How To Fix Bright Light Switch To Light On 1995 Nissan Pathfinder

If your Nissan Pathfinder's battery light is on, it means a few things. It is trying to warn you that there is an issue with the charging system. The charging system itself is relatively simple. It's almost always going to be caused by a bad battery or alternator.

The battery light comes on when it detects that the voltage in the battery is also low. Most battery lights will come on when the vehicle starts if the computer has detected that the voltage was too low for a quality start. With an older battery, y'all volition oftentimes notice this on the start truly common cold mean solar day of the year.

You may take noticed your Pathfinder struggling to commencement, and and so the battery lite stays on afterward the start. That would indicate a bad bombardment, but it'due south still worth your while to accept it tested first.

P0118 Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan Pathfinder Battery Calorie-free Causes

The charging system in vehicles hasn't changed that much in the last 50 years. The engine turns the alternator, which charges the battery. There isn't a lot to it, which makes diagnosing it relatively unproblematic.

1. Battery

The bombardment is primarily there to start your Pathfinder. It can run off the alternator merely fine once it'due south started. This is an of import thing to know. A bad battery usually makes itself known when yous are trying to start the vehicle.

ii. Alternator

Nissan Pathfinder Battery Light Diagnosis — A typical alternator

A bad alternator volition usually make itself known when the engine is already running. If you lot see your Pathfinder's battery light turns on while the engine is already running, that is a strong indication that the alternator is no longer providing plenty wattage to power the various electrical systems and charge the battery at the aforementioned fourth dimension. A new alternator will rectify the problem.

Encounter Also: Nissan Pathfinder Bad Alternator Diagnosis

three. Alternator Belt

Well-nigh all modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to plow the alternator. The serpentine chugalug turns more than i engine accessory (A/C compressor, power steering, etc). If the serpentine belt goes bad, it will no longer be able to plow your Pathfinder's alternator enough for it to get an acceptable charge.

iv. Battery Post Corrosion

The voltage from the alternator is sent to the bombardment through a wire that connects to the battery post. If the battery mail is really corroded, it won't be able to do its task of sending the voltage to and from the bombardment efficiently, and your Pathfinder'due south bombardment light will turn on.

It only takes a 2d to check it out. A bombardment post cleaner or wire castor tin can make clean it upward in no time. Just be conscientious non to get any of the corrosion in your center.

Bombardment Light Diagnosis: Nissan Pathfinder

Y'all can diagnose whether your Pathfinder's alternator is bad pretty quick at home. If you lot have a voltage meter, that'due south a fantastic place to outset.

Voltage Examination

The first thing that you'll want to do is get a good multimeter. With a multimeter you do a quick test to come across if your Pathfinder'south alternator is working or not.

The post-obit was taken from bad alternator diagnosis page on this site:

Set the multimeter to read voltage. Specifically, you'll need to set information technology to 20V DC.
With your Pathfinder turned off, you'll connect the negative side of the meter to the negative battery mail service or wire. Bear upon the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive bombardment wire. With the engine off, you should get a reading somewhere between 12.0 volts and 12.6 volts.
Now that you take a baseline, it's time to turn the engine on. Go out the air conditioner off, as well as the headlights and any other accessories.
After firing the engine upward, you lot should get over 14.2 volts. If y'all got 14.ii or more than volts, the alternator is charging fine. If it's withal showing in the 12'southward, it's time to replace the alternator. If it'southward producing a voltage level in the 13'southward, become ahead and take it into a parts shop and have it tested. It's probably bad.
Now, assuming that the alternator was producing over fourteen volts, become ahead and turn on the headlights, air conditioner, radio, and any other accompaniment you tin recollect of, and run the same examination all over over again. If the voltage dropped back into the 12's, it's a very strong indication that your Pathfinder'south alternator is bad. It's withal worth having information technology tested, simply be prepared to replace it.

Battery Test

If the alternator seemed to be charging the bombardment fine, then it is time to move on to the battery itself. Nosotros recommend taking information technology to the local parts store. Almost all of them will exam it for free. If it's bad, they'll even install the new ane.

Decision: Nissan Pathfinder Bombardment Light

Your Pathfinder will operate for a short flow of time off of the battery alone. Merely, if the alternator has gone bad, it will somewhen leave you stranded. If your bombardment light comes on when you are on the road, get somewhere to have information technology tested equally presently as you can. If you lot feel there is anything y'all can add, please leave a comment beneath. Good luck!