site but the link copied too - hard to see those but it wasn't a CarJunky paid sponsor TMK.... It's not your fault....
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Andrew
Novice
Sep 1, 2008, 6:58 PM
Post #6 of 7
(3075 views)
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Re: Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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I thank you for the response...
One of the things I'll try then is to have the guy test at points up the ground wire. I'll see if there's a point where there is juice in the wire and then if there is a spot where there is no power.
I've accepted the possibility that a wire may be faulty, although I'm unsure how to go about getting one. The problem with the entire wire assembly is that I'd still need to remove the alternator as there is a wire coming out of the box connector that goes underneath the alt (probably another ground). I could very well have done something to the wire when I was putting the alt in (very little space to play with on a 93 Nissan 2D).
I'll keep that in mind though about the wiring, and "playing" around with the wires and hope there is some sort of "sweet spot".
Luckily I have that warranty so I don't have to purchase another alternator however. And I'm not too worried about replacing them. Having done one already I've learned from my mistakes, such as how to properly drain my radiator (the hose running from radiator to the block is directly over the tension arm and the alt itself).
I've been posting and copying from multiple sites, I appologize for any extra "junk" that may have been include.
Thank you for the help thus far!
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Andrew
Novice
Sep 2, 2008, 5:25 PM
Post #7 of 7
(3064 views)
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Re: Replaced alternator, after a week battery/brake light came back on
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Okay, after seeing a guy at Autozone (as my car sputtered and died... How lucky, huh?) I ran an idea by him… Someone at work said that maybe a fusible link had went… After checking the fusible links box located right next to the battery compartment everything seemed ship-shape… In my fusebox on the interior of the car I checked a fuse that’s labeled as battery and it wasn’t blown…
Okay, back to the alternator…
So he points out some black residue / powder located on the side of the belt for the alt. They line up with vent holes coming from the interior. I’ve included 3 pictures that I’ve taken of the alternator. I plan on swapping it out tomorrow for a new one and giving it a shot. If anyone has any suggestions, ideas, or advice I’m all ears!
This image is how it would sit in a car (bottom portion is the base), wire connections located on opposite side. Notice the black residue located down from the wheel. The camera I used isn't the best, but that material does go into those circular holes. None of this residue was observed on the wheel. None of this residue was observed on the wheel on the vent holes on the opposite side.
Having seen these three pictures, what advice is there to learn about this alternator? ... Do you think the alt is faulty? Is the residue evidence of a different problem? Is it time to put the car out to pasture?
(This post was edited by Andrew on Sep 2, 2008, 5:30 PM)
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