problem with Truck. Need Advice

[Coach James]

Driving home today, my 2000 Nissan Frontier quit on me. The air bag light began flashing, then the ABS light came on then some light I couldn't read. It then began to shudder then stopped dead. Turn the key and nothing, no fuel pump, no dash lights. nothing. Only thing I heard was a few minutes after it quit, there were 3 or 4 minutes of a rapid clicking sound.

I will check the battery in the morning and see if it has run down.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Coach

 

[Richard Cranium]

did your alt. quit and then you ran out of battery power?
I once had a car do that, a wire broke off the alt. and the battery went dead. one thing at a time just quit working until the motor died. Good luck

 

[Coach James]

Thanks Richard. I will check that in the morning. It would be nice if it was that simple.

Coach

 

[engineer2]

Sound like the alternator (or belt) crapped out. The Japanese alternators typically last about 170,000 miles, more or less.

Typical of an Asian vehicle when the alternator dies, no warning other than stuff quits working until the battery can no longer run the fuel pump and you go into walk-home mode.

 

[MoonRise]

Since pretty much everything on vehicles is electronically/computer controlled now, once the electrical system loses power then everything shuts down and/or 'fails'.

Different vehicles and models and years can have various different 'disco light' warning light and dashboard strobe action as the 'system' (the vehicle overall) components (engine computer, lighting computer, body computer ABS computer, etc) fail as the voltage drops off.

Check battery. Probably dead.

Which means check alternator. Probably also dead.

 

[engineer2]

A good battery will recover after several hours and it may start up again for a short time. If that happens, check the charging system.

 

[RCsGarage]

Like others have said, alt and or battery. Same this happened on my GX. Gauge cluster light up like a Christmas tree and died. Ended up being my alt.

 

[pop pop]

Electronics now control. When voltage starts dropping, it sheds load one or two at a time. I think first is creature comfort (AC) Then accessories on down to wipers (safety equp) then the engine dies. Alternator or Bat could be at fault.

 

[Wamsutta]

Hopefully the one light you couldn't read is the charging system light. Usually they're a little red battery icon.

 

[MikeF2316]

Hopefully the one light you couldn't read is the charging system light. Usually they're a little red battery icon.

The sad thing is alternators can fail in ways that don't turn the battery light on. So your first warning is things quitting as the voltage falls. That's my guess here.

 

[bcradio]

I agree that it sounds like alternator. May be a loose connection somewhere around there.

 

[trekgod3]

I have a 2012 frontier. Mine did the exact same thing regarding the rapid clicking sound. It was the battery. AAA came out and swapped it out. Also had a badly corroded terminal. AAA replaced that too. Everything runs fine now

 

[Coach James]

I have a 2012 frontier. Mine did the exact same thing regarding the rapid clicking sound. It was the battery. AAA came out and swapped it out. Also had a badly corroded terminal. AAA replaced that too. Everything runs fine now

If it was just a bad battery, why would it quit while running? I would think a bad battery would fail to start, but not quit after already started.

Coach

 

[Finky198]

We had an older pathfinder that sat and had frozen up the alternator after breaking it loose it would alternate when it would charge. Things on the dash would blink and all sort of **** I have it on my to do list. Best of luck. I would check all the cable and charging system.

I had a charging issue on my jeep turned out my ground worked loose. I kept having a low or dead battery. Just a thought

 

[jakemac]

If it was just a bad battery, why would it quit while running? I would think a bad battery would fail to start, but not quit after already started.

Coach

The battery charges the computer that controls the engine and fuel pump.


Swap out the battery (it's probably due anyway) then test the alternator to see if that needs to be replaced as well. While your at it, check the ground wire to make sure it's not frayed and is still making good contact with the frame.

 

[MikeF2316]

If it was just a bad battery, why would it quit while running? I would think a bad battery would fail to start, but not quit after already started.

Coach

If the battery fails in such a way that it takes more than the alternator can supply to bring it's voltage up, then that's what will happen. You should have the alternator tested too, just in case it's weak.

 

[Coach James]

Looks like the electrical problem may be solved with simply replacing a battery cable. Thanks for the replies everyone. I hope it is that simple a fix.

Coach

 

[SnapOnAddiction]

Sounds like your alternator everything you have said has happened to me so many times 3 times in my wife's focus alone, take a dvmm to your battery or try jumping it and unhook your battery while it's running, easy fix buy a new alternator and be done do my buy a used one from the junk yard although I have gotten lucky and found a brand new one .

 

[kctyphoon]

If it was just a bad battery, why would it quit while running? I would think a bad battery would fail to start, but not quit after already started.

Coach

The battery is what starts the car, the alternator charges the battery and supplies all your other electrical power under normal conditions. On most cars you can start the car and remove the battery, everything will remain running with a good functioning alternator. When an alternator goes, it can't provide enough current to keep everything powered, so the car's system will start to draw power from the battery instead since they are both wired into the car. After a while, the battery's power will drain because now IT is keeping the car running instead of the alternator. Now, without the alternator charging the battery and powering the car - the battery gets drained too far and eventually the engine will stall. At that point the battery is basically dead, and you won't be able to even crank the engine.

I've made it home (the last mile or two) with just a jump pack hooked up to the battery under the hood. It's enough to keep it running for a very short time.

If you throw a voltmeter on the battery terminals, (on a good charged battery) it should read somewhere above 12v just sitting there. 12.3, 12.5 probably. Once you start the car, and place meter across the terminals again, even with everything on like lights, wipers, AC on high - you should see over 14v being pushed to the battery.

Recharge your battery or jump the car. With the engine running, disconnect the battery. If the car dies you need an alternator.

 

[MikeF2316]

On any modern (computer) car it is a very bad idea to disconnect the battery with the engine running. The battery acts as a voltage damper, it will absorb any spikes from the alternator that can kill computers. 99% of the time you can get away with it, but I wouldn't chance it.

 

[kctyphoon]

That's going a little far to post that don't ya think, esp if an alternator isn't supplying enough power to keep a car running.. id have to give myself better chances at a lottery win than something like that happening.

That's like saying, don't step into the water the one day in your life you're on vacation by the ocean, because the only sure way to avoid a shark attack is to never go in it, or on a boat cause that could sink too.

 

[Bobioz1]

On any modern (computer) car it is a very bad idea to disconnect the battery with the engine running. The battery acts as a voltage damper, it will absorb any spikes from the alternator that can kill computers. 99% of the time you can get away with it, but I wouldn't chance it.

This is good advice.

 

[Sine Swept]

Meter it. Otherwise you are just guessing.

Don't forget that having a bad cell in a battery can act as a dead short to your alternator.

So really it could be either battery/ alt, but likely not both, unless you have extremely good luck!