I have a 2009 G37 Journey. A Stillen Supercharger kit (V-3) was installed on it at 6,800 miles. It currently has over 25,000 miles. Recently I started having this wierd issue where I would start the car and my battery light and e-brake light would be on at the same time (even though my e-brake was not engaged). After some driving, they would both go away. I had it tested at AutoZone and they said they were reading 11 volts accross the battery while running which means alternator is going bad...should read 14 volts.

I called Infiniti and scheduled an appointment to have it tested and swapped. The car is still under basic warranty and the kit was installed by Infiniti so as long as the aftermarket parts didn't cause the failure, it's covered. They tell me that the car was reading 11.87 volts running and that I need to replace alternator. They also tell me that a new one will be $439.00 and over $600 installed. That's the part when I asked "Excuse me?" They claim that the supercharger turns the belt faster than normal putting a heavier load on the alternator so that's why it died. I didn't buy it and called Stillen to ask about this and they said no. "The kits have surpassed many tests and if the alternator was being overloaded, we would have provided a more stout one with the kit or would have a sturdier one or some kind of kit for sale seperately. Our postition is our kits do not over-stress your alternator like they have claimed."

Now this is a daily-driver vehicle, I do not track it, I do not take it to Dyno events I have never had the throttle 100% open since I've owned it. If the belt was constantly being turned fast enough to go beyond the 330 base hp, then I could see Infiniti's point, but I don't drive it like that so how (at idle or normal driving) is the alternator being overworked???

Do I have a valid argument here? Or are they right?

 

go to a different dealer. if you had the kit installed by infiniti it would not void any warranty as long as you have not modified the kit at all. that or call infiniti customer service. alternator rotation is determined by rpm, unless you are constantly redlining it there is no real increase in normal wear to it from a supercharger. they just don't want to eat the cost of replacement.

 

take it another dealer, or worse case... buy new or used alt and take it to shop you trust..... It won't be $600..... When I installed my light pulley kit, the oem pulley was really really stuck on to the alt and we had to take it off the alt from the car and gun it. and it cost me less than $200 from local shop. GL OP

 

EXACTLY!! That's why I can't understand why the Service Dept. is saying the SC is over-loading the alternator by turning the belt faster. RPM's remain the same, only thing increased is air and fuel...which in turn equals more horse and torque.

This was VA Beach, but I'm currently in contact with the dealership in Louisville, KY (where the kit was installed and where I purchased the car) and have notified my salesman of the issue. He said he would talk to the tech who installed the kit and get back to me.

 

The dealership is being cheap. It's not very complicated, wikipedia could have given you your answer.

 

Any updates?

 

Yes...
Dealership refunded me back my $60 diag. fee and swapped my alternator for free under the basic warranty program. Problem resolved.