It used to be that changing an alternator wasn't too hard...

But here's what the service manual says:

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect negative battery terminal.
2. Remove engine undercover, using power tools.
3. Remove engine right side undercover.
4. Remove radiator. Refer to CO-12, "RADIATOR" in “ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (CO)” section.

Inserted, starting here:

WARNING:
Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. Serious burns could occur from high pressure engine coolant escaping from the radiator.
REMOVAL
1. Remove undercover.
2. Drain engine coolant. Refer toMA-14, "Changing Engine Coolant" .
CAUTION:

Perform when the engine is cold.
3. Remove air duct and radiator cover grills. Refer to EM-14, "Removal and Installation" .
4. Disconnect CVT fluid cooler hoses.

Install plug to avoid leakage of CVT fluid.
5. Remove reservoir tank and bracket.
6. Disconnect upper and lower radiator hoses.
7. Remove battery and battery tray, and move fuse box aside.
8. Remove radiator cooling fan assembly.
9. Remove radiator upper clips by pulling the tabs outside to
release the lock.
Do not pull the tabs outside excessively to prevent it from
damaging.
10. Remove mounting rubbers from the mounting pins on the radiator.
11. Lift up and remove the radiator.
CAUTION:

Do not damage or scratch air conditioner condenser and radiator core when removing.

Back to the alternator removal:

5. Remove alternator and air conditioner compressor belt. Refer to EM-12, "Removal and Installation" in “ENGINE MECHANICAL (EM)” section.

Oh, that was short lived... OK what's EM say:

REMOVAL
1. Remove splash guard (RH).
2. Fully loosen each belt by following the guidelines in EM-11, "Tension Adjustment" . Remove alternator and
air conditioner compressor belt and then power steering oil pump belt.
CAUTION:
Grease is applied to idler pulley adjusting bolt. Be careful to keep grease away from the belt.

OK, back to the alternator section... (Don't you wish you were a Nissan Technician right now?)

6. Remove idler pulley.
7. Remove alternator mounting nut using power tools.
8. Remove through bolt.
9. Disconnect alternator connector.
10. Remove B terminal nut.
11. Remove ground harness clip and ground harness mounting nut.
12. Remove alternator mounting bolt.
13. Remove alternator bracket mounting bolt and alternator bracket.
14. Remove alternator to the direction of upper side the vehicle.

OK, got it....

What do you mean we don't have any in stock???? We go through more of these than we do spark plugs!

Let me know when it's in.... I'll leave it here with the cooling and CVT lines hanging.

So for those of you, that have had a dealer try to charge you for the battery that the faulty alternator left on it's own, to die... I suspect they're just not good at doing this as fast as Nissan claims it takes, so they're trying to recover costs.

But they should be nailing Nissan for the labour costs, as they designed this!

But it does have a pretty plastic cover on top of the engine...

 

Remove the radiator to replace an alternator?????


Don't bother to ask the mechanic what HE thinks about Nissan engineering.

Actually I would bet that that is a hint about what the problem is...........


Homer

 

Actually because they had to remove the radiator to replace my alternator I got a free change of coolant in the process. Which I did not mind after around 13,000 miles.

 

Remove the radiator to replace an alternator?????


Don't bother to ask the mechanic what HE thinks about Nissan engineering.

Actually I would bet that that is a hint about what the problem is...........


Homer

Yeah, I was wondering if it was baking in the afterglow of the rad...

 

based on jaak's post in the difficulties of changing the alternator...

I estimate it will take around 5 - 6 hrs labor for the master nissan technician to do it?
At $60 per hour, that is $300+ dollar right there. Not to mention the price of the alternator and new batery. Easily add up ti $700 dollar range in total parts labor.

Someone need to tell NIssan that it is necessary to perform strict quality control on their parts suplier.

 

My handy dandy Nissan parts list shows 2.4 hours of labor for Removal and Reinstall (RR) of the alternator. This breaks down to 2.0 for the radiator assembly, .4 for the alternator. No wonder the dealer is trying to find other things to charge for!

 

So far so good re Nissan Road side Assistance...very helpful person arranged for a flat bed tow truck to pick up my MO...waved good bye to it 2 hours later...I guess the fun will start Tues. morning at the dealer...

 

December 2002 build date - no failure.

 

Got the Mo Back

It only took Nissan five days from the time the alt died to obtain a new one and call me to say it is ready for pick up...... the build date on the car is 11/2003

 

I had my alternator replaced today at 14,500 miles; however, mine didn't actually fail. I dropped the car off last night to have some small things done (sunvisor clip, squeaking seats, oil change, alignment, etc) and started talking to my service advisor about the alternator and that I was worried that it would fail like many others I have heard about.

