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tildafuchs3

Lafesta Undervoltage Issue

My 2012 Nissan Lafesta with a gasoline engine is giving me fits. The dashboard keeps screaming about undervoltage! At first, it was just a bit slow to start, but now various systems are failing intermittently. The lights are flickering like a disco, and the battery seems weak, especially when starting. I've checked the battery terminals, and they seem clean. What could be wrong?

4 comment(s)

jessicaschmid34

Sounds frustrating! I had a similar experience with my old BMW. 'Undervoltage' basically means the voltage in your car's electrical system is dropping below what it should be. A healthy car battery usually sits around 12.6 volts when the engine is off. When it drops below a certain point, things start acting weird. Did you check the voltage across the battery terminals with a multimeter? What reading did you get?

tildafuchs3 (Author)

A multimeter, huh? I don't have one of those. So, if the voltage is low, what does that mean? Is it just a dead battery, or could something else be draining it? Could it be the alternator not charging it properly? I am not sure what to do.

jessicaschmid34

Okay, no multimeter – got it. Yes, a low voltage reading strongly suggests either a heavily discharged or defective battery. It could also be that your alternator isn't charging the battery correctly while the engine is running. Because you're experiencing electrical issues, it would be best to get it checked by a professional who can properly diagnose the charging system. It might be just the battery, but it could be something more complex.

tildafuchs3 (Author)

Thanks a million for the advice! I took it to a workshop, and you were spot on – the battery was toast! It cost me 290€ to replace, but at least the Lafesta is purring like a kitten again. I really appreciate your help!

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