Von <vonsudderth@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>On Dec 24, 7:18 pm, "N.H.L ---> KSU '11" <no emails please> wrote:
>> Hello all and thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
>>
>> I have a 99 maxima with just over 66K. I recently started having
some
>> issues. For a few weeks prior this issue, the engine was cranking very
slow
>> but only when the engine was cold. I figured that it would probably be
>> needing a battery soon as this was the Nissan original battery in the
car.
>> On thursday, 12/13, I was traveling down the road about 4:00 when
suddenly I
>> lost power to the radio, fan, and all of the other accessories. Next,
all
>> of my indicators lit up but the engine was still running. I was on a
busy
>> road with only a ditch next to me so I drove it about a 1/4 mile til a
point
>> where I could pull off. As soon as I came to a stop, the engine
stalled.
>> I tried to start the car but it was as if the battery was dead - no
>> cranking, no power to the radio, just clicking. At that point I
suspected
>> the alternator. I had a ****table unit that jump starts dead batteries
in
>> the trunk so I tried to use it to start the car to see what would
happen.
>> The engine ran for about 15 seconds then stalled once again. $75
later, I
>> had the car towed about 8 miles to the local Midas where I usually get
any
>> work done on the car. The tow operator mangled the bottom of the
bumper
>> because I was on uneven ground which as you could imagine really
>> "brightened" the situation. When the car arrived, it was about 5:45,
just
>> 15 minutes before they closed so I told them to wait until the next
morning,
>> but they insisted on getting it in that moment.
>> They started the car with their ****table starter and brought it in.
>> They told me that they tested the alternator and it was charging. They
told
>> me I did need a new battery however so I let them put one in. I did
not
>> know that the battery plus installation would cost me a rediculous $145
($22
>> of which was labor - batteries are pretty heavy?). After I payed and
got in
>> the car, the check engine light was on. He told me to bring it back
>> tomorrow morning and they'd take a look. When I left I realized that
the
>> driver's side headlight was out and that the wind****eld sprayer pump
did not
>> work. Also, everything was a little dim - wipers moved slow, dash
lights
>> were dim, headlights dim, etc. I also could here one of the pumps
>> "whining".
>> I brought it back the next morning which was now friday, 12/14 and
they
>> told me that the check engine light was from the mass airflow sensor.
They
>> reset the light and it hasn't come back on so far. They told me the
>> headlight was out because the socket was melted and the sprayer pump
was
>> fried. They replaced both for a "convenient" $128. Everything was
still
>> dim but I left. Later that night, about 7:00 pm, the same thing
happened as
>> the night before - lost power, stalled, then dead battery. Another
$75, it
>> was towed back to Midas.
>> I left the keys in the key drop so they called me the next morning,
>> Saturday, 12/15. They said they tested the alternator and it was still
>> charging but a half hour later they tested it again and it stopped
charging
>> so I had an intermittant problem. They replaced the alternator with a
>> reman. alternator and new belts for $548. I came to get the car and
now
>> nothing was dim and the whining sound went away. I thought I finally
was
>> done with all that mess. Later that night after the car was sitting
about
>> 6-8 hours, I started the car about 10:00pm and the belts were squealing
bad
>> and I the brake and battery indicators were on. The squealing and the
>> lights went away as soon as the car warmed up.
>> I took it back again Monday 12/17 and they tightened the belts and
told
>> me the lights were probably on because the loose belts weren't driving
the
>> alternator fast enough. I brushed it off and left. The squealing
never
>> came back but the brake and battery indicators still come on every time
the
>> engine is cold until it warms up, about 3-4 minutes after it starts. I
am
>> through dealing with Midas. My question to you all is...do you have
any
>> idea what may be causing the indicators?
>>
>> Again thanks for any help in advance.
>>
>> -Nick L.
>
>Nick,
>
>I would go to Autozone or Checker and get a free electrical
>inspection. Sounds like the charging system is not quite right as
>that is the usual cause of the lights you describe. Now, it could be
>as simple as a loose connection at the battery, alternator or
>starter. Or, just a loose fuse or fuse link. Once you have the
>system inspected post what they find. I do not go to Midas because of
>what you described in your experience with them. Last time I went
>there was in 1981 and I have not been back because of a similar
>experience.
This is why you take things to a Nisan dealer,,,you would have gotten
ripped off much less, and and had a warrantee to.
Sounds like your only problem was a bad ground connection to the
battery. Replacing the entire ground wire is a major labor cost, but
you can buy a new bolt on bat connector at Autozone for about 3
dollars, and just cut the old connector off, strip the wire end, and
replace the connector.
buy those fuzzy anti corrosion wafers to put under the bat posts to.
If you do not feel that you know how to do all this, take the car to a
dealer, and pay the $200 bucks or so to have it fixed right.
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