I really screwed up on this alternator

[djazzmo]

I worked for hours trying to get the alternator out. It felt like I had to dismantle the whole front of the engine. The FSM is good at telling you what has to come off but it sucks in telling you how to get the parts off. There is a lot of stuff you just can't get to. Well I finally got everything off pulled the alternator harness plug(very gently) and the wire snapped. I couldn't get the plug out so I cut the other wire. The rest of the plug kind of disentegrated as I pulled it off so it can't go back on.

Now what? Can I buy the harness plug and try to wire it back on the harness?

[Infinitiguy19]

See Infiniti of Scottsdale: http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/

If that fails then see a professional mechanic who is able to deal with F50 Q45's

[Trumpkin]

Sounds like the plug to the regulator is toast. Maybe IOS has one, probably not. You may be able to find one in a bone yard. Unless you can salvage yours. Good luck. Not rocket science.

[goody90q45]

Take a look at page PG-34 of your FSM. It shows that the connector you've broken is part of a larger harness feeding the alternator, starter, O2 sensors and CAS. I don't think the stealership is going to sell you just one electrical connector but they will sell you the entire harness. As suggested, try IOS first to check the cost of this harness and then decide whether to replace it or start a salvage yard search for your connector.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/2002_Q45/2002_Q45/

[Victor]

Maybe the connector was the original cause of your problem if one of the wires was already loose. You could take your alternator to an alternator repair shop and have it tested.

[Infinitiguy19]

Does anyone else not find it weird that the wires just went bad after 7 years?

And from what i saw in the FSM, That harness must be a ***** to replace, never mind buy.

[qship96]

I am still shocked a 2002Q already needs a new alternator. My 96 is still on the original at 223,000 miles. I would guess most 90-96Q alternator make it past 200,000 unless owner modified electricals by adding amps/subs/tv/etc and other crap.

[Q451990]

My first 90 made it to about 110 or 120K? The diodes went bad, and I replaced just those and the bearings... then the stator had an intermittant short a year or so later. Replaced it with a new OEM unit that time.

Not sure about previous battery care... Hard to compare two totally different designs though.

Heath

[silver2k2]

My first 90 made it to about 110 or 120K? The diodes went bad, and I replaced just those and the bearings... then the stator had an intermittant short a year or so later. Replaced it with a new OEM unit that time.

Not sure about previous battery care... Hard to compare two totally different designs though.

Heath

the F50s are so cheap now I had considered trading up to a newer model, however besides the consumer electronic upgrades (Nav, backup camera, tire pressure monitors) the G50 is better engineered and built car

[NightRiderQ45]

I am still shocked a 2002Q already needs a new alternator. My 96 is still on the original at 223,000 miles. I would guess most 90-96Q alternator make it past 200,000 unless owner modified electricals by adding amps/subs/tv/etc and other crap.

Yeah I know. How can the OEM alternator end up being just a ...."cheapy" built unit.

[qship96]

Cheapy dimestore rebuilds frequently fail early, few OEM quality ones do.

It is all about the odds of failure.

If 50 out of 100 cheapies fail before 100,000 miles and only 10 out of 100 factory alternators fail before 100,000 miles, which one you gonna pick????

Your money, time, and labor invested is riding on your bet.

[Drake57]

I worked for hours trying to .....

Now what? Can I buy the harness plug and try to wire it back on the harness?

Did you ever think of buying some crimp on terminals, wire, and fabbing your own harness? How many connections are we talking about here? I'm guessing you're not talking about the heavy output wire, rather the regulator sense and power.

You'd need a schematic and a pinout of the broken connector, or else memory of which wire connects to which terminal.

[Q45tech]

Don't confuse a 90-95 Q45 with a Cima even if it shares the name.To maintain the $50,000 price of the 1994 the 2002 CIMA had to be 25% cheaper built and use less labor or parts.

Why a decent new LS 460 costs $63,900 now and those have been deengineered to fit a price point.

Plus options which easily add $10,000:Comfort Package - $1,290 Navigation System & Advanced Parking Guidance Package - $3,815 Navigation System/Mark Levinson Package - $5,645 Navigation System/Mark Levinson/Advanced Parking Guidance Package - $6,345 Navigation System w/Backup Camera - $3,115 Comfort Plus Package - $3,620 Preferred Accessory Package (PIO) - $240 Lexus LS460 Options Cargo Net (PIO) - $64 Trunk Mat (PIO) - $95 Lexus Link - $900 Intuitive Parking Assist - $500 Premium Floor Mats (PIO) - $265 One-Touch Open/Close Power Trunk & Power Door Closers - $395 Lexus Pre-Collision System & Dynamic Radar Cruise Control - $2,850 Teleios Alloy Wheel Upgrade (PIO) - $2,375 All Weather Mats (PIO) - $109 Wheel Locks (PIO) - $81