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Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Cars / August 200896 Nissan Truck Alternator/Charging System Problems
I have a 1996 Nissan XE truck. The charging system is driving me crazy. I have replaced the alternator 3 times (Advance Auto Parts) and the battery twice! He are my symptoms. The battery will eventually discharge over a few weeks. When I recharge the battery, it appears the alternator is putting out about 14.5volts. But as time goes by, when I monitor the charging voltage, it appears to slowly go down to th 12 volt range. I think I smell an "electrical burning smell" off and on when this happens. (maybe a sticking relay?) Anyway, eventually it will not start due to low voltage. It is driving me crazy. Like I said, it doesn't appear to be the alternator or battery. Any thoughts? > I have a 1996 Nissan XE truck. The charging system is driving me crazy. I > have replaced the alternator 3 times (Advance Auto Parts) and the battery [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > It is driving me crazy. Like I said, it doesn't appear to be the alternator > or battery. Any thoughts? It would seem there is a significant current draw. The best way to find it is to put an ammeter in series with the ground wire off the battery to determine the total current flow when the engine is stopped and everything is turned off. A very small current draw is normal to run the clock, radio memory etc. but a large current will run down the battery over time. If you find a current draw, then you can start pulling fuses one by one and watch the current flow stop when you kill the circuit with the current draw. If the current draw never stops even with all the fuses out, then there's a wiring harness problem. Good luck. Al Al, Thanks for your input. I need to get a ammeter to check that. But it seems stranger than a small current draw. I can monitor the alternator voltage, and sometimes (not always) I see the voltage go from 14v to 12.5v if I trurn on the lights and turn them off, the alternator seems to stay at 12 to 12.5 volts. But it is very inconsistant. Also, when it drops in the 12.5 volt range, as I increase RPMs to about 2500, the alternator actually puts out less voltage. That is what is so weird to me...and the electricl burn smell at times. Ron On Aug 18, 8:10 pm, "R. Parker" <justa...@hotmail.com> wrote: > I have a 1996 Nissan XE truck. The charging system is driving me crazy. I > have replaced the alternator 3 times (Advance Auto Parts) and the battery [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > alternator > or battery. Any thoughts? It would seem there is a significant current draw. The best way to find it is to put an ammeter in series with the ground wire off the battery to determine the total current flow when the engine is stopped and everything is turned off. A very small current draw is normal to run the clock, radio memory etc. but a large current will run down the battery over time. If you find a current draw, then you can start pulling fuses one by one and watch the current flow stop when you kill the circuit with the current draw. If the current draw never stops even with all the fuses out, then there's a wiring harness problem. Good luck. Al |
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