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Brake & Battery Lights On Means Imminent Failure

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#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Brake & Battery Lights On Together Means Imminent Vehicle Failure

As some members have had some bad experiences because they were not aware of the meaning of the warning signal, please allow me to make this Public Service Announcement...

IF THE BRAKE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS COME ON TOGETHER, THERE IS AN IMMINENT ALTERNATOR FAILURE WHICH WILL COMPLETELY DISABLE YOUR VEHICLE.

You may be able to drive several more miles, but maybe not. Make plans accordingly. Limit the drain on your battery and get to a location where the vehicle can be safely towed if necessary. Contact Nissan service immediately to have the alternator replaced.

See CopperKat's photo of the BRAKE and BATTERY/CHARGE lights on in his post below.

UPDATE 7/14/05:
The Nissan Murano alternators are being recalled. For more information, please see the recall thread at the link
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#4 ·
Gonzo said:
Thanks for the heads up but as you metion this is posted numerous times on this searchable awesome sight....


No back to your regularly scheduled program.
Fair enough, but if you read through some of those posts (including one from a couple of days ago), you will see that some people still aren't aware of what those warning lights mean. And I'm guessing some don't realize what an alternator failure really entails.

I hoped that if a post with the warning signal in the title helped bring that to even one person's attention, it was worth a try. Too many close calls listed (people's vehicles dying in intersections, merging onto the highway, etc.). Figured it was worth a shot.
 
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#127 ·
Fair enough, but if you read through some of those posts (including one from a couple of days ago), you will see that some people still aren't aware of what those warning lights mean. And I'm guessing some don't realize what an alternator failure really entails. I hoped that if a post with the warning signal in the title helped bring that to even one person's attention, it was worth a try. Too many close calls listed (people's vehicles dying in intersections, merging onto the highway, etc.). Figured it was worth a shot.
David Suiters Dover Delaware 2011 Nissan Murano . My Murano lost Acceleration so i was told my battery and alternator was bad so i replaced my Battery and & remanufactured alternator drove 15 miles and my Brake light & battery light came on and it loss Acceleration . Nissan claims i need to put one of there remanufactured Alternator . There Alternator are 800.00 if i buy and put in but if they do it 1,040. . That sounds crazy because i know there labor is more then 200.00 for this job. This is why i don't trust Dealerships
 
#7 ·
I just turned this into a sticky.

[+ -] battery

(BRAKE) brake
 
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#9 ·
zofsuvs said:
Fair enough, but if you read through some of those posts (including one from a couple of days ago), you will see that some people still aren't aware of what those warning lights mean. And I'm guessing some don't realize what an alternator failure really entails.

I hoped that if a post with the warning signal in the title helped bring that to even one person's attention, it was worth a try. Too many close calls listed (people's vehicles dying in intersections, merging onto the highway, etc.). Figured it was worth a shot.
I second that. It surprised me as well with so many people saying their Muranos "suddenly died" on them, and then later admitting "well yeah the brake and battery light were on, but I IGNORED it." So I think this additional post is worth it to have. If anything, it might show up on a google and help those who are not members of the .org.
 
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#10 ·
It would be nice if someone will take a pic of this brake and baterry light

while thye are on and post it under this topic....jumbo size!

:4:
 
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#12 ·
Eric L. said:


I second that. It surprised me as well with so many people saying their Muranos "suddenly died" on them, and then later admitting "well yeah the brake and battery light were on, but I IGNORED it." So I think this additional post is worth it to have. If anything, it might show up on a google and help those who are not members of the .org.
I'm as guilty of this as any, at least in a way. At the time, I was still hanging out exclusively at F.A., and had drifted away there as well. When my alternator failed, I checked back in at F.A. and found several other reports about alternator failures. Then checked here as well. Eric, I hadn't even realized you had created a poll on the topic before then.

Anyway, if I had been aware of the Brake + Battery light warning, I would have known full well not to attempt the drive home. I knew there was a problem of course, but being late at night I thought I'd try to make it home. Bad idea. Keep in mind, all is well until the moment the vehicle loses power.

Thanks Eric to you and all who have posted on this problem. Hopefully, this forum can make as many people as possible aware of the warning before something really bad happens.
 
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#14 ·
A photo of horror indeed! If you have a battery charger, use it. You'll need a full battery to make it to the Nissan dealer.
 
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#16 ·
Coopercat, thanks for posting the pic...

And i hope you will get your Mo fix soon!...:4:
Dont forget to file a complain with NHTSA after that.
 
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#17 ·
Well, I bought a battery tester/charger and hooked it up to the battery and got a reading of 60%. This was after driving only 1 mile after the battery & brake lights went on. I also checked the water level in the battery, and it was fine. I charged the battery back to 100% and was able to drive the 25 miles to the dealer without incident. Alternator had to be replaced. Luckily, they had ordered an extra one the previous week and I had my vehicle back the same day. Filed my complaint with NHTSA last night.
 
#18 ·
CopperKat said:
Well, I bought a battery tester/charger and hooked it up to the battery and got a reading of 60%. This was after driving only 1 mile after the battery & brake lights went on. I also checked the water level in the battery, and it was fine. I charged the battery back to 100% and was able to drive the 25 miles to the dealer without incident. Alternator had to be replaced. Luckily, they had ordered an extra one the previous week and I had my vehicle back the same day. Filed my complaint with NHTSA last night.
Great to hear you made it to the dealer ok. Granted most Murano owners would probably not have a battery charger (or even a voltmeter), but your example shows how with a little bit of work, the alternator breakdown can be made a little less inconvenient. Its stil a PITA but at least you didn't break down on the road.
 
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#20 ·
I can tell you folks this.....

Because of these boards, I knew to take my MO directly to the dealer when these lights came on. Had it not been for the insight I gained here, who knows where I may have finally "died" at.

Like Zman said, aside from the idiot lights glowing, the car performs normally. Normally, I would not have raced to the dealer for an alternator replacement.

The only tip I would give, aside from making sure your battery has a full charge, is to turn off all electrical accessories. I was able to drive almost 30 miles to the dealer

(disclaimer: your experience and mileage may vary)
 
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#22 ·
Gonzo said:
Silly question but what causes the brake light to illiuminate under these cirucumstances?
Its been speculated a low voltage level might throw the ABS computer/system into a whack.
 
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#23 ·
Mr3Putt said:

The only tip I would give, aside from making sure your battery has a full charge, is to turn off all electrical accessories. I was able to drive almost 30 miles to the dealer

(disclaimer: your experience and mileage may vary)
That is a good tip. I forgot to mention that I drove to the dealer with the lights off, even though it was a little foggy, no radio, fan on lowest setting.

zofsuvs . . .Mileage at alternator replacement 18937. I have a 2003.
 
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#26 ·
Gonzo said:
I'm getting nervous... I have an 03 with 19700.... I think from reading posts I'm getting into the average failure mileage now. :eek:
Actually Gonzo, you should be hoping it fails while under warranty. I'm thinking it's immenent.

(boy that came out wrong, I'm sure not wishing bad luck on anyone)
 
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