He called today to say he had talked with Nissan and while the car was there and since they now keep at least one of them in stock (they have seen a few of these failures), they tested mine and the readout determined that they should put a new one one. So, I guess I am one of the few lucky ones that didn't have to argue or be stuck on the side of the road,

My hope is that maybe this is a sign that Nissan is getting the message and will start trying to be a bit pro-active with this in the future.

 

You have a great dealer! Enjoy the ride.

 

I hope that's a good move by Nissan and that they're thinking, listening and taking action.

Wow, if they really get their stuff together, they might keep me as a customer for a number of years. Loved my Maxima, Love my Murano, and I'll be looking again for the next vehicle in a couple of years...

 

This is amazing...

He called today to say he had talked with Nissan and while the car was there and since they now keep at least one of them in stock (they have seen a few of these failures), they tested mine and the readout determined that they should put a new one one.

Is this really true?
They iindded call first before even checkin your alternator which means that they are ready to replce it anyway. THat's kindda cool.

 

Alternator replacement update - dealer confirmed alternator dead 9:00 Tues AM....ordered part to be air couriered(from where I don't know)...arrived 5:00PM Wed......MO ready at noon today...will pick up tonight...can't compalain about that service....

 

Alternator failed on 2003 MO 17.5K. I was stuck 300 Miles from home and it took 10 days to get it fixed.

Brake and battery light came on after 250+ miles of travel. I assumed it was a result of some maintenance I just had completed at a Nissan dealer and perhaps they screwed something up.

I'm out $250 on rental car costs....

I just got it back today. Runs fine now.

(where do I find build date)???

 

baltobuz, dont forget to file a complain with NTHSA...

Link here to NTHSA file a complain form

If the NTHSA declare that this failure is indeed defective parts, nissan will have to innitiate recall campaign and also refund the money/cost of owner who were effected by this failure(in ur case, $250 car rent). Keep the rental car receipt too.

It happens to me and bunch of other ppl (forum members) whose vehicle (not nissan) being recalled by the manufacturer. All cost and associated expenses were covered, of course i have to provide receipt of the incident 1 yr back...

As of today 09/16/2004
- 16 complains on altenator for 03 murano
- 3 complains on alt for 04 murano

 

Thanks for the reminder....I WILL file a complaint....

 

Hmmm.... I think when it happens to me, I'll immediately phone every Nissan dealer in the area until I find one that confirms (By physically going to check) that he's got one in stock.

And if none of them have it, I'll go park it in front of the front door of Nissan Canada.

 

Alternator failed me too!!!

I am new to these boards. Wish I had been here two weeks ago!!
Last Wednesday, Sept 8th I noticed that while driving the brake and battery light went on and stayed on. I was close to a Sears where they confirmed battery was fine but alternator was bad. So I waited till next day and on the way to dealer the car just lost power and DIED. Thankfully i hadn't reached I-95 where I would have been scared to death to just flat out stop. It was bad enough though on a very busy city street. very stressful and a very dangerous situation before the tow truck arrived. Well it took one week for me to get car back because it seems that no one keeps a large inventory of these alternators on hand, although two dealers told me that this is a big problem and that so many Murano alternators keep failing. Mine failed at 15,900 miles. I have a 2003, purchased in June 2003, don't know what the manufacturing date is though i will check. I have reported this to the NHTSB, so add me to the list of complaints. These cars should have been recalled, because its just too dangerous to have a car that can stop on a dime. Car seems ok, but I am a little leery and hoping its not part of a much larger problem!!

 

I hindsight, I'm glad my alternator failed .... now I don't have to worry about it (fingers crossed)...Nissan Roadside Assistance was helpful and efficient in getting my car to the dealer...despite no alternator in stock, dealer air freighted one in overnight and car was ready in 2 days....definitely should be a recall for this alternator problem...

 

For people who have not voted in the poll above yet, please do.

Also, make sure you file a complaint with NHTSA. This is the only way to force them to investigate Nissan to start the process for a recall.

 

I wrote several letters to nissan usa higlighting this issue on alternator being

a major complain in NTHSA and also have them escalate the isssue to their upper management. Basically, i told them to start to look into this issue as it will only be a matter of time some one sue nissan because of this problem or worst nissan image will become the next mitsubishi who hides defects.

Eric. L. Thanks for the above post reminding the ppl to file the complain with NTHSA. I was just going to do that when i noticed you did that before me

 

failed as well

failed at 11k

 

For those looking for the build date, open drivers door and look for the white label at the bottom of the "b" pillar, to which the rear door hinges are bolted. Build date is about the third line down on the label in the format 'Date 12/02'.

 

Made it to 22140 miles

Then the battery light and the brake lights came on. Took it straight to Nissan and had a friend take me home. Covered by the warrany as expected.