Dreading a trip to Nissan...my car is @#$%!

[supra brit]

So I was on my way to stop by my friend's house tonight before heading out to Hiram (about 40 min away) to see my boyfriend, when some weird things started happening with my car...

The CD player, which is wired up directly to the battery due to my screwy wiring problems, starting turning on and off, and I was like that's strange...so I pulled in to an elementary school when it shut off completely and wouldn't turn back on...I was thinking my battery was about to die...and I was close.

I left it running, but it started idling really weird, like it was struggling, and at this time some young kids stopped and asked if I needed helped, then proceeded to ask and compliment my car ("What is this, it's cool...is it a new car!?") as well as probe my personal life ("How old are you? Are you on probation? Do you have a boyfriend?")...

Anyways, I shut the car off, then tried to start it...and nothing. I could hear it trying to crank, but it wasn't getting any power from the battery to start. I called my friend who luckily only lived right down the street from where I was and he came and jumped my battery, it ran for about 4 minutes then died again...jumped once more, let it run off his sister's Del Sol for a little bit, then by the time I got it turned around, it died yet again.

So, we replaced the alternator (he got one off his parts 240) and tested it...it read 12.06 volts in and out...BUT when the battery was disconnected, it died...

So basically, we're all assuming this has to do with my screwy wiring, yet again, and I'm just going to HOPEFULLY make it to Nissan tomorrow, be charged an arm and a leg, and have it looked at...

240's are so stressful.

[Jesda]

Probation! ROFL!!!!!!!! Those are some slick lines.

Good luck with the repairs.

[supra brit]

Probation! ROFL!!!!!!!! Those are some slick lines.

I guess I looked bad...lol.

[austins240]

wow, all from a stereo mis-wiring? too bad you don't know any electricians. these things aren't THAT bad to work with.

if you want to start checking it yourself, i'd suggest REMOVING that old stereo for now (i'm assuming you don't have an amp and subs at this point, could chang things)

chances are if the second alternator you replaced is good there are one of two things that are wrong.

1. your charge fuse is blown, usually a 80A fuse on the battery termilal or close to it (not sure on the 240's sorry, but it's a BIG fuse. if that is blown the alternator won't do CRAP to charge the battery but the car should still run)

2. worst case scenario (i've personally seen it on a S13 silvia in japan) is that the + wire from the ALT has shorted with something. possibly internally in the wiring harness. good idea to get a multimeter and test it out, see if there is a short in the wires.

that is about all i can think of that would cause it on the charging/battery side. i wouldn't think it to be more than the main or charge fuse myself, might want to check that out yourself before you take it to Nissan...you'll end up getting charged $100 for a $5 part + service fee's.

good luck, would prefer you find the problem yourself. make things better for yourself farther down the road if your head unit kills your car again!!

later

austin

[supra brit]

This problem isn't because of the CD player...there has been a wiring problem with my car ever since the alternator was grounded out and the fuse was blown...it has since been replaced, but the domelight, seatbelt, and other interior accessory fuses keep blowing everytime they are replaced...

There is a short somewhere in the car, and this is the main reason I want to take it to Nissan because I have had tons of people look at it (not professional though) and everyone including myself is stumped. And I would really liek to have domelights, seatbelts, a speedometer, heat, and everything else that is supposed to come with a car!

[austins240]

ah, knowing this helps!! if your alt was grounded out before i can almost gurantee that the wire is fried in the harness and making contact with another one causing the problem. that's EXACTLY what the problem was with my friends silvia. it's kind of a PITA to un-do the wiring harness to get the wire out but sure enough, when he shorted it out it melted the insulation surrounding the wire.

also make sure your ground wire is good to it, hell would be a good idea to verify that all wires to the alt/batt are good. those will be where the problem lies (95% sure it's your hot wire to the alt)

good luck

later

austin

[austins240]

oh, and the CD player, was more of a joke....they will fry in a heartbeat if they are hooked up wrong!!!

how do you have it wired to the batt directly with out counstantly drawing power? have an external switch? would be pretty easy to straighten that out, but then again it would take looking at it from someone that know's a multi meter.

if you need any help i'm sure there's plenty of knowledgeable people that have done the SAME thing before, ask and you shall receive!

austin

[krazy skwerel]

Well good luck with Nissan. I hope they don;t try and screw you over. Yes the 240 is a pain in the ***, but it's a loving pain in the ***...

[Silvia2b]

The thing with your charging system is they have to work together. All components are necessary. If one is stressed the other components take some of the burden.

