Electrical alternator issues

[Bigsyke]

I drove a good distance in the rain the other day, and happen to have had my electrical fans on, along with the stereo. The lights started to get dimmer, and my windows suddenly were rolling up very very slowly. It was a spirited drive.

Well I parked to get gas, turned the car off and when I went to restart it, It seemed my battery was nearly dead. Poped the hood and it kinda smelled like the alternator was burning. It fineally started and I took it easy on the way home.

No Battery light on the cluster.
The car made a 45 minute drive home (with very dim headlights) - didnt stall out

The battery is dead now today. Grounds are all perfect. Has anybody ever overheated the alternator? I have a shroud on my radiator blocking any airflow into the engine compartment. Just wondering if anybody else has had issues with the alternator not charging the battery durring rain. I hope its just a blown fuse somewhere, since getting an alternator is hit or miss, unless I order an OEM.

(it would seem like the battery since the engine continued to run slightly on a 45 minute trip back home, So I was thinking the battery shorted out with the high load)

[Big_Balls_JC_S13]

Is there anything you installed before or prior to this happening? Like is the alternator new or is it old. If it is old then I would have it checked and changed... But other then that mae sure all the screws on the alternator is secured and that it is actually charging the battery.

[Ceepo]

^what he said, i had a s13 and my lights go dim, and my battery light came on very very lightly(could bairly see it on at night) so i replaced the battery, and the alternator and it ran like a champ ever since... sounds like your alternator to me tho...

[usajdm]

Yes, take it in to be checked.
Possibly(hopefully) just an old alternator, sinse power-windows, electric fans, and a stereo should not be overheating an alternator.
Even if its a stock S13 one.

Have it checked and try to solve the determine why.
Dont just start swapping parts hoping to fix it.

Be a mechanic, not a parts changer.

[Bigsyke]

Testing some things out today. Turn on car. 14.xx volts at the battery, and slowly it starts dropping to about 13.xx, and after I start moving, Ill pull over and check the voltage. 12.6x with the car running.

The alternator then smells like burning electronics, and is almost red hot. I can barely keep my hand on the casing.

All the connections look good, tension perfect. My idle surges like crazy nearly dying every second or so. Anytime I press the brakes or flip on the blinkers the car surges and nearly dies.

This has been the only time ive been able to investigate. I can not find an alternator anywhere. Autozone/napa/pepboys/rebuilds seem to be all pure garbage from what ive been reading. Is there a specialty shop online somewhere that sells good new alts? Id be tempted to upgrade as well.

[sidewaysonmy180]

i got three just sitting in my shack. you want one shoot me enough for a thirty pak and what ever shipping is and you got a working oem alternater.:) unless you live in or near cali. north hollywood. then you can just swing by. of course thirty pack in hand. haha. hell shit ill even help you put it on takes me bout 20 minutes

[usajdm]

i got three just sitting in my shack. you want one shoot me enough for a thirty pak and what ever shipping is and you got a working oem alternater.:) unless you live in or near cali. north hollywood. then you can just swing by. of course thirty pack in hand. haha. hell shit ill even help you put it on takes me bout 20 minutes

^^^^^^^^^
Good guy right there..........

Even if those places dont have your alternator, they can still test it for you.
Pop it out, and take it in to be tested.
That way you will know if you need to keep looking.
Also, if it does end up being the alternator, you might want to search out the "Nissan Quest" alternator mod.

[Bigsyke]

I have been searching the Quest alternator mod BUT;


If I do get a reman'ed, and I have to fabricate/modify the alternator, this will void the warranty no?

[sidewaysonmy180]

wow wow wow whats this i here bout a nissan quest mod. i just happen to have one just sitting in my back yard that was hit so its pretty much a parts car. and this is the first ive ever heard of using a quest alternater. so what does it do as for upgrades.

[projectRDM]

Quest alternator upgrade is over a decade old now, research it if you're curious. I didn't know any 240 owners hadn't heard of it.

Reman units differ from suppliers, but they're all lifetime warranty nearly everywhere so it's not a risk. If you're skeptical than just get your current one rebuilt from any place locally for less than $100.

[sidewaysonmy180]

Well i got out of the game for about two years after some one stole my car but i looked it up. i cant say i have any problems. lights dimming or anything. but, i do have electrical fans and bumps so sounds very interesting.

[Bigsyke]

Hey where are you guys getting your alternators?

[sidewaysonmy180]

do you live in california nere the valley? cuz if you do. pick your parts has alot of quests.the states cash for clunkers program that just past. produced alot of nissan quests im telling you its no joke i went there about three days ago and found atleast 10 to 15 quests. the quest and that old school lexus seems to be the main cars given up for the program.

[Bigsyke]

So ive narrowed it down. The alternator starts off fine when cold, 14.xx volts, once it heats up, it gets really hot. Then it starts dropping voltage. If I drive around with the lights on, and park it, the voltage would be around 11-12.10 volts running.

The alternator is extremely hot, which 1st makes me think the battery is now friend (since I plugged it into a trickle charger, and that dead battery only took 3 hours to charge @ 2amps)

The battery tested good at autozone (which isnt anything more than a DMM). If im blessed by the almighty, Ill only have to get a new battery. However the high pitched whine and the smell makes me think ill be rebuilding one.

Only true 100% new alternator I have found was an NSA brand from rockauto, or a DieHard from sears. 145 from rock auto, 300 from sears. I called around, All of the OEM's are remanufactured/rebuit (courtesyparts/trademotion)

[sidewaysonmy180]

wow bro where do you live thats expensive for a simple alt.

[jsd21hb]

i have almost the same problem as u. mine doesnt charge all the time. headlights on and heater and brake lights pressed the voltmeter goes down below 11.5v. but with no load its fine 14.3v all day. and once i turn the accesorries off and start to take off the belt starts squeeling and i can watch my voltgauge start to climb slowly till about 13.5v. im gonna pull it out this weekend and get it tested.