Thorby

My battery and brake dashboard lights light up randomly while driving, as the car vibrates and shakes and recently the Cruise Control light on my dashboard randomly lights when I press the brake pedal.

I have checked under the hood for crossed wires, with no luck. This is driving me nuts since I don't want my car to catch fire or just get worse due to this short.

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

usually when the brake and battery lights come on, the alternator is failing

Thorby

This makes sense, but I took it to a mechanic and he said the alternator's ok because it is charging correctly.

5150pa

There was a recent post about this same problem, the guys alternator wouldn't charge under 1500rpm. Do the lights go away when you throw some RPMs at it?

Thorby

They do not. Actually, revving it causes vibration which will cause the random lighting to increase in frequency. Also, I run the car with both the a/c and the headlights on all the time with no problems. Also, the mechanic checked for proper charging and the test passed.

jasonaaronfox

voltage regulator in the alternator going? I'm just pissing in the dark. When my alternator did this it was going dead, I had a bad main ground, and the wires were loose going to the alternator. I swear my maxima hates me.

ImmaSquashYou

iTrader: (7)

subscribed. i wanna know what can cause the battery and brake light to go on without being something to do with the alternator/charging issues.

5150pa

Well just in case here is the link to the thread i was speaking about.
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...-1500-rpm.html

Maybe, maybe not, worth looking at anyhow. Good luck man.

najee1062

Man my experience with mechanics is don't let them have the last word. These guys here and myself have went thru alternators being dead or going dead and the one thing I know is when you have a battery and brake light going at the same time that's a sign of the alternator going bad or something related to it like bad ground, loose belt, wire hardness to the alternator. I can tell you the mechanic did not do a extensive search or road test. he check voltage and maybe battery and told you everything's ok and sent you on your way with charging you for doing jack. You listen to these guys and you will get your car fixed. Power to the ORG.

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

I remember when those lights came on it was my alternator that was going bad. Try taking it to another mechanic to have it tested again.

Kevlo911

iTrader: (36)

autozone/advance auto can test the entire charging system for free and in like 5 minutes, no need to speculate

najee1062

Now did this mechanic explain to you what the vibration was? I mean come on you come in with flashing lights and a vibration and he could tell you nothing. Not coming down on you... I just hate how mechanic can take your hard earn money and do nothing.

najee1062

Right... I went thru enough of them and each time it was that dawn remain alternator...

BiRd DaWgY

This is also happening to me. The lights wont be on until i have been driving for more than 10 15 min and then they will stay on until my gears shift at like 30 or 3500 rmps and then its back on. Sometimes itll turn off randomely and when it returns it feels weaker or if power is being cut. I had it tested and it all checked out and it was fine. So im thinking that it might be faulty wiring or loose connections something along those lines.

najee1062

Each time this happen to me, it was the faulty diode in the alternator... I mean if you don't mind riding around with those lights flashing... cool but you will be getting another alternator sooner or later. Trust me on that.

Thorby

Ok, took another look under the hood and made better progress. This time I actually looked at the alternator (the previous time I was, stupidly, inspecting the starter motor. I should know better since I once replaced it myself!) and fiddled with the wires going into it. One wire seems to have a slit in the rubber insulation. Then I drove my car and, voila!, the dashboard lights flickered on way way less. Today I'll wind those wires in electrical tape and I'm sure the issue will be fixed.

You win some you lose some. During this inspection I realized my air intake plastic is cracked so my engine's getting unfiltered air. Also, I realized a boot on my rack and pinion came loose.

BiRd DaWgY

where at is the alternator located

Thorby

As you stand in front of the headlights to look under the hood, it is on the left. You can easily reach the wires with your hand without having to remove anything.