Nissan Maxima: Nissan maxima 95 electrical problem.

On 11 Aug 2004 07:34:35 -0700, com (Ajay) wrote:
 

Hi,

Here's a problem I had which I have fixed. Maybe the solution will
help you.

93 GXE 140k miles

Had nearly 30 days of continuous below-freezing weather where I am,
Washington DC suburb. Drove one to local mall a few miles away. Came
out after about two hours, battery is completely flat, will not turn
engine over. I figured it was the cold weather, many cold starts,
heater running constantly, often using headlights, short, start/stop
runs.

Called my wife, she brought her car with jumper leads, started OK.
Drove the car home and put the battery (only 18 months old) on the
charger overnight. Reconnected it next morning, car starts and runs
fine. Assumed the problem was solved. Next day I get a call from my
wife, Maxima has flat battery outside local library.

Same procedure, jump start then drive home. Took the battery out and
put it back on the charger. Left the car till the weekend for further
examination.

On the weekend, looked up my Haynes manual. Started doing their
charging system checks.

1) All fuses inside car OK
2) All relays under hood OK
3) Battery open voltage OK
4) Put an ammeter in circuit with the battery (disconnect negative
battery terminal and insert ammeter) Found that with the IGNITION OFF
there was a 100 milliamp current drain. Haynes says the maximum
current drain (considering, clock, radio presets, engine control
computer, etc) should be 50 milliamps.

With the ammeter still in circuit I started pulling connectors off the
positive battery terminal. As soon as I removed the fuseable link
which connects to the alternator main terminal, the current drain
dropped to zero.

Remembered Nissan Tech and possibly others had previously mentioned
the alternator diodes go bad after time, so I figured I had found the
problem.

Bought a new alternator my local Nissan dealer $368.00. Replaced the
alternater, recharged the battery. Problem solved.

HTH,
Al Moodie.