2001 Nissan Xterra recharge

ILYANF

MEMBER
2001 NISSAN XTERRA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
102,209 MILES

Hi my name is william,
my car starts, runs if I disconnect battery but takes the battery a long time to recharge. The battery is brand new I bought it two days ago. I hear a loud tump when I turn off my audio dvd player(after market). And it dead on me twice while I was driving. While I was driving it jerked then the gauges started going down slowly I pulled to the side then it dead. I have a digital compasitor for my audio system and thats where I noticed the battery was out of voltage when jumped it started right up. Please help whats the problem?

1 Reply

ZACKMAN

MECHANIC
4,202 POSTS

In the future, please do not perform the battery cable disconnect to check for alternator operation. While it holds true that by disconnecting the battery, you get all your electricity from the alternator, that misconception does not proof anything with newer, more modern vehicles, such as yours. As such, your alternator "test" (engine running with battery disconnected) is flawed if your alternator is only pushing 12 volts. If your battery has run out of juice after being installed for 2 days, and the vehicle died while it was in motion, all these signs are pointing to low alternator output.

What I suggest is that you fully charge the battery using an external battery charger (not by hooking it up to another vehicle's alternator). If you don't have a battery charger handy, you may take the battery to an auto parts store (O'Reilly or Autozone, for example) and they can charge the battery for free.

Re-install the battery into the vehicle and drive the vehicle back to the parts store and ask them to test your electrical system (battery, starter, and alternator). Please post what they find out about the alternator.