'02 I35 3rd alternator, battery and brake lights flickering

[thisisbelle]

I have been having issues with my 02 I35. (I did search other posts before writing so I apologize in advance if this is a duplicate)...My car has 170K miles and has been parked since August. Here's what I remember so far... January 2011 replaced alternator (1st time) car is okay until April 2012. While driving (60-70mph) car stalls (very dangerous and scary) check engine, battery and brake lights flicker off and on. Car will regain power but it keeps doing this. Take it to have the codes read and it came up with O2 sensors. Had those replaced. Car still doesn't act right, stalls while driving, battery and brake lights flicker (Check engine light DOES NOT COME ON now) Had the alternator replaced (April '12) so we are now on alternator #2. Car seems great. Drove from Atlanta to Chicago and back no problems. Great gas mileage, etc... August 2012 car starts having issues again...Stalls while driving- battery and brake lights flickering still (no check engine light)...I go and buy new battery- starts up like a champ but won't start the next day- put my new battery on the charger and take my car to an "alternator" electrical component guy and he keeps it, runs it for a day (in the shop- doesn't take it driving) has the air and lights on and he says my alternator is working fine, proper output, volts, amps (whatever its supposed to be doing, he says it is doing). PIck my car up and on the way home...YUP...car starts acting up again. Battery and brake lights flickering. It didn't stall this time but I was too scared to drive very far. I have had the car parked since then as I didn't have the $$ to work on it. So- May 2013 I take it to the shop. They said it needs a new alternator... UMMM...hello...I think there is something else going on. They are honoring the alternator warranty so it's not going to cost me but I'm skeptical, this will be alternator #3..I am not a car expert by any means and I am a woman and I know sometimes it's easy to think that I am over reacting, but I think that there is something making my alternator go out. I am having them replace the alternator but it just doesn't seem logical that I would go through the same issues just because of a bad alternator. Why couldn't the alternator guy find a problem with my alternator? Why does it happen after being driven? I have been on all kinds of forums and have been reading...Is there something else I need to have them check? I've read about cam position sensor, ecu, mass air flow something or other, wiring harness issues, could be a wire issue after the alternator (not before), fuses...I just want it fixed...I just want to make sure I don't pick up my car and on the way home it messes up ---or either 2 mos down the road the problem presents itself again. (my shop is 55 miles away, btw)I know its common for remanufactured alternators to be bad, but come on! I want to call my shop with some valid points (like I know what I'm talking about)! Thanks so much for reading my book- I look forward to hearing from ANYONE!!!

[maxhopper]

Welcome to NICO.

Wow, that's quite the ordeal. Do you know what brand of alternator is being put into your car (where it is being purchased from)? I personally would not get an alternator from Autozone or Pepboys, I've seen too many that are poorly remanufactured. I would get one from NAPA, or go with an OEM unit.

As for why the alternator guy could not find a problem, it could be an intermittent diode issue that didn't act up while he had it.

[thisisbelle]

Hi, I know the first alternator came from either Advance or Autozone (one of those national retailers) and the 2nd one was put in by the shop that I have been taking my car to. Sorry I don't have more info. =(
Thanks for responding though!

[Fezzik]

Make sure all your grounds are clean as well and not corroded.

[thisisbelle]

Hi, I know the first alternator came from either Advance or Autozone (one of those national retailers) and the 2nd one was put in by the shop that I have been taking my car to. Sorry I don't have more info. =(
Thanks for responding though!

**additional question...would a faulty cam shaft position sensor cause my alternator to give me issues?

[maxhopper]

No. It would cause the engine to run poorly.

[loystock]

If the alternator is good and you have a new battery, the battery voltage should be 12.6V or higher with engine off. Anything less and your battery is not getting enough 'juice.' With engine running the battery (alternator charging) voltage should be greater than 13.8v (spec is 14.1-14.7V). The voltage must be stable. Any fluctuation is an indication of a bad power diode (better seen in an oscilloscope). There is a possibility that you have a partial short (alternator 'hot' wire touching the ground wire or chassis) causing the alternator to fail. Check the alternator and bettery harness. A failing alternator can trigger all sorts of problems that you have mentioned.

I also had bad experience with alternator from similar stores. One time, I have to replace the alternator 3 times until I got the right one.

[thisisbelle]

Well, I got my car back from the shop...even though it had been over a year, they honored the alternator warranty and got a "better" alternator for my car this time. I've had it back almost a week and have put @300 miles on my car- no flickering lights yet. I have my fingers crossed...thanks so much for all your responses...it is greatly appreciated!

[loystock]

We're glad to hear that. And thank you for posting back.

[justind]

I have been having issues with my 02 I35. (I did search other posts before writing so I apologize in advance if this is a duplicate)...My car has 170K miles and has been parked since August. Here's what I remember so far... January 2011 replaced alternator (1st time) car is okay until April 2012. While driving (60-70mph) car stalls (very dangerous and scary) check engine, battery and brake lights flicker off and on. Car will regain power but it keeps doing this. Take it to have the codes read and it came up with O2 sensors. Had those replaced. Car still doesn't act right, stalls while driving, battery and brake lights flicker (Check engine light DOES NOT COME ON now) Had the alternator replaced (April '12) so we are now on alternator #2. Car seems great. Drove from Atlanta to Chicago and back no problems. Great gas mileage, etc... August 2012 car starts having issues again...Stalls while driving- battery and brake lights flickering still (no check engine light)...I go and buy new battery- starts up like a champ but won't start the next day- put my new battery on the charger and take my car to an "alternator" electrical component guy and he keeps it, runs it for a day (in the shop- doesn't take it driving) has the air and lights on and he says my alternator is working fine, proper output, volts, amps (whatever its supposed to be doing, he says it is doing). PIck my car up and on the way home...YUP...car starts acting up again. Battery and brake lights flickering. It didn't stall this time but I was too scared to drive very far. I have had the car parked since then as I didn't have the $$ to work on it. So- May 2013 I take it to the shop. They said it needs a new alternator... UMMM...hello...I think there is something else going on. They are honoring the alternator warranty so it's not going to cost me but I'm skeptical, this will be alternator #3..I am not a car expert by any means and I am a woman and I know sometimes it's easy to think that I am over reacting, but I think that there is something making my alternator go out. I am having them replace the alternator but it just doesn't seem logical that I would go through the same issues just because of a bad alternator. Why couldn't the alternator guy find a problem with my alternator? Why does it happen after being driven? I have been on all kinds of forums and have been reading...Is there something else I need to have them check? I've read about cam position sensor, ecu, mass air flow something or other, wiring harness issues, could be a wire issue after the alternator (not before), fuses...I just want it fixed...I just want to make sure I don't pick up my car and on the way home it messes up ---or either 2 mos down the road the problem presents itself again. (my shop is 55 miles away, btw)I know its common for remanufactured alternators to be bad, but come on! I want to call my shop with some valid points (like I know what I'm talking about)! Thanks so much for reading my book- I look forward to hearing from ANYONE!!!

Please help...I have this same problem and do not know what to do. Is your car still running fine after your last alternator? if not can you please let me know what you did to fix this issue?

[justind]

Please help...I have this same problem and do not know what to do. Is your car still running fine after your last alternator? if not can you please let me know what you did to fix this issue?

[2002I35]

I am facing same problem with my 2002 Infiniti.
justind - Were you able to fix your problem? Did you replace the alternator and battery both or just alternator?

Thanks!