UPDATE: Just got off the phone with Downtown Seattle Nissan. They tested the alternator and it is bad. They didn't have any in stock but called around and found one at another dealer and sent someone to pick it up. They said it would be ready by the end of the day. Keeping my fingers crossed! Jeff

 

Jeff, dont forget to file a complain with NTHSA.. asap

Link here:
Alternator NTHSA file a complain page

Nissan will have to do something if the failure rate is 50%.

 

Friday the 13th. Should have known. Dealer can't reproduce the problem, and the tests show there isn't a problem, soooooooo no new alternator for me. Said they were sorry, but until they can see a problem nothing can be done under warrenty. Not feeling that great about driving the MO anymore. Russian Roulette anyone? Not how I want to feel about my car that isn't a year old yet. Jeff

 

I had about 20 miles from the lights appearing to complete failure. Radio on, Nav on, seats moving.....Kinda dumb I know.

But (And I'm no automative engineer) I believe if your battery is good you will have some warning before you lose power and the car stops...so don't be put off driving.

Please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong about the notice period!

 

Most automotive batteries have between 90 minutes and 2 hours of reserve power if the alternator fails to charge. This does not take into account starting the car, so if you had a bad alternator, and you started the car a few times, all bets are out the window.

Battery reserve time assumes all accessories off.

 

Friday the 13th. Should have known. Dealer can't reproduce the problem, and the tests show there isn't a problem, soooooooo no new alternator for me. Said they were sorry, but until they can see a problem nothing can be done under warrenty. Not feeling that great about driving the MO anymore. Russian Roulette anyone? Not how I want to feel about my car that isn't a year old yet. Jeff

Wait a minute - the two lights were on and they could not reproduce the problem?! Sounds fishy to me.

 

Wait a minute - the two lights were on and they could not reproduce the problem?! Sounds fishy to me.

They were on for about 20 minutes on the way home, then on the way back to the dealer they went out (normal). The dealer said that since they weren't on today and they tried the test twice which also said the alternator was fine, they could do nothing. When i talked to him this morning I jumped to the conclussion that they had tested it already and foung it defective. I should no better than to assume things. Now I just have to wait and hope it was a fluke. Anyone else have the brake and battery lights go on and off and not have a problem? Jeff

 

I'd ask them if they can swap it out anyway, and if not, at least keep that one on hand for a few weeks.

I'll update the poll if you already voted with no failure. Let me know.

 

THE SAGA CONTINUES...........

Yes it is indeed Friday the 13th. My wife picked the Mo up and talked to the service manager about it. He explained again about why they couldn't change it out, etc. My wife was freaked to drive it but had little choice. 3/4's of the way home, guess what? Both lights came on. She pulled up, left it running and I called the dealership. They asked me not to turn it off and please drive it back. I made it there and the service manager, another service guy and a mechanic were waiting with the diagnostic machine. The poor MO really sounded sick. She wasn't the same and they said it was because the battery was running the car. Took about a minute to get the proper codes. Unfortunately it was 5 pm and the shop was closed for the weekend. The mechanic actually stayed and waited for me to show up. They offered a rental car on their dime so I gladly took it. Pontiac Grand Am btw. So the MO will get its new alternator bright and early Monday morning. They also said they tried to get the warning lights to come on by running the car for a couple hours with the radio/lights/ac/etc on and couldn't get it to drain. Once my wife drove it for ten minutes it drained just fine. If anyone has this problem, warning lights are on then off at delearship, have them drive the car, not just turn it on. I also found out that my new alternator is one of only two in the state of Washington at the moment. Good timing for a breakdown I guess. Jeff

 

I'd ask them if they can swap it out anyway, and if not, at least keep that one on hand for a few weeks.

I'll update the poll if you already voted with no failure. Let me know.

I hadn't voted yet, but will now. Thanks. Jeff

 

THE SAGA CONTINUES...........

Yes it is indeed Friday the 13th. My wife picked the Mo up and talked to the service manager about it. He explained again about why they couldn't change it out, etc. My wife was freaked to drive it but had little choice. 3/4's of the way home, guess what? Both lights came on. She pulled up, left it running and I called the dealership. They asked me not to turn it off and please drive it back. I made it there and the service manager, another service guy and a mechanic were waiting with the diagnostic machine. The poor MO really sounded sick. She wasn't the same and they said it was because the battery was running the car. Took about a minute to get the proper codes. Unfortunately it was 5 pm and the shop was closed for the weekend. The mechanic actually stayed and waited for me to show up. They offered a rental car on their dime so I gladly took it. Pontiac Grand Am btw. So the MO will get its new alternator bright and early Monday morning. They also said they tried to get the warning lights to come on by running the car for a couple hours with the radio/lights/ac/etc on and couldn't get it to drain. Once my wife drove it for ten minutes it drained just fine. If anyone has this problem, warning lights are on then off at delearship, have them drive the car, not just turn it on. I also found out that my new alternator is one of only two in the state of Washington at the moment. Good timing for a breakdown I guess. Jeff

Sounds to me you have a very honest dealer. Not only did they go out of their way to accomodate you, but they explained carefully what they did to the car. I am impressed.

