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Message |
Raybender
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:22 am Post subject:
Pathfinder - Charging System |
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Hi All,
When I started my 1990 Pathfinder SE this morning, there was no charging
of the battery - voltage across battery was steady at 11.8 volts. Took
it around the block and all of a sudden voltmeter pops up to 14+ volts.
Continued driving for awhile and everything seemed ok. With headlights
on and heater fan at full speed the alternator maintained 14 volts
across the battery at idle. So...it looks like I have an intermittent
problem that just might strand me somewhere - looking for advice.
Possibilities apparently are
1. Dash charge light (burned out) but it worked fine when I got home
2. Relay for said light
3. Fusible link
Anyone had similar problems and able to steer me toward a likely
candidate that would fail and then recover as I experienced?
Thanks,
Frank
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whybcuz@yahoo.com
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Pathfinder - Charging System |
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Hi Frank
I wonder what made you check the battery this morning -- unless this
truck has a built in voltmeter?
Make sure the belt is tight. Also make sure that the connection from
the alternator to the battery is solid -- clean off both ends and make
sure they are properly tightened.
It could be that the alternator has an intermittent contact to maybe
the diodes, but that is less likely. It happens, but not as often as
having bad contacts through the wires.
Hope you find it soon
Remco |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Pathfinder - Charging System |
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Raybender wrote:
| Quote: | Hi All,
When I started my 1990 Pathfinder SE this morning, there was no charging
of the battery - voltage across battery was steady at 11.8 volts. Took
it around the block and all of a sudden voltmeter pops up to 14+ volts.
Continued driving for awhile and everything seemed ok. With headlights
on and heater fan at full speed the alternator maintained 14 volts
across the battery at idle. So...it looks like I have an intermittent
problem that just might strand me somewhere - looking for advice.
Sounds like the regulator might be going. |
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Raybender
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:20 pm Post subject:
Re: Thanks |
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Thanks guys,
Think I'll replace the light check relay. Obviously the alternator and all
connections must be pretty good since it held 14 volts at idle with
headlights and heater fan on full blast once "something" popped yesterday.
I'll go for the relay first, though might, indeed, be a regulator problem.
Frank |
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Chuck Tribolet
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Pathfinder - Charging System |
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It's highly unlikely the bulb "unburned out".
It's NOT the fusible link. If that went, NOTHING would work.
Generally, the fusible link doesn't kill, is main power to the starter,
but the start solinoid is controlled by the fusible link, so the starter
won't work.
The advice to check the belts is good.
Could be a bad connection at the starter or regulator. I'd check those
before replaced the regulator. Thake them apart, put them together
again.
Carry jumper cables and keep and eye on things before you buy a regulator.
And you never told us what the original symptom was: GEN idiot light?
On-board volt meter? Something else?
"Raybender" <raybender@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:41B61F16.602E6F85@sbcglobal.net...
| Quote: | Hi All,
When I started my 1990 Pathfinder SE this morning, there was no charging
of the battery - voltage across battery was steady at 11.8 volts. Took
it around the block and all of a sudden voltmeter pops up to 14+ volts.
Continued driving for awhile and everything seemed ok. With headlights
on and heater fan at full speed the alternator maintained 14 volts
across the battery at idle. So...it looks like I have an intermittent
problem that just might strand me somewhere - looking for advice.
Possibilities apparently are
1. Dash charge light (burned out) but it worked fine when I got home
2. Relay for said light
3. Fusible link
Anyone had similar problems and able to steer me toward a likely
candidate that would fail and then recover as I experienced?
Thanks,
Frank
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Raybender
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:32 pm Post subject:
Re: Pathfinder - Charging System |
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Chuck Tribolet wrote:
| Quote: | It's highly unlikely the bulb "unburned out".
It's NOT the fusible link. If that went, NOTHING would work.
Generally, the fusible link doesn't kill, is main power to the starter,
but the start solinoid is controlled by the fusible link, so the starter
won't work.
The advice to check the belts is good.
Could be a bad connection at the starter or regulator. I'd check those
before replaced the regulator. Thake them apart, put them together
again.
Carry jumper cables and keep and eye on things before you buy a regulator.
And you never told us what the original symptom was: GEN idiot light?
On-board volt meter? Something else?
|
Original symptom was only 12 volts on the dash voltmeter immediately after
starting the engine. GEN idiot light was ok. Drove around block and
voltmeter popped up to 14 volts, and alternator was able to hold it there at
idle with headlights on and heater fan on high. Started car the next day -
exact same behavior. Fan belts are new (two months old) and tension is
correct.
Replaced bulb check relay yesterday. Now everything is fine.
Thanks for your reply
Frank |
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