I NEED HELP FAST! CAR KEEPS DIE'IN! - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Powerzen2002 · 10-09-2002, 08:33 PM

Ok, I am screwed right now cuz I have somewhere important to be in the morning and car keeps die'in once I turn it off. I jump it and it runs, but car lights in and out dim.

I ran the multimeter to the battery,  the battery is being charged, but its only at like 8V ... and jumps to like, 9V ... I dont know.  I thought it was my system and my indiglo lights but i disconnected them and still no change. I noticed a black sensor of some type at the positive terminal of the battery.  There is a green and black clips in this holder.  I took them out of the holder and there is like a paste inside of them, like white ooooozy stuff.  Is this a possible cause?  what do I do!  Pleeeeaassse anyone that knows something please help me out, i would really really appreciate it.  

I also just replaced the my battery, I dont think it would be alternator because the battery Voltage just jump when I gas it up.

Anywa thanks again!

Tyler Durdan · 10-10-2002, 12:09 AM

Clean the terminals of the corrosion, and check out the alternator at autozone or o'reilly's (it's free).  It could also be your starter, but doesn't sound like it.  Check to make sure you don't have a short anywhere along the battery cables also.

luke91 · 10-10-2002, 12:11 PM

check the power supply, ground and fuse for the alternator, too.  

--luke

Powerzen2002 · 10-10-2002, 07:05 PM

damn it,  I cant find the damn alternator fuse.  I definately thinks its the alternator though.  Its not pumping anything, im running off the battery totally.

Peace <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':baaa:'>

OHHHhh p.s.  I am really pissed too.. the fukin alternator is 250 bucks!  Ridiculous, not to mention when the japz made this car they put the alternator in the MoSt ridiculous place! right under side the engine! (I have a 90 ... 240)

BUT anyway, anybody else know why this alternator is so expensive?

luke91 · 10-10-2002, 09:22 PM

Get the alternator rebuilt, if that's what is wrong.  It should run you $60
--luke

bastard · 10-15-2002, 10:56 PM

Check your engine control fuse in the engine fuse box by the battery.  If that fuse is blown then your battery wont charge.  I had this problem and that fuse was blown.  Changed the fuse and back to normal.  If that fuse is good and you still have the same problem, check the alternator at a Autozone or some place.  If alternator is good, check all the wires that are connected to the alternator to check if they are good.  A good wire is flexible and a bad burnt one is kinda crispy and you will be able to tell.  I am very doubtfull that you have a short somewhere in your car but if you do here's how you will know.  With a battery you know has 12 volts on it and you know is good, connect it up and with a multimeter and the car off check voltage accross the battery.  If there is an outragous drain or a discharge that looks abnormal when you are reading the miltimeter, start checking any previous electrical work that you have done for a short.  That's all I can say for now.

Shoots
Mark <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/yin-yang.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':yingyang:'>

kanekz · 10-19-2002, 08:42 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Powerzen2002 @ Oct. 10 2002,6:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> Ridiculous, not to mention when the japz made this car they put the alternator in the MoSt ridiculous place! right under side the engine! (I have a 90 ... 240)</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
You know what, IM GLAD YOU ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS!  If you have some racist comment like that, dont even drive the car then.  Im pretty pissed off right now.  That was some stupid shit you said.  

That word hits hard, and even worse is how you used it making it seem that we designed it wrong so YOU can't fix it.  Consider a better choice of words next time.

misnomer · 10-19-2002, 09:58 PM

whoah dood, chill. We don't need to start talking about racism again (last was a three page thread). We are all mature enough and know that people are people.

Now that that's out of the way. If your system voltage jumped up when the car was on (8v to 9v), it implies your alternator is working OK. Most likely, you have a bad battery, or potentially something in the car draining the power.

DuffMan · 10-20-2002, 02:36 AM

The alternator isnt that hard to change when you're under the car and the dirt shield is removed. There are many fwd cars in which the alternator is much much much harder to change.

Also if you don't want to pay for a brand new OE alternator, get a rebuilt one from a store or do what I did for my other car and find one from a local junk yard on www.car-parts.com

It cost me 50 bucks and i get 10 back when i return the broken one.

RedStage · 10-20-2002, 03:27 AM

Could be something stupid that you are over looking.

I had a very similar problem with my first Nissan.  It turned out to be the little switch on the brake pedal that sends the signal for the lights to come on when you step on the pedal.  Sometimes they go bad and send the signal all the time....even when the car is off.

Next time you get out of the car, shut it off.  Go round to the back.  If your brake lights are on, it's the switch that is screwing you.

I'd check that before I worried too much more about the alternator.  The switch is a little bit of a pain to get at (on the brake pedal) but it should cost less than $20 and take about 20 minutes tops to replace.

10-09-2002, 08:33 PM	#1
Powerzen2002 Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 225 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ok, I am screwed right now cuz I have somewhere important to be in the morning and car keeps die'in once I turn it off. I jump it and it runs, but car lights in and out dim. I ran the multimeter to the battery,  the battery is being charged, but its only at like 8V ... and jumps to like, 9V ... I dont know.  I thought it was my system and my indiglo lights but i disconnected them and still no change. I noticed a black sensor of some type at the positive terminal of the battery.  There is a green and black clips in this holder.  I took them out of the holder and there is like a paste inside of them, like white ooooozy stuff.  Is this a possible cause?  what do I do!  Pleeeeaassse anyone that knows something please help me out, i would really really appreciate it.   I also just replaced the my battery, I dont think it would be alternator because the battery Voltage just jump when I gas it up. Anywa thanks again! __________________ No Quote, No Cares, Just Drive.

