Greyscale Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Something recently gave out on my pathfinder. After wheeling on sunday we stopped at a wendys for some food. We are about to leave and I go to start my pathfinder.... nothing... just rapid clicking coming from the fuse box area. I thought it might of been the starter, but one of my friends said battery. We jump it and it starts up after a few tries. Today i'm going to leave for class, and it predictibly won't start. A mechanicly inclined friend came by later and we jumped it and it started fine. He said to check the battery (i'll do that tommorow) and then if thats fine, the alternator. So, is this diagnosis correct or is it something else? Also, how much should I expect to spend on a battery or alternator? I'm kinda broke at the moment, so i'd rather not spend a whole lot of money. However, I need a car for work (if I ever get any) so I have a bit of a problem here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csutke Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 sounds like a battery to me, and it depends on what kind you get as to price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 did you go through any water, that could've fried your alternator, but either way a battery or alternator doesn't cost that much, especially if you put the alternator in yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPath88 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Well since a simple jump allowed the truck to start normally the first thing to do would be to pull the battery cables off and clean the terminals and the battery posts, then connect the cables and see if that solves the problem. Secondly, once you have done that head down the a local parts store and ask them to do an in vehicle charging system and battery check. Most stores can do it and will do it for free. If the voltage is low with the truck running they will likely recommend that you take the alternator out so they can properly test it. If the battery voltage is low when the truck is shut off, then your looking at the battery. But first, clean those terminals and posts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94extreme Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 what red here said 2x batteries run $50 and up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Yep...probably the terminals loose/dirty. Also, with the truck off, check the battery with a volt meter to see what it's holding. Also do the same with the truck on. If it's 13-14 volts with the truck on, but under 12 with it off, chances are it's your battery. Use the voltmeter on the posts of the battery. If both tests are okay, chances are it's the wiring/terminals that are the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasbudman Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I second the motion, what red said (both of them)... ck the water and clean/ck the terminals first... If you add water use distilled water... DON'T USE TAP!!!! and don't overfill it... the water issue happens all the time on motorcycles, that are not ck'ed duing high heat (like summer), but really dosen't happen as often to these things with 4 wheels... but then again I've been riding bikes exclsively for like 13 years... and driving full time for less than a year, just bought my first anything with 4 wheels just recently... Anyhow, most of my bikes batteies had a water line... I'm not sure about these 4 wheelers... Scrub those terminals... double ck the connections too... they get get loose/break sometimes... Have it ck'ed out at your local parts store that will do it for free... Charge/replace... if not... your gonna need to spend some more money... Water... clean... and ck connections... first Thats what I would do... Good Luck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawkrews Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 can check your alternator by taking the battery terminals off while its running. if good, it should keep charging. check for belt tension also...plus all the above! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greyscale Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 The terminals are very clean. No rust or dirt whatsoever. I'm going to have the battery tested today. It seems kind of odd that the battery would just fail like that, its only about 6 months old. Allthough, this might have something to do with the other starting issues i've been having. When starting it usually doesn't want to turn over right away. I usually have to turn the key a few times to get it to start. Sometimes it will stall when I put it into gear (automatic). It had an electrical problem when I first got it (a in the spring), which we found was a short being caused by bad wireing of an aftermarket alarm ontop of the stock one. We took it off and everything seemed to be working fine. Untill now that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roost Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 can check your alternator by taking the battery terminals off while its running. if good, it should keep charging. check for belt tension also...plus all the above! Raw may have meant to say that when you remove the cable from the terminals, the truck should keep running, indicating the alternator is good. If it dies, bad alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greyscale Posted October 24, 2007 Author Share Posted October 24, 2007 I had the battery checked today, and itf fine. ugh.... Time to start testing other parts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95shakinPF Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 (edited) Hows the wiring look around your battery? I was dealing with a few wiring issues just recently and found a fuse link behind the battery that was full of old acid and not making a connection! I replaced the fuse link with a inline fuse and re spliced the wires to eliminate the bad areas and fixed most of my problems! p.s. you may have something not making a good connection at the starter! Edited October 24, 2007 by 95shakinPF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostPath Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Raw may have meant to say that when you remove the cable from the terminals, the truck should keep running, indicating the alternator is good. If it dies, bad alternator. NO. DO NOT EVER DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This WILL damage any alternator that has a solid-state regulator! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 I second that, it also says it in the haynes/chiltons manuals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter_xe Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 if the battery terminals are all very clean and the cables are tight as hell. check all the wiring...especially the fusible link. Then you could pull the alternator and get it bench tested somewhere. It might not be charging. hopefully it isn't the starter...those things are horrid to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9sar Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I second that, it also says it in the haynes/chiltons manuals *smirk* well heck then... it must be true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 LOL. Haynes and Chilton's are ALWAYS spot on Scott....don't you know that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msavides Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 LOL. Haynes and Chilton's are ALWAYS spot on Scott....don't you know that? And they work great for leveling out the legs on my workbench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 They work well as a doorstop as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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