1998 nissan altima break fluid and battery lite keeps coming on. also hear a belt slipping noise in the engine. only has 42,000 miles

You need to post the engine size, but if it's the 2.5 engine, you need to loosen the tensioner, remove belt, pull the supporting bolts, and the hoses, and if the new pump does not come with a pulley, (typically they don't) then you will need to get a pulley remover and installation tool). DO NOT HAMMER THE PULLEY BACK ON OR YOU WILL DESTROY THE NEW PUMP!

Installation is in reverse, but when you tighten the tensioner, do not overtighten the belt 1/2 inch flex between the pulleys is good so long as the belt doesn't squeal or make any noise. Tighten the lock nut or bolt, and the other bolts, top the recommended power steering fluid off, cycle the steering wheel full right and full left 30 times to ensure all the air is purged from the system, shut off engine and top off fluid to the recommended level. DO NOT OVERFILL!

older model altima need drive belt tension adjustment at 7500 miles intervals, the new models altimas has a automatic belt tensioner.i you hear noises belt tensioner could be failing.or could have leaking coolant getting on drive belt due to water pump gasket leaking or pump leaking.or alternator power steering pump could be failing many things will cause drive belt to make high squeak noises.

You have a CVT in the 2009 Altima so there are no true gears. Any noise you hear could be the belt breaking down or the transmission going belly up. Have you had the fluid changed? If not, I suggest you go to a repair shop and get it done. Nissan CVT are notorious at breaking down and typical cost about 4K USD to repair.

Semper Fi,
Z

It sounds like your water pump is going it usually vibrates throughout everything if it was your alternator it would show signs with your power the easiest way would to take your belt off remembering the belt route and spin the alternator pulley and the water pump pulley to see if they spin freely without noise

The compressor belt needs to be tightened a bit to stop the skreeching. The worse that can happen is the compressor could lock up, throw the belt and other belts and leave you stranded, other then that it could spit out metal and pollute the rest of the system causing a more expensive repair bill.

Hello and thank you for using FixYa!

When those 2 lights come on, it's normally a alternator not charging properly. I would have it checked to verify.

Thanks Jay!

Could be the bearings in your alternator have gone dry and your alternator is about to quit out on you. I had a friend with an 01 altima and we could always hear him coming before we saw him because of this very problem. Changed the alternator out and noise went away. Thanks for using FixYa!

1st check the the oil level and the vehicle's oil type.(owners manuel) 5w30-10w30
10w 30 is a thicker oil and could possibly be causing this.(Moves more freely through the engine heats the oil)

most timing belts go much longer. i am asuming the dealer recommends it or you probably wouldn't ask.it is not an easy or cheap job. i am a big fan of if it ain't broke don't fix it. my truck has almost 200k with the original on...some motors are damaged when the timing belt breaks..ask your dealer why it is recommended and go from there..Good luck

Nothing by either party was said about the starter. The battery and wires can all be in great shape, and if they are and the owner hears a clicking noise when trying to start it its a pretty good bet they may have a starter that's locked up.


One good 'ole trick on those starters. If you can reach the starter, a couple of sharp rapes with a hammer will have it starting again, then you know it time to replace the starter.
Bill