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Post by Sean on Apr 23, 2009 8:31:28 GMT -5
I'm on my 3rd alternator in a few months. What is killing them on me?
I have not been using the computer of any of the electronics so it's not over draw.
It seems to be ok right now, but when I turn on the head lights They are REALLY dim and the antilock light comes on (that happens when the alternator dies)
I turn off the lights and the lights that come on go away.
Sooooo I know something is killing my alternators. Anyone good with electrical that has any ideas?
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Post by antagonistace on Apr 23, 2009 10:54:45 GMT -5
Did this just start out of the blue or after installation of something electrical?
Have you checked the wiring for the alternator? Check the connectors and make sure there is no debris stuck in there. Check the wires and where the go into the connectors.
I know very little about automotive electrical stuff, but I am thinking. I never took electrical classes and I regret it.
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Post by peter91118 on Apr 23, 2009 11:11:25 GMT -5
if your alt dies, its probably starter or battery related. i would take the alt and battery to autozone or somewhere that checks them and get them checked. then i would do the stater too if they come up fine. if something happens to any one of those 3, the others are usually a cause.
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Post by Sean on Apr 23, 2009 13:38:29 GMT -5
The alternator in the car died on me. It was old so that's not a big surprise. I got a new one and it lasted a week. Got a new battery and new alternator. Had them test it before I put it in and this one is going now.
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Post by funkystickman on Apr 23, 2009 13:52:51 GMT -5
You might also want to check your battery ground for corrosion. Hope it works!
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Post by antagonistace on Apr 23, 2009 14:04:27 GMT -5
Peter is right, it could be starter related. Was the new starter a brand new or used?
I went through 2 of them that were used in just a few months. I got them from a local parts store and they said that they were tested and they worked fine. However that was not the case. I took them back and had them tested at the same place and it showed that were ok. I finally got a brand new one and I never had a problem.
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Post by ScrapinSTi on Apr 23, 2009 19:30:36 GMT -5
Is the voltage regulator built into the alternators on 300s? or is it external?
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Post by skimobile on Apr 23, 2009 20:05:22 GMT -5
Bad ground wire/ground issues?
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Post by Sean on Apr 23, 2009 23:45:26 GMT -5
The regulator is in the alternator and tested fine when I had the test it before I put it in the car.
The start that is in the car is a few years old.
Battery ground is clean.
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Post by fddave on Apr 27, 2009 20:09:23 GMT -5
My best word of advice, get an OEM Nissan alternator. On my FD, I had one go bad, replaced with with an autozone etc one, didn't work. spent a bit extra got an OEM one. Still running strong in the car. I know I know, but that is my experience, and for me water pumps, alternators, and other critical parts get picked up from the dealer. I really have seen a difference in quality and performance.
-Dave
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Post by Sean on Apr 27, 2009 23:15:46 GMT -5
Sooo the other day we were driving and the power started to die on me and the car started blowing smoke and the lights started to dim AGAIN. ARG! I'm never going to win with this car.
Then it started to run fine until I put on the lights or blinkers. The anti lock break light would come on and the rpm needle would jump with the flashes. Once I turned them off it would be ok... kinda.
We made it home and turned the car off and it wouldn't start. The battery is dead. I'm going to jump it tomorrow and see what happens. That tells me that that the new tested alternator is working because it got us home, but not charging the battery again for some reason.
This is killing me.
new battery, 2 new alternators and a world of headache.
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Post by dale clough on Apr 28, 2009 11:22:12 GMT -5
Time to retire the Z.
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Post by ReddDesign on Apr 28, 2009 16:13:31 GMT -5
No way, retire a car because of electrical problems, even though it's been through countless motors?
Sean, look for a short somewhere...I'd start with the wires going from alt-battery-starter. My parents had a huge problems over the winter with mice, who knows if something got in there while the car was parked.
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Post by Team Avanti on Apr 28, 2009 16:13:58 GMT -5
nope it will be at bobbys works shop when sean wants it to be and a TT wil be entering that car
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Post by Sean on Apr 28, 2009 18:22:57 GMT -5
Pulled the alternator today and had it tested. It's fine. Put it back in and the car ran fine. Turned on the lights and its fine, heat,, rear defrost, FINE.
