240sx alternator find but wont charge

[lightningfish]

driving 20+ minutes does not charge my battery. Took out the alternator had it checked along with battery and both are fine. Changed out ground cable still nothing. The car seems to drive fine but each time I turn off the car and start again struggles more to start until needs a jump. Not sure what to check next. Help

[lightningfish]

1991 240sx

[driftneil]

I have the same prob, I belive my prob is my alarm. checking this weekend. Have you changed anything with your car lately?

[vancouverbc]

are your battery cables clean and tight. is your 75 amp alternator fuse blown. is the alt belt loose. do you have a parasitic drain?

[lightningfish]

cables are good and haven't added anything lately. The 75 amp fuse seams like the best thing so far, will go and check it. http://images.nicoclub.com/for...r.gif

[lightningfish]

Will I be able to tell the fuse is toast by looking at it?

[driftneil]

Yup, it has a clear window at the top of fuse. you can easily see if the bar is broken or solid. But the fuse also controls your lights as well, so that should be a dead give-away.

[lightningfish]

lights have been working, I'm going to look into it now

[lightningfish]

Fuse is not blown. Is it imperitive that I run my new ground wire to both the engine and the side of the engine compartment?

[lightningfish]

Since the fuse is fine and I'm getting 14v at the battery when the car is running wouldn't that narrow it down to the battery?????

[vancouverbc]

Since the fuse is fine and I'm getting 14v at the battery when the car is running wouldn't that narrow it down to the battery?????

what voltage do you get when the car is not running.you could have a short that is draining battery.

[vancouverbc]

most batteries dont last much longer than 4 years

[lightningfish]

Turns out it was the starter, it was just slowly giving out and need all the battery to kick over. It eventually siezed up all the way.

[vancouverbc]

great stuff:) Thanks for reporting back. It will help someone searching.

[sg101]

Turns out it was the starter, it was just slowly giving out and need all the battery to kick over. It eventually siezed up all the way.

I have a 1993 manual Nissan 240sx . I have the same problem as yours. I've noticed that if I drive less than 20 minutes or so, my car battery would die on me the next day. And I have jump it and let idle or drive for 30 minutes. It has been like this for last six or seven months. I have checked/changed everything from alternator to new battery but no success.You mentioned about the starter is the cause of the problem. Can you tell me in some details how to fix/replace the starter and how much will it cost ?I plan to fix it myself to save some buck at this fanancially hard time.

Thanks.

[driftneil]

Use the search button, I'm sure it's in there. It's real easy. 2 bolt, and 2 nuts.

[scottydog]

Easy to replace, $120 or so.