Alternator problem in M800 - Team-BHP

Jeep · 20th December 2007, 15:23

I drive a M800 - 1996 model.

Had replaced the battery with a new one some months back. A month back, the 'battery' light on the dash started glowing (on the move as well) and the battery was not getting charged.

Took the car to RNS Motors on Hosur road who inspected and told me that the alternator was to be overhauled. They did it and changed 3 parts in the alternator (some regulator, brush etc). The total bill came to 1900+.

Now, when I do start the car, the battery light remains ON for about 200 metres, and then it goes off (i.e. the alternator starts working only then). Proof: At night, when the headlight is switched ON as I start moving, it is a tad dim and after about 200 metres when the 'battery' light on the dash disappears, the head light becomes brighter. That means that the alternator actually starts working only after about 200 metres.

What could be the problem now? Pls let me know if anyone of you faced the same problem

Thanks

tsk1979 · 20th December 2007, 15:43

Looks like the job was not done properly, this should not happen.
Take your car back and ask them to fix the problem. Looks like the regulator still has issues

Jaggu · 20th December 2007, 17:04

yup get it fixed through RNS itself, it is a bad job and problem is with alternator itself

humyum · 20th December 2007, 17:24

1900 bucks to overhaul an alternator and a new alternator costs 2500.U should have gone for that.
Anway go to RNS and ask them to check the output voltage of the alternator.If its fine than check the alternator belt.

supremeBaleno · 20th December 2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by humyum

1900 bucks to overhaul an alternator and a new alternator costs 2500.

Exactly my thoughts. You would have been better off buying a new one.

Jeep · 27th December 2007, 12:32

Thanks for your replies. They told me that the new alternator costs Rs. 4000!
I feel that I have been taken for a ride!

Jeep · 2nd January 2008, 19:43

Took the vehicle to RNS motors last Sat and guess what? The problem was not repeatable any more!

They however did some checks and told me that a delay in the start of alternator is not a 'big issue'.. I got pissed off by that stmnt. Anyways it has not come up again.

Thanks to everyone. Mods please close this thread

humyum · 2nd January 2008, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep

Thanks for your replies. They told me that the new alternator costs Rs. 4000!
I feel that I have been taken for a ride!
Took the vehicle to RNS motors last Sat and guess what? The problem was not repeatable any more!

They however did some checks and told me that a delay in the start of alternator is not a 'big issue'.. I got pissed off by that stmnt. Anyways it has not come up again.

Thanks to everyone. Mods please close this thread

Took u for a ride in both the terms.A new 800 alternator costs 2500 bucks.
And an alternator starts as soon as the car starts and the light should go off as soon as the car is started.

Jeep · 11th January 2008, 17:57

The problem has resurfaced. Not sure what exactly the problem is.. It is there at times, and not always. I am sure it will disappear the moment the car enters RNS motors.
Upon 'interrogation', their explanation was, Rs 2500 plus tax plus labour would have cost me 3250 or so, and they added a margin of safety to quote the expense of replacing the alternator as Rs 4000!

One thing is for sure, unless I break down directly in front of RNS motors, I will not go there again!

DirtyDan · 11th January 2008, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep

One thing is for sure, unless I break down directly in front of RNS motors, I will not go there again!

Humyum: [Anway go to RNS and ask them to check the output voltage of the alternator.If its fine than check the alternator belt.]

You can be assertive without being rude or confrontational. Please do not back down from these people. Think of the next guy that will have to deal with them. Follow Humyum's suggestion either at RNS or somewhere else and then make them fix it, as they should.

humyum · 11th January 2008, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep

The problem has resurfaced. Not sure what exactly the problem is.. It is there at times, and not always. I am sure it will disappear the moment the car enters RNS motors.
Upon 'interrogation', their explanation was, Rs 2500 plus tax plus labour would have cost me 3250 or so, and they added a margin of safety to quote the expense of replacing the alternator as Rs 4000!

One thing is for sure, unless I break down directly in front of RNS motors, I will not go there again!

Bhai mere alternator light or no alternator light get the output voltage checked atleast.Who knows it might just be an earthing issue/faulty alternator light.U might end up replacing the alternator and the problem still not getting solved at all.
Check the output voltage if that is fine u dont have anything to worry about.

greatmana2000 · 15th January 2008, 09:07

The alternator on a maruti is normally lucas -tvs make . There are duplicate lucas -tvs parts avaliable in the market. A lucas rectifier costs around 400-500 rs whereas a duplicate might cost just 75 rs . Your alternator might have been fitted with a duplicate rectifier ,cutoff . If the cut-off does not work properly then this happens. Your alternator needs a higher RPM to start generating voltage and when the alternator starts to generate voltage only then will the light on the dash board get cutoff .

You could go to a LUCAS authorised service centre and ask then to inspect the alternator . IF they think duplicate parts have been used on your car , you could write to maruti .

Jeep · 15th January 2008, 15:53

Thanks for all the responses.
@humyum yes RNS did check the output voltage and said that everything was fine. Please note that there has been no starting trouble, even in mornings after a late night drive with headlights and blower ON.

I figured out yesterday that the light goes off if I rev the accelerator even if immediately after starting the car. After that it doesn't appear until I stop and start again! Usually I don't rev the engine immediately after the start and that's why the light used to be ON for sometime since I would start off slowly.
Please note that the indicator light is correctly ON, since I have noticed at night, that when the indicator light goes off, the head light becomes brighter.
@greatmana2000 - you are scaring me... I always take the car to authorised service centres since I believe they stock SGP/MGP only!

