1993 N/A Z32 Alternator not charging

[Faith_Plus_One]

So I hate to try and hijack other threads with my problem so I am going to post this one and hope someone can assist.
1993 Nissan N/A 2+2 MT

My Z died when I was driving, but made it home, so I replaced the battery. I then drove again two days later saw my gauge cluster completely die, all idiot lights came on, and dimmed, engine was still running so I tried to make it home. No luck this time. Multimeter said Battery was pretty low / dead 11.8 so I put the trickle charger on.

So found this forum and looked around a lot as well as got some advice through others on how to diagnose a few things.

What I have done -

• Taken the alternator out and had it tested at AZ and Orielly both places said it checked out fine. Put the alternator back in, and then again to check the wiring.
• Trickle Charged the battery back up to 12.8 volts
• Tested the battery terminal while running - 12.2 or lower as the car runs. Runs lower if you have a/c and radio on.
• Used Multimeter to check all fuses with the quick check terminals (7.5/10/15) all seem to be reading the battery level (i saw this post but I checked all fuses and not sure which one the diagram refers to?

I wish I took a picture but my alternator has 2 wires for what looks like the positive terminal and one ground wire, then the connector for the dash gauges (I think?). Wiring wise everything I have looked up sounds like a single wire for the positive terminal, single wire for negative (ground), and the cluster snap in. I didn't notice the two wires were separated when I originally pulled it out and that is my bad for not noting it prior to removal.

I did notice my wiring was pretty tight for the alternator so not sure if maybe I can test the voltage at that area with the multimeter? I have disconnected the battery every time I've been removing / re-installing the alternator but wasn't sure if it would yield any result that was helpful? Thoughts?

What I was curious about was if I replaced the alternator (OEM Reman from local parts dealer here in Phx) could the tests from AZ and Oreilly be bad? I really don't want to drop 200.00 for an alternator I do not need if I can help it. I was also curious of any other potential methods for testing the alternator because something is apparently not working on the charging system.

Thank you for your help / time reading this . It's just getting annoying and I would rather figure it out myself vs. taking it to the dealer / mechanic if I can help it. But I am at that point where my brain can no longer come up with a viable solution :-(

Kevin


BTW the guides, the photo guide, and all of the various posts on here and threads from other Z32 owners is great!

[aroche25]

What kind of shape is the alternator belt in? is it slipping or not tightened correctly? Mine did the same thing and after replacing my alternator 3 times, 1 used and then a reman it took 3 mechanics to figure it out while auto zone said every alternator I had was fine, which they were. It was just a really old belt that was slipping, when I had this issue turning on my ac and lights at the same time would kill my car, that's how bad it was. Good luck also I have the 2 used alternators that I was taking bout still, they tested perfect at az, if you want one PM me.

[Faith_Plus_One]

Aroche25 - Thanks for the reply. The belt was recently changed out (2 months ago / June) it is not the Nissan OEM type belt it is an off brand one. It was squeaking pretty bad after the initial install so I tightened the belt a bit and the noise went away. Maybe I need to get some sort of deflection gauge so I know I am not over tightening the belt?

Your issue, as well as multiple trips with "good testing" alternators makes me think it could be my belt now. I will buy the OEM from someone in town and try that next.

Do you know if you can test the voltage at the Alternator safely to ensure proper voltage is making it to the device?

Thanks!

Kevin

[Faith_Plus_One]

Could someone let me know the easiest way to swap out the alternator belt? It seems the fan is in the way, or the other belts but I cannot seem to get the smallest belt loose to try and replace the alternator belt.

Do I have to remove the radiator / Front Fan to replace the belt? It's looking more and more like that is what I have to do and cannot just simply remove the alternator belt and replace...

Thanks for your help in advance.

Kevin

[marty1mc]

No, you don't have to remove the radiator fan. Remove the lower shroud and the belt will slip over the fan.

[aroche25]

No, you don't have to remove the radiator fan. Remove the lower shroud and the belt will slip over the fan.

