Need help from you pathfinder guys.

[OdiN]

My friend has a 97 (I think) Pathfinder.

We think her alternator might be dead. Here's the symptoms:

Had to be jumped, and while driving after being jumped did not have much power - lights were dim, etc. It got home, but tried to drive it to the shop to test the alternator and it died at the end of the driveway.

Anyway the battery is out and they are running a charger on it and going to test it. I haven't seen the battery - asked how old it was but not sure. I also asked if the belts were tight and not loose and weren't sure so I will check that.

Anything else?

If it is the alternator - where I need help is in replacing it. I haven't looked at it yet but my other friend who did told me that it's behind belts and crap (well yeah) but seemed really hard to get out.

Any tips on getting it out easily? I'm going to help replace it but I've never worked on a Pathy before and I know some vehicles are a PITA to get at things if you've never done it before. So any tips would be helpful.

[Packman5280]

not sure on the r50's, but nissan's have the alt down low, so they tend to get wet and grimey and need replacing more often. it probably is the alt, you may also want to look into a new battery at this point too.

[tmorgan4]

Where are you (or your friend)? I've got a spare. They're easy enough to replace from what I remember...it's just on the opposite side as the Xterra.

I take that back....alternator is in the same spot.

[OdiN]

We are over in Greeley.

Is it the same alt as in the Xterra?

[tmorgan4]

Yep, should be the same. The Quest alternators work in the Xterra and Pathfinder so they're interchangable.

[OdiN]

Is your spare a new one?

I was thinking if we picked it up and tried it and that fixed the problem she could just buy you a replacement. But if we get the original one off we can just take it to the parts store and have them test it for free so I don't think we'd need to do that.

[tmorgan4]

The one that I have isn't new....but it's the factory alternator off my 2000 Pathfinder with 117k on it. They usually seem to last a long time but occassionally go bad. I'd try and stay away from parts store alternators since they don't ever seem to be as good as originals. Most of them don't use OEM cores. Sometimes they last a day, sometimes they'll last as long as the original one. I have no use for this one I've got, so if you happen to be up this way you can pick it up and see if it solves your issues. If it does I'll sell it to you a whole lot cheaper than you'd pay at a parts store.

http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/296502

[OdiN]

Okay I'm not sure that she would want used, but I'll ask. If you don't mind, PM me what you would ask for it and I'll let her know.

[DamnHippie]

I would take a nissan alternator with 117kmiles on it over a brand new one from the parts store any day, subject to one caveat: that the used one didn't spend a lot of time submerged in muddy water offroad.

[OdiN]

And does anyone know a good place to buy OEM parts other than a dealer?

[DamnHippie]

As far as I know, genuine nissan parts are only available from a genuine nissan dealer. But that doesn't mean you have to pay the walk-in "rape me please" price at the dealer in town, there are several dealers who sell parts on the internet for about 30-35% less than the MSRP rape-me prices. My favorites are Pinnacle Nissan http://www.nissanparts.org/oem_parts.html and Courtesy Nissan http://www.courtesyparts.com/betasite/

[Sully4x4]

Ian, do you know if the alt is close to the starter? If so, I can help/lend a few tips(even though it will probably still be different) since I changed my starter last year.

[DamnHippie]

The alternator is at the front of the engine, the starter at the back.

[Packman5280]

and they are on opposite sides as well.

also, ABC nissan in AZ is pretty good, they give discounts to members of Nissan4Wheelers.com if you happen to be registered over there too.