'94 Sentra instrument panel lights

Robbie,

You called that one pretty well! Turns out the "new" alternator was dead. It was a rebuild alternator as it was replaced under warranty and I am told new ones are not available and are very expensive. I couldn't remember what the symptoms were the last time the alternator died about a year ago.

Here's the full story on this car's electrical system:

28 Aug 1999: 111,620 miles - replaced battery (6 year warranty)

28 Aug 2003: 202,566 miles - alternator went bad replaced - no charge for parts or labor

30 Sept 2004: 226,841 miles - alternator went bad replaced - no charge for parts or labor

So, this car is now on it's 5th alternator counting this one and yesterday's! :-)

I'm not complaining because except for the time involved it does not cost me anything. The repair shop is the best repair shop I have ever worked with. We have 4 cars in the family and have all our work done there. They probably hate to see me pull up though.

I got to wondering about the economics of driving the car anymore. If I total up all the costs I have spent on this vehicle, including purchase (entire principal and interest), all the fuel, preventive maintenance, repair maintenance (but excluding insurance only) I have spent $20,573.67 for the 174,650 miles I have driven it. That's about 11.7 cents per mile. I have a computer program where I have log all the costs. I have tracked every dime spent on the car including tires, replacement hubcaps, etc. - the works. The car has averaged 34.5 MPG in the 7+ years I have driven it. Every day I have a 80 mile round trip commute.

I am looking to buy a new one (or slightly used) but I plan to keep running this one until the repair costs really do get expensive or the reliability becomes a serious problem. Yesterday was only the 2nd time that I missed some work due to an unexpected breakdown.

I would be interested to hear of anyone else's experience with their Nissan.

Mark

this happens all the time when aftermarket rebuilt alternators are used.

If you want it fixed, use a Nissan Factory OEM rebuilt alternator

Jesus, I wish I had a dollar for every time I said that, I could freaking retire !

Nisstech,

Yeah, you wrote that a year or two ago when the alternator went out.

It's working fine now after the replace. I checked today and I can't find a Nissan Factory OEM rebuilt alternator for '94 Sentra, with GA16DE.

How much would it cost?

This alternator didn't cost me anything for replacement. Is there a guarantee on the Nissan Factory OEM rebuilt alternator?

Mark

Buy a spare rebuilt and keep it along with some tools and jumper cables in the trunk. That should hold you.

ROTFLMAO