10-10-2002, 12:09 AM	#2
Tyler Durdan Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Don't mess with Texas Posts: 546 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Clean the terminals of the corrosion, and check out the alternator at autozone or o'reilly's (it's free).  It could also be your starter, but doesn't sound like it.  Check to make sure you don't have a short anywhere along the battery cables also. __________________ "Pure adrenaline attached to a license plate.  Isn't it time to experience one yourself?"                           -Dan Gurney Turbo for Sale

10-10-2002, 12:11 PM	#3
luke91 Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 44 Posts: 218 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	check the power supply, ground and fuse for the alternator, too.   --luke __________________ '91 fastback.  '97 S13 blktop SR20DET.  Cstm Frnt Mnt IC w/ cstm 2 1/2" piping.  stnls stl fltr.  3" cstm DP & exhst w/N1 muff.  Walbro FP.  ACT 6 pck cltch.  Go Fast Bits crnk plly.  Ground Control coils.  KYB AGX shks.  12.98@106 w/g-tech pro.  17psi.  All work and fabrication done by ME

10-10-2002, 07:05 PM	#4
Powerzen2002 Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 225 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	damn it,  I cant find the damn alternator fuse.  I definately thinks its the alternator though.  Its not pumping anything, im running off the battery totally. Peace <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':baaa:'> OHHHhh p.s.  I am really pissed too.. the fukin alternator is 250 bucks!  Ridiculous, not to mention when the japz made this car they put the alternator in the MoSt ridiculous place! right under side the engine! (I have a 90 ... 240) BUT anyway, anybody else know why this alternator is so expensive? __________________ No Quote, No Cares, Just Drive.

10-10-2002, 09:22 PM	#5
luke91 Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 44 Posts: 218 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Get the alternator rebuilt, if that's what is wrong.  It should run you $60 --luke __________________ '91 fastback.  '97 S13 blktop SR20DET.  Cstm Frnt Mnt IC w/ cstm 2 1/2" piping.  stnls stl fltr.  3" cstm DP & exhst w/N1 muff.  Walbro FP.  ACT 6 pck cltch.  Go Fast Bits crnk plly.  Ground Control coils.  KYB AGX shks.  12.98@106 w/g-tech pro.  17psi.  All work and fabrication done by ME

10-15-2002, 10:56 PM	#6
bastard Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Check your engine control fuse in the engine fuse box by the battery.  If that fuse is blown then your battery wont charge.  I had this problem and that fuse was blown.  Changed the fuse and back to normal.  If that fuse is good and you still have the same problem, check the alternator at a Autozone or some place.  If alternator is good, check all the wires that are connected to the alternator to check if they are good.  A good wire is flexible and a bad burnt one is kinda crispy and you will be able to tell.  I am very doubtfull that you have a short somewhere in your car but if you do here's how you will know.  With a battery you know has 12 volts on it and you know is good, connect it up and with a multimeter and the car off check voltage accross the battery.  If there is an outragous drain or a discharge that looks abnormal when you are reading the miltimeter, start checking any previous electrical work that you have done for a short.  That's all I can say for now. Shoots Mark <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/yin-yang.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':yingyang:'>

10-19-2002, 08:42 PM	#7
kanekz Zilvia Addict Join Date: May 2002 Location: California Posts: 802 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Powerzen2002 @ Oct. 10 2002,6:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> Ridiculous, not to mention when the japz made this car they put the alternator in the MoSt ridiculous place! right under side the engine! (I have a 90 ... 240)</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> You know what, IM GLAD YOU ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS!  If you have some racist comment like that, dont even drive the car then.  Im pretty pissed off right now.  That was some stupid shit you said.   That word hits hard, and even worse is how you used it making it seem that we designed it wrong so YOU can't fix it.  Consider a better choice of words next time. __________________ Blitz!!

10-19-2002, 09:58 PM	#8
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	whoah dood, chill. We don't need to start talking about racism again (last was a three page thread). We are all mature enough and know that people are people. Now that that's out of the way. If your system voltage jumped up when the car was on (8v to 9v), it implies your alternator is working OK. Most likely, you have a bad battery, or potentially something in the car draining the power. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

10-20-2002, 02:36 AM	#9
DuffMan Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: in a cardboard box Posts: 2,517 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The alternator isnt that hard to change when you're under the car and the dirt shield is removed. There are many fwd cars in which the alternator is much much much harder to change. Also if you don't want to pay for a brand new OE alternator, get a rebuilt one from a store or do what I did for my other car and find one from a local junk yard on www.car-parts.com It cost me 50 bucks and i get 10 back when i return the broken one.

10-20-2002, 03:27 AM	#10
RedStage Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Florida (formerly Yokohama, Japan) Posts: 531 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Could be something stupid that you are over looking. I had a very similar problem with my first Nissan.  It turned out to be the little switch on the brake pedal that sends the signal for the lights to come on when you step on the pedal.  Sometimes they go bad and send the signal all the time....even when the car is off. Next time you get out of the car, shut it off.  Go round to the back.  If your brake lights are on, it's the switch that is screwing you. I'd check that before I worried too much more about the alternator.  The switch is a little bit of a pain to get at (on the brake pedal) but it should cost less than $20 and take about 20 minutes tops to replace. __________________ Marc - Yokohama, Japan