Folks,
I've got a 96 Maxima with almost 90K miles on it. It's in great shape, by and large, but I've had a little problem lately I can't figure out.
Occasionally, particularly at lower speeds (in slow traffic, f'rinstance, or at speeds under 35 MPH), the battery light AND the brake light will flicker on, fade in & out, and eventually flicker off (generally as speed increases). Putting the car in neutral at a light and slowly increasing the RPM doesn't seem to have any effect.
I've already checked the stuff that was easy to check, i.e., visual inspection of the battery connections (looked good... and the battery is only about a year old) and visual inspection of the belts (looked okay to me, too, but couldn't get my hand down in there to check the tension). Can't really check the alternator/regulator situation out myself.
I guess the big conundrum here is why the battery and brake light would both come on at the same time. If it was one or the other, it would make more sense, and I'd have an idea where to look, but this confuses me. And they're definitely in sync: they flicker on at the same time, flicker off at the same time, and fade in and out simultaneously. I'm beginning to think it's a warning light conspiracy.
Any ideas?
Thanks, Keith