97 Altima loss of power while driving

[mjbfan]

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Help, While driving my air bag and battery light came on and within 5-7 minutes I lost all power. My battery is charged, I'm thinking its the alternator. Is there a way to check for sure? I am going to repair myself(do to recent job lay off) any suggestions where to get the cheapest part?
Thanx for your time in advance.

[sethstyle16]

Originally Posted by mjbfan

[color=royalblue][font=lucida console][size=6][b]

Help, While driving my air bag and battery light came on and within 5-7 minutes I lost all power. My battery is charged, I'm thinking its the alternator. Is there a way to check for sure? I am going to repair myself(do to recent job lay off) any suggestions where to get the cheapest part?
Thanx for your time in advance.

how many miles on the belt? my friend just had this happen actually, the belt had loosened and was slipping, causing the alternator not to charge the battery efficiently enough to power the vehice when it was running. check that out first.

[mjbfan]

Originally Posted by sethstyle16

how many miles on the belt? my friend just had this happen actually, the belt had loosened and was slipping, causing the alternator not to charge the battery efficiently enough to power the vehice when it was running. check that out first.

Really? 124,000 miles

[JustSayGo]

Lost all power? As in the engine quit running? Yes. Do the headlights still come on? Do the headlights go off when you turn the key as you hope the engine will start? Does the starter make the alternator belt move, or does the starter just click, or make no noise? Inspect the battery cables. Check the fuses and relays in the fuse box under the hood. Is your battery charged up? Why do you say the battery is charged? How do you know? The engine would start and run even if the alternator belt were missing if the battery is charged up and there is no other problem.

[mjbfan]

Originally Posted by JustSayGo

Lost all power? As in the engine quit running? Yes. Do the headlights still come on? Do the headlights go off when you turn the key as you hope the engine will start? Does the starter make the alternator belt move, or does the starter just click, or make no noise? Inspect the battery cables. Check the fuses and relays in the fuse box under the hood. Is your battery charged up? Why do you say the battery is charged? How do you know? The engine would start and run even if the alternator belt were missing if the battery is charged up and there is no other problem.

Hi , Well the headlights weren't totally off but they were really dim. The inside light was almost as bright as normal. My battery is not quite a year old and when i got home i connected it to the battery charger and its been keeping its cherge since. We jumped it that night with no problem, as soon as we removed the cables the power instantly started dwindling until it cut off (maybe 3 minutes). The belt moves, there is no clicking, I practically polised the battery cable connections and i've checked the cables. Check all the fuses? Where are the relays located? The battery just seems to be slowly sucked dry. I appreciate your time.

[JustSayGo]

I have seen several situations where a loose alt belt didn't turn the alternator enough to charge the battery and as the voltage droped the engine quit running. Sometimes alternators charge enough so long as there isn't more load like when the headlights are on or when the engine is accelerated and the alternator never catches up to the increased speed of the belt. Every situation was with a V type belt. I believe anything is possible but I haven't ever seen it happen with a serpentine belt. I'm curios sethstyle16, Which type belt does your friend's car have?

[JustSayGo]

There is a plastic cover over the relays between the engine and the battery and another on the passenger side near the firewall. The alternator may have an internal ground where it shouldn't which would make your guess about your alternator correct. Are you powering an amplifier with your sound system? The alternator is easy enough to remove. Take your battery and alternator to AutoZone and get them both tested for free.

[mjbfan]

Originally Posted by JustSayGo

There is a plastic cover over the relays between the engine and the battery and another on the passenger side near the firewall. The alternator may have an internal ground where it shouldn't which would make your guess about your alternator correct. Are you powering an amplifier with your sound system? The alternator is easy enough to remove. Take your battery and alternator to AutoZone and get them both tested for free.

Actually i haven't installed my amplifier yet. Maybe its a good idea to put in a new altenator since it will be going in eventually.
Its ready to go i was just waiting til a friend could come over and splice into my ignition wire for the power remote...