Electrical Problem with 88 Maxima

The high speed only is the resistor pack. The A/C problem I'm not sure about. I would check the alternator output first though.

What do you mean that you "can drive around for days as long as I don't run the air"? You mean that eventually the car will die regardless?

I'd check the alternator (of course first check belt, connections and battery but most likely the alternator is the culprit).

Remco

Thanks for reply. I meant that as long as I don't turn on the AC I can drive the car every day and the battery stays charged, car always starts, etc. If I run the air the battery quickly gets so low on power that it won't start the car.

I did have the alternator checked and the test indicated that it was good. HOWEVER, the AC was not on when they were doing the test.

I wonder if perhaps it tends to draw too much current when idling. If you do a lot of city driving, the engine is often idling:

Not sure on a Maxima, but on most modern cars it has what's called an ELD (Electronic Load Detector), which detects that something is drawing more current than the engine idle can normally supply. It tells the computer to step the RPM up a bit so the battery is not loaded. It could be that your ELD is defective. Does your engine speed (RPM, if you have a tach on your dash) go up when you turn on your AC? If you have a voltmeter, hook it across the battery and progressively turn on circuits (AC, lights, etc). The voltage should stay around 14.5 Volt or so with the engine possibly running slightly faster under load.

Remco

Just by watching the the voltage gauge on the dash it seems that at idle with the AC on full it REALLY pulls the charging system down. Driving down the road at 60 mph the voltage indicator is at 12 (right in the center). When you pull up to red light and stop it moves from

Autozone had blower motor for $73 bucks. And they say they can test alternator on the car so I'll see what happens...

Sounds like the alternator or regulator (which is often part of the alternator in most cars). If you have them do the work, don't let them hose you as an alternator replacement should take less than one hour.

Remco

Remco,

Put alternator on this evening, problem fixed. Autozone did a test and their test device showed bad diode in alternator. paid $100 for one. Still need to replace the switch that keeps prevents the blower motor from blowing on any speed other than high but main problem fixed. Thanks for the info.

Trent

On most Nissans, it's not the switch, it's a resistor pack located in a vent pipe (usually above the passenger feet area). (Not sure on that year max, but the symptoms are very consistent.)

Gary K

Excellent - glad that worked out! Remco