2001 VQ30DE Maxima

[iluvtruenos]

Hey all.

I have a bone stock 2001 Maxima with 5 speed manual.

Lately in the hot weather I've been having problems starting.

When you go to start it, the engine turns over sluggishly, the fuel pump needle twitches like crazy, then it starts.

Yesterday in the parking lot it wouldn't start, so I got a jump, and today it would start, but sluggishly.

I checked the voltage on the battery, and last night it was 13.4 without the engine running, 13.9 at idle, and 14 at some throttle.

Today, I poured in water in the battery because it was dry (could see the top of the lead slices without water) and now it registers 13.4 dead, and 14.2 at idle. However, under acceleration, it stays at 14.2.

This causes me to believe that it's an alternator issue, but a faulty ground or a parasitic load may also be the problem.

Is this a normal diagnosis? I am only 17, and I don't plan on being a mechanic, but I know some basic things.

[THT]

Check to make sure your alternator is properly charging the battery. Take the car to Autozone and they'll check it for free.

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by iluvtruenos

... 13.4 dead, and 14.2 at idle. However, under acceleration, it stays at 14.2....

Those are ok charge values for alt.

However, malfunctioning alt rectifier diodes will cause leak. Take neg batt off, put dmm to current meas settings, measure current between batt pole and opened cable conn. Should be around 0.1A-0.2A.

Do this measurement between engine runs, b/c leak may vary a lot. (I had 1.2A which means two days and batt has leaked dead...)

Chekout http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/23

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