Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online!
Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! 
-
Latest | 0 Rplys
Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Nissan > Sentra | 200SX (USDM FWD)
Reply Show Printable Version Show Printable Version | Email this Page Email this Page | Subscription Subscribe to this Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 03-11-2016, 10:34 AM   #1
54Scorpio
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: port Royal, Pennsylvania
Posts: 15
Thanks: 7
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
1998 Nissan Sentra Electrical

Hello, I just got home form a trip out West and during my absence I allowed a good friend to use my car occasionally. Last night I go out to use my car and none of the interior lights work, nor the tail lights. I call my friend who tells me that he needed to give someone a jump and rather just doing it the normal way of hooking up the cables to the battery he connects the positive cable to the alternator and the ground to the car frame and gets his friends car started. But when he went to use my car one night afterwards he notices the lights that I just said wouldn't work and he chose to let me fix the problem when I got home. My first question is why would anyone jump a car using the alternator rather than the battery? The other question I have is, after I've checked all the fuses located under the steering wheel and found them to be okay, I checked the fuse boxes under the hood and they were all okay. Where do I go next? Any help anyone can give m,e will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
54Scorpio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2016, 01:07 PM   #2
Crvett69
AF Moderator
 
Crvett69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bellingham, Washington
Posts: 1,751
Thanks: 0
Thanked 73 Times in 73 Posts
Re: 1998 Nissan Sentra Electrical

there should be a main 60-120 amp main fuse in the fuse box under the hood or a fusible link where battery cable connects to battery, if one of the links is burned out it might cause this issue. you have to test them with a test light or voltmeter, they can look good but be burned out. sometimes they are in a smaller black covered box. should also be able to see if the headlight and tail light fuses get power when you turn lights on
Crvett69 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Crvett69 For This Useful Post:
54Scorpio (08-02-2016)
Old 03-11-2016, 06:09 PM   #3
54Scorpio
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: port Royal, Pennsylvania
Posts: 15
Thanks: 7
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: 1998 Nissan Sentra Electrical

First I'd like to thank you for replying to my question. I might have mislead you in my question. The head lights do come on, but just about everything else is out. I had put a volt meter on the battery while the car was running and it only registered 12.5 volts. I thought that it would have registered closer to, if not over 13 volts. I'm worried that the idiot might have fried my alternator. I didn't see your reply until after I came back inside so I will check those fusible links when I go back outside. While I was outside I did pop the top off of that covered box that is next to the battery that appeared to have three fusible links that had a clear top on them and they looked to be okay, but there were two other wires that seemed to be plugged in to that box also, that might have been fusible links, but I wasn't sure because I've never worked on or checked fusible links before. What are your thoughts about the 12.5 volts on the battery? Would having a fried diode inside the alternator cause the symptoms I've described with just about everything else out besides the headlights(which might just be running off the battery)? Thanks again for your help.
54Scorpio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2016, 06:15 PM   #4
Crvett69
AF Moderator
 
Crvett69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bellingham, Washington
Posts: 1,751
Thanks: 0
Thanked 73 Times in 73 Posts
Re: 1998 Nissan Sentra Electrical

chances are he blew the large fuse or fusible link that on the main wire going to the alternator. you have to take the links out to test them, they can look fine but still be melted inside the cover. if you have a voltmeter you can check the resistance with at least one side unplugged, should show 0 ohms. can also see if the largest wire to the alternator has 12v with car off, it should if the fuses and links are good
Crvett69 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Crvett69 For This Useful Post:
54Scorpio (08-02-2016)
Old 03-11-2016, 09:04 PM   #5
54Scorpio
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: port Royal, Pennsylvania
Posts: 15
Thanks: 7
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: 1998 Nissan Sentra Electrical

Thanks once again for your help and expertise! I'll check the things you had suggested tomorrow morning and I'll let you know how I make out.
54Scorpio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2016, 06:59 PM   #6
54Scorpio
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: port Royal, Pennsylvania
Posts: 15
Thanks: 7
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: 1998 Nissan Sentra Electrical

You were absolutely right! there is a 75 amp fuse marked "Battery Fuse" in the fuse block next to the battery
54Scorpio is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD


Tags
1998 , nissan , sentra
Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Nissan > Sentra | 200SX (USDM FWD)

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:48 AM.

Community Participation Guidelines | How to use your User Control Panel

Powered by: vBulletin | Copyright Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
 
 
no new posts