Alternate Alternator Upgrade - Nissan/Infiniti

[brokencase]

This is worth watching...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ZvsEW6S9M&t=2s

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Here we go...I think the link below shows the right pinout. The Pathfinder is the same as the one in the middle.

http://wilbo666.pbworks.com/w/page/3944 ... lternators

Nice job on the research. What's the year range on the Pathfinder?

[brokencase]

Well, the 05-07's look similar to the earlier '04 units. Don't think the mounting is much different.

As far as the research goes, this ain't my first Rodeo... I converted my 59' Sprite to a 92' Honda Prelude Alternator several years ago.
I had to convert this alternator to a "V" style pulley as well. I ended up going to this great auto electric rebuilder near me that is now long gone. I told him what I was doing and he was enthusiastic. Pointed me to his big bucket of pulleys and said to take whatever I needed...

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

How about alternators from the car audio world? Like the mechman units. You don't need 320 amps but you could get a smaller one.
https://www.mechman.com/alternators/aft ... lternator/

[brokencase]

Yea, and only $499! Look, We are not looking for crazy power, just "adequate" power. The idea is an easy conversion to a modern alternator for the Scorpio on the cheap..

I did a little more research. Found some dimensions of the Pathfinder Alternator (and some for the stock Bosch unit)
It looks like a nice fit.

Below are the dimensions of the Bosch 90 amp and 130 amp Pathfinder alternators.

The important conclusions...
The space between the brackets is close enough. The Pathfinder alternator is 80.5mm and the Scorpio it is 82mm, but as you can see the steel sleeve on the one mount lobe of the Pathfinder protrudes quite a bit. It can be pressed in or trimmed back to match the distance of the Bosch unit.

Diameter wise, the pathfinder is only a little smaller. No need to worry about the bolt hole diameters, you can work around those with sleeves and spacers slid over the main mounting bolt as required.

I'm really starting to like what I see in this swap. I also did some rough measurements estimates from the images, I think the Pathfinder shaft is about 14 mm diameter. Should be no problem adapting the Bosch pulley over.

[Bob Weir]

You might find good info in the RangerStation forum

https://therangerstation.com/tech_libra ... tall.shtml

https://therangerstation.com/tech_libra ... swap.shtml

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

Does the Nissan Pathfinder use an electrical load detector in the charging system like some other Japanese manufacturers? You may need to do some fancy wiring complete with diodes and resistors to install some modern alternators. What about a powermaster universal like this one?
https://www.summitracing.com/search?Sor ... =713-17519

[DPDISXR4Ti]

You might find good info in the RangerStation forum

https://therangerstation.com/tech_libra ... tall.shtml

https://therangerstation.com/tech_libra ... swap.shtml

Unless you want to go changing brackets AND upgrading to Micro-V pulleys, the parts for the North American Cologne V6 won't work with our Euro brackets.

The Pathfinder alternator looks promising. Are both (Nissan and Bosch) shaft diameters 14mm?

[brokencase]

Not sure about the shaft diameter on the Bosch.

As far as wiring goes, It looks like the 2005-07 alternators have the computer interface "C"
S is sense. L is lamp. Large stud is the big wire to the battery. A ground strap can be connected to either of the two threaded holes on the back.

The 2004 and earlier alternators are the same form factor but have the more conventional connection. of IGN, S, L

Some sources say the the C input just allows the computer to shut down the alternator by grounding "C" to save fuel under algorithm control by the engine control. Others say it is a more active PWM signal.

So the earlier alternator might be a safer bet.

The connector is available on ebay.

This is the pinout I have found for the 2005-2007 alternators

[brokencase]

Now I am confused...Seems some of these alternators have the simpler 2 pin connector, which is simpler just Lamp and IGN.

This is the one to use...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-2006-INFI ... :rk:9:pf:0

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Not sure about the shaft diameter on the Bosch.

I just tried to measure one with the pulley still on it. It would seem it's probably 16mm.

[Ed Lijewski]

XR alternator:

20181208_153234-816x459.jpg (52.71 KiB) Viewed 7795 times

YMMV

[Ed Lijewski]

XR alternator, 17 mm; Scorpio should be identical:

20181208_153234_crop_397x421.jpg (94.98 KiB) Viewed 7795 times

YMMV

[brokencase]

Pulley is no sweat.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alternator-Sin ... rk:45:pf:0

Well I guess I'll be the guinea pig. There is a used 2004 Titan 130 amp up on ebay for $35. I can't say I'll be able to get around to this swap during the Holidays, but I'll see what I can do..

[DPDISXR4Ti]

XR alternator, 17 mm; Scorpio should be identical:

That's what I was thinking, but I wanted to examine the Scorpio alternator more thoroughly so I pulled the one from the parts car today. To my surprise, the threaded section of the shaft measures 14mm. It's possible that the threaded section is stepped down, but I didn't get a chance to impact the retaining nut off to check. Maybe tomorrow.

FWIW, I have an alternator pulled off a ~2000 Subaru and it has the same 80mm spacing between the mounting ears, so I guess that's a common dimension used on Japanese applications.