2001 Max SE Electrical System Problems

Where did you get the replacement alternators? i.e. have you been using OEM replacements or local parts-store replacements?

What bulbs brand/wattage are you using? have you been using over-wattage bulbs?

Nirav

96 Max GLE, 133k

Its easier to ask than answer (political survival), so heres some q's:

1 maxima mileage? 2 what is charge voltage at batt, at lamps: idle, 2500rpm? 3 have all groundings, contacts been cleaned? see pages 14 and 10 on link below how many miles do the bulbs last? 5 pls specify what kind of bulb; each time (?) from same product batch 6 how do the bulb blow, normally? Have u complained to bulb mfg? 7 are the lamps mechanically correctly attached? No possibility to excess vibration?

Thanks for the reply - -

2nd and 3rd alternators were from local garage - not OEM Bulbs are halogens and rated wattage per book. See reply to other response as well as to yours. Thanks again.

Thanks for the reply - hope the answers help. Answers below

1 maxima mileage? 92,000 2 what is charge voltage at batt, at lamps: idle, 2500rpm? Will advise - have to check Power looks fairly "clean" (I put an oscilloscope on the line) 3 have all groundings, contacts been cleaned? see pages 14 and 10 on link below As many as I could see - thanks for the links Will advise - this has been my suspicion from the beginning 4 how many miles do the bulbs last? More of time than miles - - - Sometimes as little as a month - sometimes 5 months 5 pls specify what kind of bulb; each time (?) from same product batch Bulbs have been rated wattage per book - Sometimes std halogen, sometimes cool white Brand seems to have no impact on longevity 6 how do the bulb blow, normally? Have u complained to bulb mfg? They just don't turn on (not like a bulb in the house where they flash, then blow) Have not complained to mfr 7 are the lamps mechanically correctly attached? No possibility to excess vibration? Mounted exactly as they came out - as best as I can tell (Compared to our previous company car 2001 Max) Using bulb grease - use clean cotton gloves to handle bulbs

BTW - 2nd and 3rd alternators have NOT been Nissan I work for a Japanese company and the Japanese guy i work with is an avid Nissan racer - He suggested new headlight relays (which i've ordered)

Many thanks again Steve

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All reasons I know that may be killing bulbs, generally:

- overvoltage

- sparking (bad contacts, the relays...?)

- vibration

- poor quality

- heat

- wrong installation

...they say that one has to think like herring if one wants to catch one. Here one has to stand and think like a bulb (?) in front of opened hood. How can one do That?

- The bulbs are std H4? (I just complained to Osram for 50hour burnup, they sent me six new:). Osram H4 super, norm is 350h

15kmiles, time halves if/as voltage above 14V. This is analogous on any lamp type.

- I know my voltage is up b/c the wiring settings, but I love the brightness; see page

The local shop alternators are known for the poor-quality rebuild jobs. Save yourself the headache, but first putting in a replacement Nissan alternator...then if the problems continue, you can diagnose further. My guess is your problems will disappear once you put in a better alternator.

Nirav

Probably have a bad ground somewhere along the electronic path of the headlight system.

Was your ALT replaced because of the headlight failures? In other words, if you didn't have the headlight problems, was everything else OK? If so, then the fact that only the headlights having a problem and the fact that you didnt find anything while checking the crcuit while idling would really zero-in on the headlight circuit having a bad ground somewhere. I would check all connections having to do with he headlights. Clean the connections thoroughly and put everything back together.

Hope this helps

CD