Sentra Alternator problem
sharkmonkey
10-16-2006, 02:09 PM
I helping my neighbor work on her 94 Sentra because she doesn't have the $$$ to have a real mechanic work on it. Here's what I know so far:
Her battery was dead so she needed a jump start. She got a jump start and drove it to the mechanic to get a new battery installed. The mechanic says the battery will be okay after he replaces the alternator and some other wiring stuff (she wasn't sure what) for about $700. He told her the alt. is putting out too many volts.
I helped her rescue the car and I pulled the alternator off my self to have it tested at an auto parts store. The alt. tested fine so I put it back in the car and took a test drive. Again, we got the warning lights and a clicking sound from somewhere in the dash. I pulled the car in to another auto parts store and tested the alt. while it was still in the car. This time the battery tested low (it's brand new) and the alternator was only putting out about 11 volts. He told me to remove the alt. and bring it back in for a better test.
Is there anything else I should look at first before I take this apart again? How can one place say it's putting out too many volts and the other say it's right on and the third place say it's too low?
Thanks,
MARK
Her battery was dead so she needed a jump start. She got a jump start and drove it to the mechanic to get a new battery installed. The mechanic says the battery will be okay after he replaces the alternator and some other wiring stuff (she wasn't sure what) for about $700. He told her the alt. is putting out too many volts.
I helped her rescue the car and I pulled the alternator off my self to have it tested at an auto parts store. The alt. tested fine so I put it back in the car and took a test drive. Again, we got the warning lights and a clicking sound from somewhere in the dash. I pulled the car in to another auto parts store and tested the alt. while it was still in the car. This time the battery tested low (it's brand new) and the alternator was only putting out about 11 volts. He told me to remove the alt. and bring it back in for a better test.
Is there anything else I should look at first before I take this apart again? How can one place say it's putting out too many volts and the other say it's right on and the third place say it's too low?
Thanks,
MARK
Chiquae07
10-16-2006, 05:33 PM
well, since this has happened to me recently, did you check if you connected the battery cables tight enough? expecially the ground? that was my problem a couple days ago. found out i had a problem with my ground wire from the battery, and tightened it. give it a try. and post if u still have problems.
sharkmonkey
10-16-2006, 05:59 PM
I'll try that. My neighbor isn't home now so I can't get the keys to her car.
slideways...
10-17-2006, 06:16 PM
with the battery and alternator in the car, the battery should hold between 10-12 volts with a load on it for 15 or so seconds. fully charged batteries should have about 12.5 or so volts, and while your car is running, putting a voltmeter on the battery should show 13.5-15.5 volts if the alternator is properly working. if its putting out too much voltage, all thats bad is the voltage regulator(the small thing you plug the harness clip into). its not the easiest to find new regulators, so thats why they want to replace the whole thing.
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