2005 vs 2008: 130 amp alternators

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TooMuchControl
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2005 vs 2008: 130 amp alternators

Postby TooMuchControl » Fri May 01, 2020 3:42 pm

What would be the difference between a 2005 alternator, and a 2008 alternator, putting out 130 amps?

I'm able to get a 2008 alternator (as a backup) for my 2005, very cheap.
But the compatability wizardry going on between the 2007 and 2008 generation rears it's head.

Would appreciate anyone's experience on this.

Thank you!


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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Fri May 01, 2020 6:15 pm

If you go to Rockauto.com, they have pictures of the alternators. The only difference I can see is the later one has a plastic cover on the back of it whereas the earlier one does not. Plug connection looks the same and pulley looks the same. I'm not sure if there is any difference in the electronics, internally?

TooMuchControl
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Postby TooMuchControl » Fri May 01, 2020 8:01 pm

Right where I was going to look at pics as well.

On the one that was pulled from the 2008, it only stated "VALEO" on the back, with no visible label.

@Rockauto, it seems to be an after market type supplied by Valeo to Power Select (educated guess I suppose).

The VALEO model for 2008 145 amp alternator (holy molee), and everything else is 130 amp.

I'm going to go with it's like Nissan catalytic converter numbers. Once they inprove the model, they change the name or numeral.

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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Sat May 02, 2020 5:32 am

Nissan supercedes part numbers for all kinds of reasons. It can be a part update or the part is the same but by another manufacturer or the part is made in a different plant. A good example is oil filters; 15208-31U00 was made in Japan and 15208-9E01A is made in Mexico.
Valeo is a company that makes both aftermarket and OEM parts and they do make some OEM parts for Nissan, as well. I never saw anything but Hitachi alternators on Nissans when I worked for them and appears the early R51 Pathfinders used them, as well, however, I left Nissan in 2003. Doing some checking, it looks like Nissan started using Valeo for some of their alternators and did so in 2008 Pathfinders.

TooMuchControl
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Postby TooMuchControl » Sat May 02, 2020 10:35 pm

Good information.

I decided to dig and found that in the Post 2007 manuals, Nissan added (added or better described) a designated ground for the alternator to the body and not the engine.

Ground E203 is listed as the ground for the alternator from connector 209. Connector E209 doesn't exist in the wiring diagram on 2005 and there is no description of a desginated ground for it from 2005-2007 model years. Wiring just places the upside down Xmas tree and leaves it there.

I'm wondering if there was a change in the actual engine block designs between 2007 and 2008, or different metal material was used, or they corrected a possible electrical gremlin issue, by adding this designated body ground where it seemed to indicate in pre 2008 Pattys that the alternator is grounded to the engine at the bolt connections 2005-2007?

Either that, or the design casing of the alternator was changed with isolators, and a terminal on the newer alternator had to connect to the body ground.

It seems the only reason that the pre 2008 altenator numbers never match to the newer models.

The only other reason I can think of? If technicians had to check for voltage drops, placing a ground to the body in a safer location, insteand of reaching down near the belts and other moving parts to test this. Service Manuals list this test (connector 209) in the newer service manuals, where it was not listed prior. There are 4 steps to check the charging circuits in 2008 and beyond, compared to three in 2005-2007?

Overkill or what.


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