Hi. I'm having a problem with the electric system in my 94 Altima, I'm pretty sure.

What's going on is the car won't start. I replaced the batterry and it was fine for a couple days, then started to choke up.

I took the thing to Sears and had them test the alternator, and they said it was fine. They said, after I replaced the battery with one from AutoZone, that it was just a bad battery... However, the new one stopped working tonight.

They also said that my nonfunctioning fuel gauge, speedometer, thermometer, RPM indicator, electronic rearviews, cruise control, and I think overdrive had nothing to do with the battery. I don't know, but I do know they all stopped working around when I started to notice the startup problems (it would struggle to start, real sluggishly), dim lights, and less powerful windshield wipers. (I listed all those other one because even with a juiced battery some of the electrical components work -- like the door adjar indicator -- but the others don't.)

Anyway, does anyone have an idea? I know there are two fuse boxes, so I'll check the one inside the car, then the one under the hood when it's light. Other than that, a short maybe?

See if your AutoZone will run their starting and charging system test on your car. I suspect that there is a problem with the alternator.

Yeah man sounds like the alternator is bad. Here's how to check if the alternator is bad. While the car is on and in (P)Park, unplug the positive wire from the battery. If your alternator is good then your car should stay on just fine. The battery is pretty much used for start-up and electrical things. A bad alternator will drain your battery real fast, especially if you have any lights that stay on in your car like a stereo. Anyway check that out and good luck. Post the resluts up to see what it is.

My alternator recently caught fire. After dousing it with water I drove it home with only a few accessories working. The car must be designed to run on as few items as possible when the alternator isn't working. After replacing it I had to change a fuseable link in the relay box near the battery.
Note: my car is a 98 and the relay box in next to the battery. The relay is attached with a screw on each side.

Sorry to here that. Did it happen while driving or where you at a stop with the car on? Or was your car off and in the driveway?

Sorry to here that. Did it happen while driving or where you at a stop with the car on? Or was your car off and in the driveway?


Yes it happened while I was driving. The alt light never came on, the fire smell entered the car, I opened the hood and used a 1/2 full Poland spring water bottle to put it out. I waited a few minutes then drove about 6 miles to get home.
PS: when shopping for parts at local Autozones as suggested above compare prices at a few stores in your area. The alternator I bought was $80.00 less at two other Autozone stores that were just 5 miles apart.