First problem arises with my new skoda laura (it's just 2 weeks old!)

stick_shift · 25th February 2007, 02:05

I got my Laura two weeks ago and today (Saturday night) I faced the first problem with it. The battery indicator would stay on even after starting the car. According to the manual this means that the battery is not being charged and there is a problem with the dynamo.

I called up the 24 hr helpline number from Autobahn Mumbai and was surprised to find out that it was not a call center but just one guy answering his mobile phone and he was half asleep (the problem happened late at night). I was surprised to hear from him that the service center is not open on Sundays! Today being a Sunday I can't do anything but wait till tomorrow!

I am nervous about the kind of service I will get from the dealer especially after reading through some of the posts on team-bhp about the 'not so good' Skoda service. Ill keep posting my ongoing experience in as much detail as I can.

Rudra Sen · 25th February 2007, 07:14

One small test you can try. Don't know if that helps. Disconnect the battery and put it back again.

moralfibre · 25th February 2007, 07:58

Hey Stick shift the simplest way to check charging is to connect a digital voltmeter across the terminals when the engine is shut. Note down the readings. Start the car and leave it at idle, if the readings show any increment by say 1 volt then the charging system should be fine. Laura could be a car with different complicated electricals and I am not too technical. But I used to check my Zens alternator health this way

.

indian21r · 25th February 2007, 09:15

Just check if any of the belts slipped. I would suggest you not to start the car.
I had a major problem because of a belt failure. The battery indicator stayed on while the car was running. Since urs is a new car maybe it might not be the same problem but why take a chance

As if that was not bad getting the spares was very difficult( Well I stay in Hyd we had to get spares from Mumbai). I had to leave my car in garage for 15 days

Sam Kapasi · 25th February 2007, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

One small test you can try. Don't know if that helps. Disconnect the battery and put it back again.

That's the best advice yet. Disconnecting the battery for 10 seconds will reset all the non-memory electronics systems in your car and may solve your problem.
If not, the Skoda service centre will help you on monday.

theMAG · 25th February 2007, 11:02

As moralfibre said, the quickest and hassle-free test that you can do is use a multimeter (all digital now) across the battery terminals under before/after car starting. If the battery is indeed charging you should see a higher reading when the engine is running - altho you'll need to verifiy that this is the ideal charging value.

Btw, the Laura doesnt have a dynamo - which is obsolete. It'll have an alternator

stick_shift · 26th February 2007, 21:24

Thank you all for your advice, I took the car to the service center today and they were able to fix the problem. The problem arose because of the belt that drives the alternator moved out of position and stop turning the alternator. The mechanics told me it was due to a rat crawling up from under the car that may have moved the belt out of position. At first i could not believe this but they showed me some rat hair (or something that looked like rat hair) attached to the belt.

The service provided by Autobahn was satisfactory.

Now I need to figure out how to keep the rats away from my car!

Rudra Sen · 26th February 2007, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by stick_shift

The mechanics told me it was due to a rat crawling up from under the car that may have moved the belt out of position.

I do have a problem to digest it. Belts are fixed tight and impossible for any rat to play around with.

Quote:

Now I need to figure out how to keep the rats away from my car!

Search threads. You'll find it.

drpullockaran · 26th February 2007, 23:34

In all probability the rat was from planet KRYPTON or there abouts. It has to have superman like strength to be able to nudge a well tightened alternator belt off from its groove. Its the blame game over here too and rats of all things. Its plain and simple oversight by the PDI guys at the service center who failed to tighten the tensioner pulley.
Bye and wear your seat belts

gbpscars · 27th February 2007, 18:29

of all the "blameables"... rats!!!!
this is really so funny that i almost fell down laughing.

IT JUST IS NOT EASY.
it is not easy to move that serpent man!

those lousy guys and their lousy jobs.
it is the tensioner as mentioned by drpullockaran.

these incidents only strengthen my belief in 2nd hand cars. atleast the heartburn caused by the dealers is lesser.

Ricky_63 · 27th February 2007, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by stick_shift

Thank you all for your advice, I took the car to the service center today and they were able to fix the problem. The problem arose because of the belt that drives the alternator moved out of position and stop turning the alternator. The mechanics told me it was due to a rat crawling up from under the car that may have moved the belt out of position. At first i could not believe this but they showed me some rat hair (or something that looked like rat hair) attached to the belt.

The service provided by Autobahn was satisfactory.

Now I need to figure out how to keep the rats away from my car!

Now that has to be one of the MOST RIDICULOUS excuses to give for the belt having moved from the PULLEY, unless of course the guy had an overdose of Tm & Jerry the night before.......

Cheers

chanapli · 27th February 2007, 19:52

What if someone ask those dealer mechs to move the fan belts without spanner. Not at all possible, that too skoda OEM belts on a Laura!!..

kutlee · 27th February 2007, 20:11

I have an idea. Why don't they employ rats? They are better in moving belts and pulleys out of place!

icemanz · 27th February 2007, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by stick_shift

The mechanics told me it was due to a rat crawling up from under the car that may have moved the belt out of position.

Now dats one example of silly excuses most car owners get from mechanics.
There is no way a rat can move the belt.

