Nissan Maxima: '96 Maxima Electrical Problems

Check the ignition switch and the relay.

GSBernard wrote:
 

I was able to jump start it. The voltage meter is reading 12.2 with
nothing on, 10.0 with the lights on. I let my car run for about 10
minutes, then it died.

I jumped it again and let it run for 20 minutes. It slow cranked but
started up and the lights and radio worked this time.

Any further thoughts?

Do you have an aftermarket stereo or something else that is drawing
power when the system is off? It sounds like you have a massive drain
on the system. Get a volt ohm meter and check the system for how
milliamps it is drawing when the car is off and the key is off.
Anything over 100 milliamps is too much and you should be looking for
the source.

GSBernard wrote:
 

Nope. Everything on it is original. The only non-Nissan item in the
alternator I replaced when the mechanic told me the battery was dead and I
should replace the alternator. That's when all this other stuff started.

On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 19:42:02 -0400, "GSBernard" <com>
wrote:
 

Check for corroded grounding terminal causing intermittent connection.

Al Moodie.

I have a 98 Maxima and I am having the same exact problem. I have the
flashing air bag indicator, battery indicator and my car was idling funny,
no radio sound, but radio was on.....and now my car won't start.

I was going to replace the alternator because I replaced my battery about
3 weeks ago. But it sounds like that won't help either.

This seems to be a common problem among Maximas, but is there a common
solution?

I did check the voltage on the battery this morning and it read 12.11
without the car running. I jumped it and the readout was anywhere from
12.22 to 8.7. I had them replace the alternator since it's under
warranty. So far so good. I'm getting 12.77 with the car idle and 13.60
with it running.