I have now learnt to live with the problem.. Rev the engine after about a minute from the start!

PAVAN KADAM · 15th January 2008, 19:34

Hey Jeep, There seems to be no problem as of now with your alternator,

But not always are Authorised service centre guys do a great job on your car,

I've had Problems with my new Safari Braking, Manipal did nothing on it, My local Maruti mech solved my Safari braking problem.

Yes its a good habit to go to a MASS but you are a small fish in their big ocean my friend.

You need to keep your options open.

Happy driving for now.,

greatmana2000 · 18th January 2008, 16:16

Well,there was a dealer at chennai called UNIPRO . Maruti closed down the dealership because they were using parts other than that recommeneded by maruti

20th December 2007, 15:23	#1 (permalink)
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 198	Alternator problem in M800 I drive a M800 - 1996 model. Had replaced the battery with a new one some months back. A month back, the 'battery' light on the dash started glowing (on the move as well) and the battery was not getting charged. Took the car to RNS Motors on Hosur road who inspected and told me that the alternator was to be overhauled. They did it and changed 3 parts in the alternator (some regulator, brush etc). The total bill came to 1900+. Now, when I do start the car, the battery light remains ON for about 200 metres, and then it goes off (i.e. the alternator starts working only then). Proof: At night, when the headlight is switched ON as I start moving, it is a tad dim and after about 200 metres when the 'battery' light on the dash disappears, the head light becomes brighter. That means that the alternator actually starts working only after about 200 metres. What could be the problem now? Pls let me know if anyone of you faced the same problem Thanks

20th December 2007, 15:43	#2 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,339 View My Garage	Looks like the job was not done properly, this should not happen. Take your car back and ask them to fix the problem. Looks like the regulator still has issues __________________ Reclaiming.....!

20th December 2007, 17:04	#3 (permalink)
Jaggu Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,633	yup get it fixed through RNS itself, it is a bad job and problem is with alternator itself __________________ The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference. -Calvin

20th December 2007, 17:24	#4 (permalink)
humyum BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 698 View My Garage	1900 bucks to overhaul an alternator and a new alternator costs 2500.U should have gone for that. Anway go to RNS and ask them to check the output voltage of the alternator.If its fine than check the alternator belt. __________________ Its not the age,Its the mileage

15th January 2008, 19:34	#14 (permalink)
PAVAN KADAM BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 856 View My Garage	Hey Jeep, There seems to be no problem as of now with your alternator, But not always are Authorised service centre guys do a great job on your car, I've had Problems with my new Safari Braking, Manipal did nothing on it, My local Maruti mech solved my Safari braking problem. Yes its a good habit to go to a MASS but you are a small fish in their big ocean my friend. You need to keep your options open. Happy driving for now., __________________ KADAM

27th December 2007, 12:32	#6 (permalink)
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 198	Thanks for your replies. They told me that the new alternator costs Rs. 4000! I feel that I have been taken for a ride!

2nd January 2008, 19:43	#7 (permalink)
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 198	Took the vehicle to RNS motors last Sat and guess what? The problem was not repeatable any more! They however did some checks and told me that a delay in the start of alternator is not a 'big issue'.. I got pissed off by that stmnt. Anyways it has not come up again. Thanks to everyone. Mods please close this thread

11th January 2008, 17:57	#9 (permalink)
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 198	The problem has resurfaced. Not sure what exactly the problem is.. It is there at times, and not always. I am sure it will disappear the moment the car enters RNS motors. Upon 'interrogation', their explanation was, Rs 2500 plus tax plus labour would have cost me 3250 or so, and they added a margin of safety to quote the expense of replacing the alternator as Rs 4000! One thing is for sure, unless I break down directly in front of RNS motors, I will not go there again!

15th January 2008, 09:07	#12 (permalink)
greatmana2000 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 202	The alternator on a maruti is normally lucas -tvs make . There are duplicate lucas -tvs parts avaliable in the market. A lucas rectifier costs around 400-500 rs whereas a duplicate might cost just 75 rs . Your alternator might have been fitted with a duplicate rectifier ,cutoff . If the cut-off does not work properly then this happens. Your alternator needs a higher RPM to start generating voltage and when the alternator starts to generate voltage only then will the light on the dash board get cutoff . You could go to a LUCAS authorised service centre and ask then to inspect the alternator . IF they think duplicate parts have been used on your car , you could write to maruti .

15th January 2008, 15:53	#13 (permalink)
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 198	Thanks for all the responses. @humyum yes RNS did check the output voltage and said that everything was fine. Please note that there has been no starting trouble, even in mornings after a late night drive with headlights and blower ON. I figured out yesterday that the light goes off if I rev the accelerator even if immediately after starting the car. After that it doesn't appear until I stop and start again! Usually I don't rev the engine immediately after the start and that's why the light used to be ON for sometime since I would start off slowly. Please note that the indicator light is correctly ON, since I have noticed at night, that when the indicator light goes off, the head light becomes brighter. @greatmana2000 - you are scaring me... I always take the car to authorised service centres since I believe they stock SGP/MGP only! I have now learnt to live with the problem.. Rev the engine after about a minute from the start!

18th January 2008, 16:16	#15 (permalink)
greatmana2000 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 202	Well,there was a dealer at chennai called UNIPRO . Maruti closed down the dealership because they were using parts other than that recommeneded by maruti

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