Guess, the rat did not like the new Laura!! and got a gang of rats to fiddle with the belt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stick_shift

Now I need to figure out how to keep the rats away from my car!

Get a TOM to keep the Jerry away!!

Anyways..its nice the problem is solved and now you can enjoy the ride..Happy drooling

theMAG · 27th February 2007, 21:18

Rats, mice, lizards, cockroaches and other diverse fauna typically are chosier in their food choice than we think. They'd prefer something that had wings or crawled before. High speed Skoda alternator belts come last.

25th February 2007, 02:05	#1
stick_shift Newbie Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 7 Thanked: 0 Times	First problem arises with my new skoda laura (it's just 2 weeks old!) I got my Laura two weeks ago and today (Saturday night) I faced the first problem with it. The battery indicator would stay on even after starting the car. According to the manual this means that the battery is not being charged and there is a problem with the dynamo. I called up the 24 hr helpline number from Autobahn Mumbai and was surprised to find out that it was not a call center but just one guy answering his mobile phone and he was half asleep (the problem happened late at night). I was surprised to hear from him that the service center is not open on Sundays! Today being a Sunday I can't do anything but wait till tomorrow! I am nervous about the kind of service I will get from the dealer especially after reading through some of the posts on team-bhp about the 'not so good' Skoda service. Ill keep posting my ongoing experience in as much detail as I can.
	() Thanks

25th February 2007, 07:14	#2
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,657 Thanked: 6,622 Times View My Garage	One small test you can try. Don't know if that helps. Disconnect the battery and put it back again.
	() Thanks

25th February 2007, 07:58	#3
moralfibre Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MH-12 Posts: 8,495 Thanked: 14,118 Times	Hey Stick shift the simplest way to check charging is to connect a digital voltmeter across the terminals when the engine is shut. Note down the readings. Start the car and leave it at idle, if the readings show any increment by say 1 volt then the charging system should be fine. Laura could be a car with different complicated electricals and I am not too technical. But I used to check my Zens alternator health this way .
	() Thanks

25th February 2007, 09:15	#4
indian21r BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 971 Thanked: 814 Times	Just check if any of the belts slipped. I would suggest you not to start the car. I had a major problem because of a belt failure. The battery indicator stayed on while the car was running. Since urs is a new car maybe it might not be the same problem but why take a chance As if that was not bad getting the spares was very difficult( Well I stay in Hyd we had to get spares from Mumbai). I had to leave my car in garage for 15 days
	() Thanks

25th February 2007, 11:02	#6
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,811 Times View My Garage	As moralfibre said, the quickest and hassle-free test that you can do is use a multimeter (all digital now) across the battery terminals under before/after car starting. If the battery is indeed charging you should see a higher reading when the engine is running - altho you'll need to verifiy that this is the ideal charging value. Btw, the Laura doesnt have a dynamo - which is obsolete. It'll have an alternator
	() Thanks

26th February 2007, 21:24	#7
stick_shift Newbie Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 7 Thanked: 0 Times	Thank you all for your advice, I took the car to the service center today and they were able to fix the problem. The problem arose because of the belt that drives the alternator moved out of position and stop turning the alternator. The mechanics told me it was due to a rat crawling up from under the car that may have moved the belt out of position. At first i could not believe this but they showed me some rat hair (or something that looked like rat hair) attached to the belt. The service provided by Autobahn was satisfactory. Now I need to figure out how to keep the rats away from my car!
	() Thanks

26th February 2007, 23:34	#9
drpullockaran BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: ERNAKULAM Posts: 962 Thanked: 385 Times	Probably the guys at the service center was rat dreaming. In all probability the rat was from planet KRYPTON or there abouts. It has to have superman like strength to be able to nudge a well tightened alternator belt off from its groove. Its the blame game over here too and rats of all things. Its plain and simple oversight by the PDI guys at the service center who failed to tighten the tensioner pulley. Bye and wear your seat belts
	() Thanks

27th February 2007, 18:29	#10
gbpscars BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 402 Thanked: 5 Times	of all the "blameables"... rats!!!! this is really so funny that i almost fell down laughing. IT JUST IS NOT EASY. it is not easy to move that serpent man! those lousy guys and their lousy jobs. it is the tensioner as mentioned by drpullockaran. these incidents only strengthen my belief in 2nd hand cars. atleast the heartburn caused by the dealers is lesser.
	() Thanks

27th February 2007, 19:52	#12
chanapli BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Banglaore Posts: 270 Thanked: Once	What if someone ask those dealer mechs to move the fan belts without spanner. Not at all possible, that too skoda OEM belts on a Laura!!..
	() Thanks

27th February 2007, 20:11	#13
kutlee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,141 Thanked: 232 Times View My Garage	I have an idea. Why don't they employ rats? They are better in moving belts and pulleys out of place!
	() Thanks

27th February 2007, 21:18	#15
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,811 Times View My Garage	Rats, mice, lizards, cockroaches and other diverse fauna typically are chosier in their food choice than we think. They'd prefer something that had wings or crawled before. High speed Skoda alternator belts come last.
	() Thanks