You don't even have to remove the shroud if your hands are flexible or small I guess.

[Faith_Plus_One]

No, you don't have to remove the radiator fan. Remove the lower shroud and the belt will slip over the fan.

You don't even have to remove the shroud if your hands are flexible or small I guess.

Ok. Thanks for the info guys. Prior to tinkering the most I have done is fluid changes / brakes / diffs and big stuff.. So I am a complete noob on other things but I am certainly willing to learn and try!!

So if I understand this right I shouldn't have to loosen any of the other belts just the alternator belt, then it should be able do be grabbed at the top go over the fan and slip off around the rest of the belts that are tight? And if it is kind of a pain I can unclip the fan shroud and make it a bit easier?

Thanks again for the help guys.

Oh and if you can suggest a good manual (more info than the FSM online) that could just kick me in gear when I am stuck I would love to hear a suggestion so I can buy one :-)

Kevin

[marty1mc]

So if I understand this right I shouldn't have to loosen any of the other belts just the alternator belt, then it should be able do be grabbed at the top go over the fan and slip off around the rest of the belts that are tight? And if it is kind of a pain I can unclip the fan shroud and make it a bit easier?

Oh and if you can suggest a good manual (more info than the FSM online) that could just kick me in gear when I am stuck I would love to hear a suggestion so I can buy one :-)

No, you will need to remove the AC and PS belt from the pulleys. You won't be able to get the Alternator belt onto the Crank damper pulley without doing that. It will not just go over the entire outside of the fan, but using the blades and slipping the belt up and down between them, it will come out.

If you want something other than an online manual, look for an FSM for your year (printed). Nothing else is really worth buying. The FSM isn't really a "how-to" manual, but more of a "what-to" reference. You don't need to buy one either. The online FSM has just about everything (the electrical diagrams suck), the printed version will have. And, there are enough links and websites to fill in more than is in the FSM anyway. Your call...

[Faith_Plus_One]

No, you will need to remove the AC and PS belt from the pulleys. You won't be able to get the Alternator belt onto the Crank damper pulley without doing that. It will not just go over the entire outside of the fan, but using the blades and slipping the belt up and down between them, it will come out.

If you want something other than an online manual, look for an FSM for your year (printed). Nothing else is really worth buying. The FSM isn't really a "how-to" manual, but more of a "what-to" reference. You don't need to buy one either. The online FSM has just about everything (the electrical diagrams suck), the printed version will have. And, there are enough links and websites to fill in more than is in the FSM anyway. Your call...

marty1mc TY for the response - So I was able to get the Alternator belt loose, the AC belt (compressor on picture) but I loosen the bolts next to the Power Steering but it never comes loose? I can't for the life of me find any reference to what I should "loosen" which is kind of why I was hoping for a chilton/haynes type manual that would help me walk through some parts. I did look and do a few google searches / searched the forum for belts / PS belt removal and no dice :-(

So in order to get the PS Belt off I saw what looked like the other tension brackets and loosened it. That didn't make the belt come off :-( Any hints on how to get that belt loose?



Thanks,

Kevin

[Sdavne]

What kind of shape is the alternator belt in? is it slipping or not tightened correctly? Mine did the same thing and after replacing my alternator 3 times, 1 used and then a reman it took 3 mechanics to figure it out while auto zone said every alternator I had was fine, which they were. It was just a really old belt that was slipping, when I had this issue turning on my ac and lights at the same time would kill my car, that's how bad it was. Good luck also I have the 2 used alternators that I was taking bout still, they tested perfect at az, if you want one PM me.

You just brought up an amazing point, that might fix all my problems. I dont meant to steel your thread, but i posted about my car dying and i replaced my alternator and not the belt and am having the same problems but the belt is torn up a little so i am going to change my belt this weekend and maybe it will solve everything. my belts squeal in the cold and also make a weird noise when there is alot of power being used from my car. sorry to steel this but thank you this is a big help