Fred Sanford

I am going absolutely crazy!!!
I cannot seem to put this issue to rest! I replaced my Battery and Alternator and after 35 days of trouble free driving, here we go again!

I started my '91 Pathfinder on Saturday night and the dash warning light indicators (Brake, Battery, and A/T Oil lights) stayed on the whole ride home. The dash voltage guage read 10 Volts instead of the 13 Volts it normally reads while under load.
Thought it may be a fluke, but drove the Pathy yesterday and today, and the same thing happened. The dash lights stayed on the whole entire ride into work.
Does this mean that the "new"/"used" Alternator that I got off of ebay is bad? Why would it work for a month, and then quit? I checked the belt and the connections and everything seems fine. Has anyone else had a problem like this?
Could these dash lights signify that something else may be wrong? How much does a place charge to check the charging system on a vehicle?

Any suggestions before I take the Alternator out and replace it again?
Hmmm, an Alternator and Battery a month could get pretty expensive

capl3790

Last year I had the same thing happened with a new/used alterntor two weeks after I baught it. Here is how you can tell

Turn on your truck and pop the hood.

With the engine running use a volt meter on the batter and it should read around the 13/14 volts. If it isn't then you likely have a bad alternator. Not to worry though. There are a number of small shops and kits you can use to replace the brushes in it.

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shift_drew

b67

make sure you mains ground is goodwhere it attaches toi the body - check the cables maybe bad connection / damage - it could be the reason you orig alt fried

Xeno

You gota watch the rebuilt alt/starters from parts stores. They send them to mexico (usually) and tend to just beadblast them & paint them & replace the brushes (sometime the regulator). Though after a few "rebuildings" the bearings wear/windings go, etc... The best way to go is buy a BRAND NEW one if you have the money. Or if you need to save a buck then take it to a local motor/electrical place and have them rebuild it. It supports you local commerce and have a face to deal with for warranty. Heck they can even change the winding for more amps if you want!

Fred Sanford

After a hellacious day yesterday, everything is now back to normal.
My Pathy's battery died on the way to work yesterday and I was able to push it into a Firestone who confirmed my bad Alternator and wanted $398.14 to replace it.
I quickly paid them the $26.49 cents for the electrical test and had Triple A tow my Pathy for $47.00 to my father In law's auto body shop where I ordered an alternator from a local parts dealer for $155.00 and installed it all afternoon. Total paid out (47+26.49+155) = $228.49
I guess I'm happy that I saved $169.65, although I had to take 1/2 a vacation day from work.
Hopefully this Alternator lasts longer than the month that the other one lasted. Shouts out to Tom's Foreign Auto Parts on EBAY that refunded my money for the Alternator that blew in 30 days (it was only $50, I had to take a shot!). I also want to yell at Nissan for the location of the Pathy's Alternator. It's only 3 bolts, but getting to them stinks! It's like working blind in there.