Electrical/alternator problem cannot be found by any mechanic - 2001 I30

[the_franchise]

I'm starting to get frustrated with my 2001 I 30. It started again last week, where the battery light will turn on, but only after driving it for an extended amount of time on the highway, and then it will only come on after slowing down for a traffic light. Sometimes it will turn back off once I get back up to 55 mph, and other times it will stay on for the rest of the trip. If the light stays on until the end of the trip, AS SOON AS I RESTART MY CAR, the lights are gone until I go on an extended trip again (15-20 miles in the highway).

I am really thinking it's the alternator, but i'm having a hard time proving it. The car was doing this in Feb, and actually died on my wife. i brought it in for diagnostics, and they said everyhting was fine, but the battery was borderline. I didn't really believe that was true, but I had them replace the battery. Everything was ok until last week, so I think just replacing the battery masked a bigger problem.

The odd thing is the alternator was replaced last August in a big 2000+ mile trip we went on. We bought a refurbished alternator, and ever since then the battery light would go on for a very short time, and only once every 2-3 months. There was never any chance to find what was wrong. 4 different tests by mechanics with voltmeters found no problems.

Now the problem is severe enough where the battery light ALWAYS comes on after being on the highway for more than 15 mn's and I need to take care of this NOW. What are my best options? My wife suggests an Infiniti dealer because we bought the car used 2 years ago, and she thinks it was sold becasue it is a lemon with an electircal issue. My gut tells me it is just a bad/faulty refurbished alternator, but I don't know why it won't test bad, and it only happens after extended highway driving?

Do I just replace it with an OEM alternator, an have the old alternator tested when it is out the car by Advanced Auto where I bought it, to get my warranty $$ Back (or do they only replace them under the warranty?)

[Q45tech]

We bought a refurbished alternator, by Advanced Auto is usually the problem.

[Q451990]

I would go ahead and get a new OEM alternator from IOS (www.everythinginfiniti.com)

More expensive, but I bet it will cure your problem. After you drive at a higher speed and then slow down, the under hood temperatures get hotter without the air flow - so I would bet there's a compontent within the alternator that's intermittant and heat sensitive. Best just to swap it out with a new one.

Good luck!

Heath

[Dabizzo1]

OEM Infiniti alternator is the only way to go...diode redundancy is crucial for such a high electrical demand car....aftermarket alternators may do the trick in lesser cars, but even though themechanicals of a refurb unit are refreshed, the diode/voltage regular internals aren't always replaced, much less lacking diode redundancy as found in oem units.....they are what keep constant voltage/amperage...which is especially crucial in such a high juice drawing car. I noticed the night and day difference when rehabbing my Q...the higher price of an oem dealer alternator is justified by the guarantee that it will be done right....get one and a brand new battery along with it. Also, something I found on my car at least, check the condition of the battery cables themselves...my negative was cracked and corroded at the frame mount point...It's amazing how a bad ground can wreak havoc on Infiniti systems.

Alternator tests still showed my original as a-ok, when indeed for a Q's needs, it was on its way out. As Q451990 mentioned, cyclic hot and cold from years of use take their toll and I'd bet that the internal diodes and voltage regulator in your original and remanned unit are failing at operating temp...circuits hate heat. also, use dielectric grease on ALL connections. Hope this helps. Boris

[the_franchise]

Any good places to read where to change a 2001 Infiniti I30 alternator? I'm going to poke around online, but i'm bummed that Hayne's or Chiltons do not make a book for this model. Would a 2001 Nissan Maxima Haynes/Chiltons book be very similar?

[Q451990]

The Japanese-made I30 is similar but not identical to the US built Maxima. (Interesting side note: the rest of the world got what we would call an I30 badged as a Maxima)

I would download the FSM (Factory Service Manual) ... way better than any Haynes or Chiltons!

http://www.phatg20.net/index.p...id=10

Heath

[the_franchise]

Sweet, Thanks for the link!

[carmo]

You should be able to do this in the driveway. Maximas and I30s in 2001 were very similar. If i remember correctly your gonna wanna take the four bolts out of the A/C compressor and move it to the side so you can sneak the alt. around it and having the thing fall out from the bottom. The FSM will probably tell you "STEP 1: Drain coolant and evacuate A/C system" In this case the FSM would be full of poopies.

[Q451990]

"STEP 1: Drain coolant and evacuate A/C system" In this case the FSM would be full of poopies.

Actually it doesn't say that... For some reason I have the '00 I30 FSM on my hard drive, and it described it very much as you said... unbolt compressor and move to the side... etc.

Heath