1999 Nissan Maxima GLE Electrical system problems.

Tiny
MIKES99MAXIMA
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 165,000 MILES
I bought a used a 1999 Maxima with a little over 160,000 miles on it. It seemed to run fine when I bought it, but I've started having some electrical issues. When shut off, battery voltage reads 12.8 or so. When the engine is running it reads as much as 19.25 volts. Is the voltage regulator in the alternator or in the car computer, and does it seem like that would be the problem? There are other electrical problems showing up, which makes me think that's the source of all the problems I'm having. One of the problems is that at low rpms (below 1000 rpm) the stereo speakers work fine, but at higher rpms they cut out completely. The stereo itself stays on, but no sound come out. The dashboard clock also comes on and goes off at random and keeps inaccurate time. The worst problem, which started only after I had been driving it for about 2 weeks is that the engine seems to be mistimed at most ropms as if the electronic timing advance wasn't working. Long question I know, but I want to make sure I'm not chasing my tail on this one.
Monday, January 17th, 2011 AT 6:52 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
19volts is certainly way too much voltage and will do serious damage to electrical components in the vehicle. You need to resolve that issue ASAP and then see what you have. The voltage regulator is built into the alternator and is likely the source of the problem.
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Monday, January 17th, 2011 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
MIKES99MAXIMA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Could a bad ground connection cause the regulator to malfunction? Or is it more likely the regulator itself?
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Monday, January 17th, 2011 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
There is ground wire coming off terminal "E" that you can check but I doubt it's the problem.
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Monday, January 17th, 2011 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
MIKES99MAXIMA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
OK, replaced the alternator, and the voltage regulator problem is gone. The engine now runs rough and has given me diag codes of P1320, P0301, and P0325. Am I more likely looking at components that were damaged by the overvoltage condition, a bad PCM, or a wiring harness issue? Any thoughts?
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Sunday, January 30th, 2011 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You have a whole new set of unrelated problems. I suggest you start a new question for that.
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Sunday, January 30th, 2011 AT 7:28 PM

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