Charging gauge needle behavior

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roughyear

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Ok... driving home today and I noticed what I noticed the other day, but thought my eyes were just seeing things.

I look at the battery gauge and notice that it is in the middle of the tech, on 8... odd as it is usually at the 3/4 mark. Suddenly as I come about some slower traffic, the gauge moves back upto 3/4 again... odd..... as I accelerate, it drops back down to 1/2.. I release the accelerator and it moves back upto 3/4??!!!

Ok.. now I'm think maybe its short or something... but as I enter the tunnel, I guess the daylight running lights switch off (or on).. but the tach drops back to 1/2... ok, so I decide to release the accelerator to see if the gauge would go back up to 3/4, but this time it did not... stayed at 1/2. As I exit the tunnel it stays at 1/2, I guess because I'm accelerating, so as I get on level ground and glide, the gauge creeps back upto 3/4 !!!!!! weird!!!

Then I notice something else... when I'm cruising above 75-80, it stays at 1/2.. if I cruise at 65 it stays around 3/4 !!!! :eek:


Any ideas??? I just had the darn 90k major service done last week... cost me a freckn whooping $725!!!! :eek::mad:
 
Completely normal...that's what it should be doing. The voltage regulator open to allow more voltage during braking, de-acceleration, an coasting. This reduces the amount of drag on the engine during acceleration...reducing the load...my does it all the time...how much voltage is being allowed through during braking depends on what the current state of the battery is along with the current load required to operate everything you have one. I have the Tech pkg so I see if move more depending on how much I have on including the kids rear monitors...lol
 
Wow. Now I'm going to have to check to see what mine is doing and report back!!
 
gauge should not fluctuate *THAT* much and that wildly unless something is wrong somewhere in the stream.

Could be loose cable, corroded cable, weak battery or a cell (or two) in the battery, alternator issues, regulator issues...

getting the charging system checked is something you should do. the gauge in my ride does not fluctuate so wildly like as described. when i turn over the car, the needle goes up just a bit to charge the battery (sitting overnight). eventually it moves back to the normal setting, and could move a bit if i have the HVAC on blast, engine fan running, etc so expect it loads like that, but in normal day to day driving, the needle should not really move so wildly.

my opinions here. i am not a mechanic.
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yup... I agree, it should not move that widely at all. Just started happening this past week. The dealer said the charging system was fine, I asked him to look at the battery...but it's Probably battery failing, it is afterall the original battery...so I might go get a new one this weekend, before I'm left stranded someplace
 
It depends on the electrical load...if your battery is weak or discharged it will fluctuate more. I'm a Mechanical engineer with a minor in EET...we used to bench test them all the time in our lab when I was in school. Most regulator operate between the ranges of 11.5 to 16v...im not saying you don't have a problem but it is normal to see voltage fluctuations based on the current load of your vehicle. The more amperage produced by the alternator the the more drag created on the engine. Same principal in hybrids that use regenerative braking. These alternators are probably rated around 140 amps which really isn't a lot when you think of all the active electronics on these vehicles. Its the same principal that the newer cars have where once the throttle position sensor input goes above a certain point it will disengage the A/C clutch no matter how low you have the temperature set or how hot it maybe be. All done to increase fuel economy. A simple load test will tell you if there is a problem.
 
While it doesn't happen as extreme as the OP....mine does the same thing. Centered when using the gas, rises when not.

When I get back to the US I'll have it checked, though I would think the battery on a 12' with 40k miles should still be properly functional.
 
if its a factory nissan battery, they typically last 2 years from what i have seen and read across several nissan forums.

never had my battery needle go to 8! never. something is for reals rotten in Denmark here.. :p
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I shouldn't have said 8... as the gauge runs from 8-18.. I should have said middle which is 11-12... I guess I thought 8 was the middle and 0 was the lowest reading.. but looking at it yesterday, 8 is the low point...... but still falling below the half marker is concerning
 
Get a load test done on the battery...any autoparts place can do that. Takes about 2 mins...they can check the entire charging system as well...about 5 mins...

He'll im on my 3rd or 4th battery....ive lost count...I think is 3 in my M37 too...oh well
 
just this year i have replaced the original batteries on my qx (2011) and g35 (2007). Whatever they had in the G was a good one!

chris
 
I think it's just all the electronics that are on these vehicles...both have tech pkg so maybe that's it....idk...but both have died in the pick up lane after they completed service.

Hmmm....that just made me think...they always test the battery as part of the multi point inspection...i wonder how they passed but failed completely like 30 mins later...:confused:

But as long as they are free i'll keep taking them...lol
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I was at Costco today and they have Interstate batteries... I looked up The Beast in the book and it said group 27.... looked on the rack and I see "27".... dang ONLY $83!!! I call the $tealer, he says his are $140 ... I'm like, ok, I'll buy it here at Costco.... then I scratch my head and say... that can't be possible to save almost 45% on a battery... then I look at the book again... it does say Group 27... so I look at the battery again, the 27 is the FITMENT code and the group size (in smaller lettering underneath) says 124R !!! Rats... thought I found a bargain. Glad I double checked before I went home to install it.

Costco (well at least not mine) does not carry the battery for The Beast
 
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sears does.... I have a die hard platinum battery odyssey makes (google the company/brand) fits perfectly in the q.
 
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