For instance if you drain the battery by leaving your lights on, and try to jump start the car, the battery which may have been deep cycled will never really hold an adequate charge. No matter how long and you charge it the battery is damaged. Unless you have a deep cycle battery, nomally used for marine or other recreational vehicles.

If you try to keep nursing the car along the alternator will be constantly trying to recharge the battery, and run all the vehicles accesories which over a short time will also cause damage to the alternator. If that quits with a poor or damaged battery, it isn't going to help trying to jump because it won't stay running.

Anyway good luck with Nissan I hope they don't try to charge an arm and a leg for a simple electrical diagnosis, and replacement of your damaged components. Just provide them with all of the info you gave us and they will hopefully be considerate of your needs.
Modified by Silvia2b at 11:38 PM 9/14/2004

[Hijacker]

And I would really liek to have domelights, seatbelts, a speedometer, heat, and everything else that is supposed to come with a car!

you ask for way too much.

i would try to find a local shop that specializes in nissans. i trust shops like that a whole lot more than dealerships.

[supra brit]

Thanks for all the information everyone...I'm sure ya'll are pretty close, if not exactly right...

I've taken it to Nissan shops, they are all stumped...one place (the place that grounded out my alternator) in fact thought it was funny, and got a kick out of seeing my odometer roll on miles as it idled...pissed me off.

But yeah, wish me luck!!

[gabossie]

A shop grounded out your alternator, laughed, and failed to fix it? I wouldn't trust them to fix it, but I hope you got some kind of retrobution for the problems. Take it to the dealership, get it fixed, and send their asses a bill for the work! See how ammused they are then.

[supra brit]

Nissan couldn't see my car today, I have to wait until next Tuesday...looks like I won't be driving to NOPI...

[prigo]

You look bad?

Pics plz?

[[Zero-S]]

Leg humper.

[supra brit]

Haha, that's like the pot calling the kettle black isn't it Rob?

[[Zero-S]]

I doubt leg humpers spend hours on the phone though

Nor do they narrowly miss seeing you because of traffic oh

[prigo]

I'm not a leg humper, I just want to get to know my fellow Niconauts better.

...especially the female members

[supra brit]

http://profiles.yahoo.com/one80sxy

[prigo]

Why halo thar!



^ While I'm not as attractive as you, I'd like to think I'm not TOO bad

Forgive the watermark, I kinda ninja'd the picture off the photographer's website :p
Modified by prigo at 1:22 AM 9/16/2004

[Anand]

Sorry to hear you are still having problems with your wiering... hope you get it all str8nd out Brit!!!

and yes, you look amazing.. don't let no kids tell you any other!!

[Jesda]

Legs were meant to be humped. What else could they possibly be good for?

Well okay, walking I suppose.

[cosmo]

http://profiles.yahoo.com/one80sxy

damn, you so sexy

I'm with Prigo, I wanna "get to know" my fellow Nicoans better

[supra brit]

Haha, thanks ya'll.

[Altiman94]

I would take my car to a place specializing in automotive electricity. I'll be the nissan dealer will be able to figure it out, but an automotive electric place would be able to also. you wouldn't have to wait as long for an apointment either.

[supra brit]

I don't know where any are?

[Kalok]

Legs were meant to be humped. What else could they possibly be good for?

Well okay, walking I suppose.

And your feet keep the ends of your legs from fraying.

[skydragoness]

you ask for way too much.

i would try to find a local shop that specializes in nissans. i trust shops like that a whole lot more than dealerships.

I trusted a shop that specialized in Z's and other Nissan sports cars and all they did was rip me off for a right rear caliper i never needed. I'll never go there again.

If you have multiple Nissan dealers in your area ask around which one is the most reputable and do good work. There are intricacies to Nissan's wiring system that not just anyone is going to know with out having a FSM for the car. They're different from other Japanese cars such as Hondas or Toyota's. Honestly, if i came to a wall in the middle of doing something for my car, i'd take it to the dealer. Safer than messing it up even more.

Goodluck.

p.s. Instead of posting here, did you post in the Technical 240 section and the Online Nissan mechanic section? there are less leg-humpers in there

[Hijacker]

I trusted a shop that specialized in Z's and other Nissan sports cars and all they did was rip me off for a right rear caliper i never needed. I'll never go there again.

The dealership in my area have some of the worst techs i have ever seen, and the local shops know a whole lot more. The shop I frequent has a mechanci with 20 years wrenching nissans. He has the wiring of the S13 down so well it would boggle the engineers' minds that created it. And he's teaching me all he knows.

[w1ngzer0]

bahahahaha i knew something like that would come out of jesda's mouth