 

And like Eric says, file your complaint with the NHTSA if you live in the U.S. Anyone know the equivalent Canadian organisation?

I think it's Transport Canada. Here's a link to file a complaint .

Transport Canada

 

i have an 04,

hope mine doesn't fail.

 

Mine was built in October 2002 and it's still going... Almost 2 years old.

 

All alternators are not created equal, so it seems...

 

jaak, a question for you...

Mine was built in October 2002 and it's still going... Almost 2 years old.

When you say 'created on October 2002', is it the alternator or the birthdate of your murano?
If the answer to that is the first one, then is there any labels on the alternator that says when it is manufactured?
I know tahat my mo's bithdate is March 2003.
But never try to find the label for the alternator though

Kindly revert

 

Re: jaak, a question for you...

When you say 'created on October 2002', is it the alternator or the birthdate of your murano?
If the answer to that is the first one, then is there any labels on the alternator that says when it is manufactured?
I know tahat my mo's bithdate is March 2003.
But never try to find the label for the alternator though

Kindly revert

He means build date most likely. The components are not stamped with manufacture dates per se, but I'm sure somewhere on the alternator there is a part number which can be traced back to an actual alternator build date batch.

 

So the symptoms are the same Brake and Battery warning light on my family 2004 SL AWD. Alt failed at about 4600 miles. Since the car is in the shop as we speak 100 + miles from where I live I can not get the build date. Though it was purchased in late november 2003 and was picked up as soon as it was shipped from the factory.

One side note why is the road side repair # not published anywhere? Nothing in our owners manual, 411 or 555-1212 seems strange especially if you for drivers that actually decide to take their Murano beyond the grocery store.

 

So the symptoms are the same Brake and Battery warning light on my family 2004 SL AWD. Alt failed at about 4600 miles. Since the car is in the shop as we speak 100 + miles from where I live I can not get the build date. Though it was purchased in late november 2003 and was picked up as soon as it was shipped from the factory.

One side note why is the road side repair # not published anywhere? Nothing in our owners manual, 411 or 555-1212 seems strange especially if you for drivers that actually decide to take their Murano beyond the grocery store.

The reason why there is no road side repair number is because Nissan does not offer Road Side Repair, except as an added cost! I don't think Honda or Toyota offer roadside repair either. On the other end of the spectrum, Mercedes offers road side repair service for the life of the vehicle (thats a $40 value per year compared to paying for AAA).

 

I have the extended waranty. I called my dealer and they gave me a number for the towing company. No charge.

1 more tow and the warranty will be paid for!

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if you bought one of these, http://www.nissanusa.com/owning/SecurityPlusBenefitsFAQ/1,3384,,00.html, that you received roadside assistance at no cost.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if you bought one of these, http://www.nissanusa.com/owning/SecurityPlusBenefitsFAQ/1,3384,,00.html, that you received roadside assistance at no cost.

Thats what I meant by additional cost - you must purchase the extended warranty to get roadside assistance, whereas many manufacturers offer it for free as part of the basic bumper to bumper warranty.

 

Re: Re: jaak, a question for you...

He means build date most likely. The components are not stamped with manufacture dates per se, but I'm sure somewhere on the alternator there is a part number which can be traced back to an actual alternator build date batch.

Yeah, build date. It was built in October, arrived in Canada in mid November and ended up on the dealers inside showroom floor, until I had it removed the end of January.

I had to buy it. It had my fingerprints all over it, after numerous visits. I would have bought the silver one I saw a day before, but someone else did!

 

bad alt no towing..

Yes, today I have spent researching the warranty etc... to find that Nissan does not offer roadside assistance unless you pay$$$$ for the Silver or Gold plans as offered on the nissanmotors website.

Nissan will cover the tow later if the mechanical failure is covered. Which the alternator will be. I also have a 2000 Dodge Durango that I purchased new as well. My "D" how has 130,000 miles on it and it never stranded me the way my nissan just did. In addition the first thing you see when opening the Dodge owners manual is the 1800 number for emergency assistance during the 3/36 period.

I hope someone from Nissan combs the boards to understand that when you spend 30K + on a car you should not have to dig for a two number when your car is still under warranty.

 

Called Nissan North America

So not much to my suprise I aclled the Nissan cust service line 1800 nissan1 or something. Nissan claims to not have any problems reported, me being the first to complain about the Nissan Murano Alt. I explained that this is contrary to what information I eceived from both the dealer and chat rooms.

My next question then why will it take three days to get a new alt? The nice rep stated well I will put your vote in to get our engineers to review.....so the tale is now 4700 Miles my wife's mo breaks down 100+ miles from home and will take three days to get the new alt..... stay tuned my customer satisfaction rating went from a 9.5 to a 1.5 in 24 short hours. The official Nissan explanation was just the topper on the situation. I will say That East Coast Nissan in Plainview, NJ has been very honest and upfront all the way so far Kudos to them!