This is killing me.
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Post by brabbit on Apr 28, 2009 19:31:41 GMT -5
ABS Module may be stuck on, that's a known Nissan problem. Also could be the fuel pump relay keeping the fuel pump running after shutdown.
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Post by skimobile on Apr 28, 2009 19:36:23 GMT -5
I bet Something such as a relay, ground, etc, is shorting out on you. Does it happen more frequently after a rain or high humidity? Does it do it after a sharp turn, etc? In what situations is the problem most frequently experienced? I got moisture in one of my relays and it actually caused my HIDs to ignite all by themselves on several occasioins, in the middle of the night, with lights off and with no keys in the car, the highbeams would just come on all by themselves.....spooky s#it. It was also draining my battery...
Finally traced it back to a bad relay where moisture was getting in and jumping the contacts... Swapped the bad relay and the problem was solved. ELectrical stuff can drive you crazy. Id check as much wiring as you can for chafing, etc., then corroded connections, then onto the switches/relays. If it's a bad relay, when you connect a new one make sure you use a dielectric grease on the connections then wrap everything good in a waterproof electrical tape if their outside the drivers compartment. The ABS module is a possibility. I would think if your fuel pump didn't shut off you'd be able to hear it hum/whine if you sat in the car with the ignition off.
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Post by Team Avanti on Apr 28, 2009 21:16:31 GMT -5
um bring it here and i will redo the hole car and ya twin turbo............sean any time lol
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Post by Sean on Apr 28, 2009 22:31:18 GMT -5
First I need $ to but the clip from eric. He will work with me on it, but I want to give him a good chunk up front.
Once I can afford it that's the plan.
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Post by Team Avanti on Apr 29, 2009 16:55:16 GMT -5
cant wait
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Post by Sean on Apr 29, 2009 19:27:51 GMT -5
Ok.. exchanged the alternator today and installed the new one. I put a meter on it. I get 13+ while idle then as I give it gas it drops to aound 12.46ish and holds in that area as I raise rpms.
Turn on the lights and it started to drop and drop and drop. I turned them off at 9.5
The alternator charges right back up to 13+.
Now the hunt is on for the short.
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Post by ScrapinSTi on Apr 29, 2009 22:37:29 GMT -5
start simple... unplug 1 headlight bulb and see if it stops drawing... then unplug another... etc... same with parking lights...
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Post by Team Avanti on Apr 30, 2009 16:30:26 GMT -5
i told him the exsact same thing on the phone last night lol
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Post by Sean on May 1, 2009 18:03:25 GMT -5
ok... so nowwwwwww it seems.... I disconnect the + term and test the voltage from there to ground. 14 v. I put it on the battery and test again and read 13.40isn and it drops as I give gas.
I exchanged the battery for another brand and same thing. WHAT IS GOING ON?
And then to make it even worse I notice my oil pressure a little low and I heard some ticking so I check and I'm a few quarts low. I put in 2 quarts and started driving. I notice smoke behind me.... A LOT of smoke. The drivers side exhaust was smoking BAD. Thick blueish smoke. I mean pull over bad because no one could see behind me and started to over heat.
I tried to let the oil burn off and after about 30+ minutes of reving and letting it cool I noticed oil dripping from the cold air intake. The smoke was not too bad so I was able to get on the road again. It was not too bad at low rpms, but when I gave it gas it would smoke.... Then.... All better. No smoke at all. Like it never happened. Not even a little puff.
I get home and for the hell of it I shut the car off and start it up. It starts right up. So I figure I'll test voltage. I get 12-13 ish. I remove the + cable and test again... 14.15 I'm about to blow this damn thing up.
The car starts right up and runs pretty smooth, but when I remove the + cable it smooths out close to perfect.
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Post by dale clough on May 1, 2009 19:09:47 GMT -5
Hmmmm, I see a Prius in your near future.
I'm standing behind my previous post, time to say goodbye to the Z.
I know it's super tough but ask yourself how much more frustration, time and money are you willing to put into this right now?
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