jammer Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 While driving yesterday three of my indicator light starter to flicker at the same time and now they are on all the time together. The "brake warning" light, the "A/T oil temp", and the "Charge warning" light are all on now. Any ideas? There is nothing in the owners manual (I know but I had to look) and nothing in my repair manuals. There aren't any garages open today where I live and I need my ride for work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Your alternator has gone out on you. Sorry. Hey! Go score a Maxima or 200SX alt and up the amperage to 90 for the same price as a new 70 amp Pathy alternator. The How-To section has that thread, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denisb Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 88 is right. Something seems top have gone south in the charging system. Check your belts and stuff, but it looks like you might be in the market for a new alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 I figured it was the alternator so I'm glad you agree. I was just curious as to why the three lights came on instead of just the battery light which is what I thought should happen if it was just the alternator. It just freaked my out to have three lights for three completely different systems on the truck go on at the same time. Now that I 'm done work I'll roll the Pathy into the garage and get to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denisb Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 When the voltage goes to somewheres below 10 volts the ECU starts to act up causing the gauges to go a little freaky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer Posted June 18, 2007 Author Share Posted June 18, 2007 When the voltage goes to somewheres below 10 volts the ECU starts to act up causing the gauges to go a little freaky. Below 10 volts eh... same thing happens to me but it's when I go over 10 beers. Thanks again for the help. Got the Alt. out no problem tonight. The hard part is finding a new/used one in this small town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XPLORx4 Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 The ECU will operate just fine until about 10 volts (and even correctly operate the gauge cluster), but the warning lights glow immediately if the alternator output drops below battery voltage, not if the ECU voltage drops below 10. I don't know this for a fact, but I think the reason why 3 warning lights glow is because the alternator is driven by the same belt that operates the engine fan and water pump. When the alternator stops putting out the proper voltage, the system can't tell if the alternator has failed or if the serpentine belt has broken. Using 3 RED warning lights is a method for getting the driver's attention, so if the cause is a failed fan/water pump/alternator belt, the driver's attention will be directed toward the gauge cluster (and hopefully will also notice whether the temperature gauge moves, too), and can take corrective action to prevent overheating and possible engine damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark94XE Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 (edited) Yeah, mine did that the other day. The lights went out when I hit a bump!! Alternator crapped out shortly after Edited June 19, 2007 by Dark94XE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headpeace Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 haha, same thing happened to me saturday, replaced the alternator sunday, wish I'd seen this post before then and taken 88's approach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Okay, so I have the same problem, but took the check bulb relay out, and now only have a bat. indicator lamp that comes on every so often. I've checked everything rebuilt the alt. did same thing, went and bought brand new from nissan a new alternator, and the lamp stayed on so i got my money back and stuck with the rebuilt alternator.... Sometimes when the truck really over chargers, the truck runs differently. Obviously all lights get a lot brighter.... I've ran out of clues of where to look to for why it does this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denisb Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Do you sometime get hard starts or dragging starts? Could be a bad ground or battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Yes, sometimes, I've checked all grounds that there possibly is. But problem still consist. Problem started after a 0 degree weather we had in indiana... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papajop Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Okay, so I have the same problem, but took the check bulb relay out, and now only have a bat. indicator lamp that comes on every so often. Do you mean that you have altered the original circuit between the alternator and the charge control lamp in the instrument cluster? The lamp is a required part of the total alternator circuit. /PJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Took the relay out.. Even with it in, and everything being fixed that I thought was wrong problem still consist of the three lights... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msavides Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Took the relay out.. Even with it in, and everything being fixed that I thought was wrong problem still consist of the three lights... Check the fusible link from the alternator to the battery or check to see how many volts at the battery when the engine is running. If the fusible like is bad then you will get the same symptom as a bad alternator and until it is fixed all the alternators in the world won't help. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Check the fusible link from the alternator to the battery or check to see how many volts at the battery when the engine is running. If the fusible like is bad then you will get the same symptom as a bad alternator and until it is fixed all the alternators in the world won't help. mark Alright, I believe Im right about this, "but" isn't the fusible link for the alternator right next to the battery on the harness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msavides Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Alright, I believe Im right about this, "but" isn't the fusible link for the alternator right next to the battery on the harness? I believe so. It would just be easier to check your voltage with the truck running. If you are getting 14 volts then your fusible link would have to be good since the voltage would be getting to the batter from the alternator. If not then your fusible link could be bad. It is a PITA but then you could chack the voltage on the back of the alternator with the engine running and if you have voltage then for sure your link is bad. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 okay, so in auto class today at school, we took the fusible link out, and checked it... came out working fine.... Flows current just fine... So maybe check the alternator again... But if it isn't the alternator.. What would be the next step in solving this problem? as is I have a whole lot of little money, I.e. I work at mcd's lol... So meaning i cant take it to nissan.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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