Brake & Battery Lights

I have a 2001 maxima gle and got it new. I only have 26150 miles on it - work is close by! It drives great, responds great, I really love my car. However, 2 days ago it started doing something that really scares me. When I accellerate hard - I mean hurry up before you get smushed OR woo hoo, catch me if you can- hard, the brake light and the battery light come on the dash. I almost panicked the first time, cuz I was on my way to pick up my son and it was rainy out, but nothing else happened. Then after about 10 minutes, the lights went off. The next day nothing, I was babying it a bit. But yesterday, when I left work I was merging in traffic and figured I would beat the other guy to the light and again, both lights came on. They were still on when i got home, but this morning they were off. I made an appointment with the dealer, it is still under warranty, but would really like some ammo to go in with. Thanks for your help with this - it would make driving fun again once we figure out what's going on!! :biggrin:

I just had this happen to me today. I have an '01 Maxima.

When I exit off the interstate from about 70mph to 0. The Battery and the brake light comes on and will stay on until I let the engine idle for 3 or 4 minutes. I was on an 8 hour trip when this happened and it scrared me...but then it repeated over and over but it was still charging and running fine.

Did you find anything out at the dealer?

The battery and brake light comes on intemittently for a few minutes in my 95 Maxima. It has 112000 miles on it. I've taken it to PepBoys twice already but the lights doesn't come on while they are working on it. It seems to start and run ok. Has any one figured out what causes this problem and how to fix it?

I took my car to a alternator and starter place and they rebuilt my alternator.

Everyone that I talked to said that the "battery and brake" lights coming on at the same time means that the alternator is going out.

I got it fixed about 3 weeks ago and I have not had any problems with it so far.

Nissan wanted 450.00 dollars for the work but I went to an independant place and got it done for just under 200.0 dollars.


Good Luck.

Good Afternoon,

I have a 2004 maxima SL and hope you can help me. My car failed to start one day, so I had a friend come jump me. once started I brought the car to autozone. they hooked the car up to their diagnostic machine and told me that the charging components (battery, alternator & starter) all passed, but that the battery was "undercharged". Since then the car has randomly failed to start. Any suggestions as to what may be causing this phantom problem and how to fix it would be greatly appreciated...:banghead:

I took my car to a alternator and starter place and they rebuilt my alternator.

Everyone that I talked to said that the "battery and brake" lights coming on at the same time means that the alternator is going out.
I got it fixed about 3 weeks ago and I have not had any problems with it so far.
Nissan wanted 450.00 dollars for the work but I went to an independant place and got it done for just under 200.0 dollars.
Good Luck.

U got it cheap. They must have swapped brush/regulator assy.

Similar story on a 2k2; intermittent, several visits to stealership resulted into nothin. I replaced the alt; problem gone.

hlent63: swap the alt.

Note: Jump start is a nono if u want to keep your alternator. Donor car can limit damages into battery - if engine is kept shut. Sorry but I will never help by jumpstart ... (to ruin my car). Too many broken batteries, alternators. The only proper way is to have a full battery swapped, then charge the empty one via wall outlet charger.