Alternator question

[Leo2005]

Now after installing my new speakers subwoofer new headunit etc. I knew something goes wrong. Especially when I get off the highway my power goes down and car is about to stall. Nothing extreme but it is getting worse and worse everyday. Today I checked my alternator by removing the negative cable from the battery and the car died right away. Obviously I overloaded and killed my alternator. The original comes with 110A. Did anyone look for a new/more power alternator for the Rogue because I found couple but they're so damn expensive. Does anyone know any of these companies if I should trust them or you know somebody else?
http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=358
https://www.dcpowerinc.com/fit/2010~Nis ... 50-xp.html
Thanks in advance for any info.

[kerrton]

That is really surprising to me, one subwoofer (not sure how big, but that shouldn't really matter) and a headunit shouldn't be a big deal for this 110A alternator.

My friends and I used to be really in to car stereos and spent endless hours fiddling and upgrading, over time ending up sucking hundreds of extra watts out of the cars electric system and I don't remember any of us ever having a problem with a stock alternator. Well maybe it's just bad luck, and regardless you need to replace it. Like I said I've never had to upgrade an alternator so I don't have much input, but I feel for you on this one...good luck.

[philipa_240sx]

Leo2005,

Grab the FSM and start troubleshooting:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Rogue/2008/CHG.pdf

There could be a couple of things going on:

- Blown fuse/fusible link on either the alternator or sense circuit.
- Bad voltage Regulator
- Loose/worn accessory drive belt? (I replaced mine last year).

As for 'upgraded' alternators, I'm not sure what's available. You may want to check out what the Sentra guys are doing. OEM alternators can be had for less than $250.

[Leo2005]

I'll check that...thanks for the advice.

[Leo2005]

Things are gettin better...my car is stuck in the middle of the road o. The way home from club and battery is discharged completely. My dome lights are barely lightin up. Will check the car tomorrow

[Leo2005]

I was kinda close but pretty much false alarm. Just checked the car and I see no belt. I guess I lost the belt somewhere on a highway. Will buy it later on.

[dolbydj]

I went through three alternators when I was playing around with my 1999 Mercury Cougar. It was working fine when it was stock, but I had extra amps lying around and was bored. My advice is to buy a car jumper kit - just in case. It's the worst feeling in the world to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and knowing you did it yourself.

[philipa_240sx]

I was kinda close but pretty much false alarm. Just checked the car and I see no belt. I guess I lost the belt somewhere on a highway. Will buy it later on.

Leo2005... you are lucky. Go buy a lottery ticket immediately!

The accessory belt not only drives the alternator and A/C compressor, it also drives the water pump! You may have dodged a bullet there... assuming your car did not overheat!

[philipa_240sx]

Belt replacement, starts on pg EM-15:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Rogue/2008/EM.pdf

It's pretty tight in there, you will need some good light and you will be twisting the belt to get it past the pulleys. Also:

Never loosen the hexagonal part in center of drive belt auto-tensioner pulley (Never turn it counterclockwise)

If you do, you will remove the auto-tensioner. It's a specially designed part (self threaded) that was not designed to be removed after it was installed at the factory. Remove it, and you'll have to replace the entire part. Not a good way to start things...

[Leo2005]

I towed the car to my friend's garage and he already did it for me. About overheating the temperature was normal...it's just the car started to loose the power and about 10 sec later died completely right on the highway. Also my friend recommended me to stop by in autozone to check the battery since he didn't have any tools to check but the volt meter which shows 14V and it doesn't mean much. The good thing that the car doesn't shut off anymore when I unplug the battery so the problem wasn't serious the way I was thinking about. I'm going to hold the idea about upgrading the alternator:)

[philipa_240sx]

Leo2005,

Keep on eye on the oil for the next few days. If the motor did overheat, it may show up as a head gasket leak. Coolant leaking into the oil will turn it milky beige/white in colour.

[Leo2005]

ok thanks.

[philipa_240sx]

I don't mean to worry you Leo. With our cold weather right now, you likely got away with it. If it was during the summer, it would have been a bigger problem.