2005 Nissan Altima Turn Lights, Headlights, Power windows

Tiny
L543123
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA
Electrical problem
2005 Nissan Altima 4 cyl Automatic 85000 miles

2005 Nissan Altima - 85k miles - I have a strange problem. Sometimes when driving or when the car is parked the power windows, turn signal lights, headlights, door locks stop working. It feels as if the battery is not having enough power. Suddenly after sometime they start working and sometimes the windows rolls up slowly and sometimes faster. Again after few minutes they stop working. The other day I rolled down the window on the George Washington bridge to pay toll and the window did not roll up. After I crossed the bridge and drove for 10 mins they started working again. What could be the issue? Please help.
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 AT 6:36 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
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Hi l543123,

Thank you for the donation.

I would suggest getting the charging system checked first to verify if it is a voltage fault.

The Body control modules control some of the items mentioned and tesings can be done with the aid of appropriate diagnostic equipments.
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 AT 10:12 AM
Tiny
L543123
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Hi, thanks for the reply. So should I ask the mechanic to check the "charging system" and explain the issue? Can you suggest a good repair center in NJ or point me to a website. My current service people are only good for oil changes, they dont understand what I tell them, they say I need to talk to the dealer about such issues.
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 AT 12:30 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Basic charging test should be easy. A voltmeter is all you need to test. With engine running, connect the voltmeter across the battery terminals and if the voltage is between 13.5 to 14.5 volts, the charging rate is good. This is done with and without any loads, ie with all lights, A/ C etc off and repeat with them all turned on.

Let me know what you get. Autozone and most parts outlets would be able to assisi on the above.

As to testing with diagnostic equipments, you might have to refer to the dealer but you can try asking at the parts outlets if they can help you.
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 AT 6:30 PM
Tiny
L543123
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Hi, I checked with a local mechanic and he pointed to this fusible link 24370-c9900 which he says is the problem and needs to be replaced. I am not sure if thats the issue, but he when he removed and replaced it, the lights, windows, turn lights started working. But then after few minutes they stopped working again. So he said the problem is with that link and it needs to be replaced. I am not too sure about that, because if its totally gone why would they work for sometime and not work again. He says when that fuse heats up, it stops working and when it cools down a bit then it works and so that needs to be replaced. Do you think the same or have different opnion? Just want to check before I order that part.
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Saturday, July 31st, 2010 AT 1:05 PM
Tiny
L543123
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Also everytime he removed that part and placed it slightly all electrical stuff started working, again when he pressed it hard they stopped working.
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Saturday, July 31st, 2010 AT 1:08 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yes, I believe that link is possibly faulty.

You can try using a fuses jumper wire as substitute to test.
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Saturday, July 31st, 2010 AT 1:38 PM
Tiny
L543123
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Hi, thanks for the reply. I have ordered the part. But how does this fuse link work when I remove and refit it. Does it heat and melt and cool off after sometime. Is that why the electrical stuff work for sometime and dont work?
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Sunday, August 1st, 2010 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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There is a possibility not the link itself is faulty. Check the base for bad contacts etc.

When removing and refitting the link, you could have triggered the contacts. The link itself is clamped on either ends to female terminals. It is possible the clamped joints are loose and moving the lnk around would make it work, at least temporarily.
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Sunday, August 1st, 2010 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
L543123
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Hi, the contacts seems to be fine. No issues. So may be the link has some loose contacts inside and when I remove and place it again its working temporarly and then when I drive and hit the road and potholes, welcome to NJ :) the contacts become loose again. So let me wait for the new link and see if that fixed this issue. Thanks for replies on this. Nice to see quick replies from you.
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Sunday, August 1st, 2010 AT 11:41 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You're welcome and hope the problrm is fixed with the fusible link replacement.

We always try to reply as quickly as possible and when we are online, it would be attended to immediately when notification is received.

Have a nice day.
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Sunday, August 1st, 2010 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
L543123
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Hi, the fusible link replacement did not work. I went to the dealer and he checked the battery, fuses (both engine & drive side), IPDM and he says everything looks fine. Now he says he needs to check the computer module behind/or close to the drive steering wheel because may be they are messed up and sending wrong signals. I have no clue what he means but does this sound like a big problem or just a loose connection or part replacement? Please help.
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Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 AT 9:44 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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If wiggling the fusible link works, I would suggest checking below the holder. Something could be loose or having bad contact.

Use a fused remote wire to apply batttery voltage to the turn signal fuse and test if it works all the others.
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Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
L543123
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I told the mechanic about shaking/removing the fusible link and replacing it, but he says that removing or shaking it would have just reset the modules and they work for few hrs/days before again messing up, which is exactly what is happening. Not sure what else to try.
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Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Perform the above test and see if the lights works. I would suspect a faut with the power supply rather than the BCM.
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Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 AT 10:04 AM

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