ctm1reid

Please help. The battery won't hold a charge (the store said the battery is fine. They charged and tested it), the ABS and AIR BAG light comes on (no others), while idling the lights finally go out after a few seconds and seems to run fine. While going down the road around 55mph or so the engine starts to bog down then up again and wants to stall. I've checked the voltage at the posts from the alternator while idling and it reads 15v+ and idles fine. It seems the battery won't hold a charge and while at high speeds the engine starts jumping. I press in the clutch and hold the rpms at around 1k and the lights go out (after a few seconds) for a mile or two, sometimes less, and it starts jumping again. Please help!! THIS IS WEIRD....

Rogue_Wulff

Check your battery cable connections. Especially the positive. There are smaller wires that tie into the positive battery terminal. Those are critical for powering the entire electrical system.

__________________
1990 King Cab 2WD 223K and counting, KA24E 5 spd
1983 Mazda RX7 for fun

1997XETruck

It's entirely possible to have an intermitant alternator problem. Has it been load tested yet?

Heath

__________________
1997 Nissan XE Truck - 133,000 Miles
1990 Infiniti Q45 - 91,000 Miles
2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan - 34,000 Miles

ctm1reid

Well, I found the problems. I took the alternator out and found that the bottom bolt was gone, and one of the two wires in the top connector plug didn't look like it was connecting (was broke and looked all crudded up at the connection on the alternator). It tested at Autozone at 15 volts and battery is good. I replaced the bolt, belt, and spliced a piece of CAT 5 ethernet wire on the broken wire and crimped an end on it and plugged both back in. It seems to be keeping the battery charged right now. I'm hoping that is a quick fix. I've only been able to run the truck a couple days and one night with the lights on. Not sure if you can get another alternator connector kit to splice them correctly. So far, so good. LOL

88pathoffroad

Isn't CAT5 cable mighty thin? I wouldn't trust that to hold up to high amperage current for more than a few days. Use some real wire.

__________________
Owner of NPORA, mod for Nissan-Infiniti Forums, NissanForums.com, NissanHelp.com, AllNissans.com and VGPowered Forums
'88 Pathfinder: 6" of lift, 33x13.50 Swamper LTB's, Rancho 9000's, L&P Stage 3 steering system, K&N, Pacesetter headers and 2.5" exhaust, Lock-Right locker, 110A alty and electric fan swap, dual batteries, 700W+ worth of PIAAs, etc.