1996 Maxima: alternator weirdness

[kevm14]

I was coming into work and was approaching a stop sign. I noticed the dash lights seemed a little dimmer than normal. So I paused my music and listened to the engine as I accelerated from the stop sign. It sounded funny, though not like a belt squeal. The lights were still dim-ish. I began to approach this Corolla going incredibly slow and decided to give the engine a few free revs to see what was going on. I was passing by this guy clearing off his car on the side of the road and he gave me the stink eye. I also began to smell the tell-tale rubber burning smell of a slipping belt. A couple more free revs and the lights seemed to return to normal and everything was fine.

This car has two belts, I think a 6 rib serp and a 4 rib serp. The 6 rib drives the A/C, alternator and I forget what else. I think the 4 rib drives the P/S pump. Maybe I'm forgetting an accessory. Anyway, despite having two belts, this car has zero automatic tensioners, which is dumb. I'm sure the belts are overdue for replacement. Usually if I hit a puddle, the alternator will stop turning causing belt squeal until it dries out. But I don't remember hitting a puddle this time.

When I got to my parking spot I opened the hood with the engine idling and everything seemed perfectly normal.

Results inconclusive.

[kevm14]

Results more conclusive. I think it needs an alternator.

The symptoms above returned to include the strange smell, dimmer gauges and a strange sound at a certain RPM. It still charges but not very well. Plus some kind of light smoke is emanating from it which is another sign. I suspect one brush is totally done and the other isn't far behind.

I can get an OE Hitachi (still a reman!) from RockAuto for $230 after a $34 core. On the cheap end I can get a "PURE ENERGY" reman for $99. And everything in between.

It may be worth trying to find a replacement set of brushes.

Here's the FSM R&R directions:

Maxima alternator R-R.png

I hate FWD.

At least I have the Ranger and Caprice if I don't feel like doing this right away.

Also of interest is the rest of the alternator pages from the FSM: http://1drv.ms/1fibcSt

125A on federal emissions and 110A on California. I need to see which I guess.

[kevm14]

It is federal emissions coded. So 125A alt! Not too shabby for a car like this. But then with power windows (and moonroof), dual electric fans, headlights + fog lights, HVAC fan and optionally, heated seats, I can see why it would need some current.

[kevm14]

Fun story. So Courtesy Nissan (Texas) sells alternator parts. See here:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-par ... _1820.html

Notice on the 97+ variants the internal guts are "riveted and not replaceable." But the 95-96 alt still lets you buy the guts. That's the good news. The bad news is a brush set w/ holder is....pricey.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/23133-hold ... 30594.html

If this was a CS144 it would be like a 1/4 this price...

Think I'm kidding?

http://store.alternatorparts.com/cs144- ... older.aspx

It's actually 8% of the price. 8%. And that's for a 140A alternator. This is the Japanese car maintenance curse. The part lasted to 235k but it's an expensive part and forget trying to repair it. Grr....

Of course the CS144 is the LS1 of alternators. Or at least the SBC of alternators. But hey that's what I am used to (my Caprice, Fleetwood and Camaro all had CS144s).

[Adam]

This is the Japanese car maintenance curse. The part lasted to 235k but it's an expensive part and forget trying to repair it. Grr....

You have the wrong Japanese car. A Denso alternator for the Lexus is $156. A Beck/Arnley is $113 on RockAuto. 120 A. An alternator for my former Tercel can be had for as little as $74.

[kevm14]

I think this car is supposed to have a charging warning light but I never saw it on the dash (nor on KOEO) so maybe it's burnt out?

[Adam]

Nissan charge light = $85 I assume...

[kevm14]

A Beck Arnley is $104 after core. That shitty thermostat I had was a Beck/Arnley...

[Adam]

I actually have no experience with Beck/Arnley products. Other than knowing they exist.

[kevm14]

Autozone has a Duralast for $132 after core. I would probably get that one if I didn't do RockAuto. Still not sure what I want to do (taking into account when I actually feel like I have the time, plus that I probably should stop driving the car until I replace it).