Nissan Repair: N14 Pulsar Alternator Issue, newer cars, minded person

Question
Hi Von,

I'll start off by saying that I'm NOT the most mechanically minded person, I know enough to get me by and that's about it.  The battery light started coming on in the last few days, then thecar actually died at the traffic lights when my wife was on her way home.

Anyway, we got the car home and I took a look at the alternator (the obvious culprit?), the last alternator I looked at was many years ago on a '74 Datsun, it was easy to get apart, clean/replace the brushes and everything was fine again.  Talking to a friend, he said that on these newer cars ('93) there should be a black box containing the regulator and brushes that's accesible from outside the alternator, so that you don't have to remove the whole unit to get to the brushes.  However, I couldn't find it and was about to just remove the alternator when he recommended that I don't, because it won't look anything like what I'm used to in there!

So, my question is, where should I go from here?  Remove the alternator to take out the brush block?  

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Answer
Steve,

From a cost perspective it is easier and cheaper to replace the alternator with a rebuilt unit.  If you want to do a regulator and brush kit it is internal since it is a Japanese alternator.   Not too difficult to change out if you can find one.  Most parts stores do not stock them so you might look at NAPA or the like.  I have purchased the parts from the dealer in the past.  But, for the cost and labor I just replace alternators these days.