Car not starting

udaydesai · 5th July 2008, 11:31

Hello Guys, I need your help before I head to srevice center.
Yesterday while returing from office, My ICE went dead, after some time as I was about to enter my building I notice that my head lamps has dimmed and i had difficulty in parking the car. as i was about to park the car the engine went dead.I tried starting the car , it just refuses to start, I had to push the car to park.
I went home praising my luck that car got into problem in my building, had my dinner, and again went down to check on my car,I started my car and vola it started, I tried my head light it was working good , and also my ICE, I started my AC and it was working fine, I also check wheather my engine has heated up, but no it was not.
Now all you great guys request you please give me feedback as to what would have happen before I head to service center.
My car is 2002 Zen LXI, and all service has been done at MASS and that too on time.total KM is 60K.

dadu · 5th July 2008, 13:08

Go to the A.S.S and check if any ECU codes were generated. But mostly seems like electrical problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by udaydesai

Hello Guys, I need your help before I head to srevice center.
Yesterday while returing from office, My ICE went dead, after some time as I was about to enter my building I notice that my head lamps has dimmed and i had difficulty in parking the car. as i was about to park the car the engine went dead.I tried starting the car , it just refuses to start, I had to push the car to park.
I went home praising my luck that car got into problem in my building, had my dinner, and again went down to check on my car,I started my car and vola it started, I tried my head light it was working good , and also my ICE, I started my AC and it was working fine, I also check wheather my engine has heated up, but no it was not.
Now all you great guys request you please give me feedback as to what would have happen before I head to service center.
My car is 2002 Zen LXI, and all service has been done at MASS and that too on time.total KM is 60K.

aaggoswami · 5th July 2008, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by udaydesai

Hello Guys, I need your help before I head to srevice center.
Yesterday while returing from office, My ICE went dead, after some time as I was about to enter my building I notice that my head lamps has dimmed and i had difficulty in parking the car. as i was about to park the car the engine went dead.I tried starting the car , it just refuses to start, I had to push the car to park.
I went home praising my luck that car got into problem in my building, had my dinner, and again went down to check on my car,I started my car and vola it started, I tried my head light it was working good , and also my ICE, I started my AC and it was working fine, I also check wheather my engine has heated up, but no it was not.
Now all you great guys request you please give me feedback as to what would have happen before I head to service center.
My car is 2002 Zen LXI, and all service has been done at MASS and that too on time.total KM is 60K.

The same thing happened to my relative in A'bad in Wagon R. The service center told that this is electrical problem.

Jaggu · 5th July 2008, 13:58

Sound like a electrical issue, maybe a coupler/connector gone loose, battery terminal problem etc etc. Get to A S S and ask them to do a thorough check up of electricals explaining the issues. Also since you mentioned your ICE going down first, check wiring for ICE also. For any leakage or short circuits.

varunroy · 5th July 2008, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Sound like a electrical issue, maybe a coupler/connector gone loose, battery terminal problem etc etc. Get to A S S and ask them to do a thorough check up of electricals explaining the issues. Also since you mentioned your ICE going down first, check wiring for ICE also. For any leakage or short circuits.

Also check if any residual collection has formed on the Battery terminals. If yes, have them cleaned with water and sand paper and then smear some petroleum Jelly (Vaselin)over it. This also happens when the battery demands frequent distill water top-ups, which means the battery is over charging. Have your Alternater checked for charging Amps. It could be throwing out excess current at higher RPMs.

So long....

udaydesai · 5th July 2008, 16:51

Thx for the reply, If my car is having electrical then why did it start after sometime, I do agree that my battery connection is dirty with some residu on it. May be its that reason, or my car was used very less last month,I usually take our my car every day and on weekdays I am off to a long drives, of late the frequency of my trips has reduce. Is this the reason or one of my friend has suggested that water may the the reason.
can any one clearfy this.
uday

speedzak · 5th July 2008, 18:17

I've had a very similar incident with my M800. The worst about that was it stopped bang in middle of a bridge!
The issue was 100% electrical. I had to check my alternator and it was faulty. Got it rectified from a local mechanic and it was all back to normal.

Get your car checked up as soon as possible at a good workshop/A.S.S.

udaydesai · 7th July 2008, 10:47

Thx for all the sugesstion, It was my alternator that was faulty,MASS has quoted 500-600 RS, and I also going for full paid service of my car as I am always on move.One more help is required from you all guys, I am always travelling on Mumbai - Goa road and if my car breakdown then is the number provided by maruti helpfull. Has any one tried calling on maruti helpline.
uday

Shashank.A · 7th July 2008, 12:42

This happened to me on Saturday night itself. Its like a horror movie, the lights going off, power windows failing, Ac stops functioning, got some jerks in car as in shortage of fuel...

Its a electrical problem for sure, but not sure what exactly it might be..

varunroy · 7th July 2008, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shashank.A

This happened to me on Saturday night itself. Its like a horror movie, the lights going off, power windows failing, Ac stops functioning, got some jerks in car as in shortage of fuel...

Its a electrical problem for sure, but not sure what exactly it might be..

The best way to avoid these problem is to ensure that the battery never runs dry. I suggest that you check the distilled water level in your car atleast once a month, especially when you are using the AC, power Windows and Central locking or even a music system with an Amplifier. Central locking takes away a lot of juice from the battery. It is equally important to see that the terminals are fixed firmly on to the battery.

So long....

headers · 7th July 2008, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunroy

This also happens when the battery demands frequent distill water top-ups, which means the battery is over charging. Have your Alternater checked for charging Amps. It could be throwing out excess current at higher RPMs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by udaydesai

I usually take our my car every day and on weekdays I am off to a long drives,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shashank.A

Its a electrical problem for sure, but not sure what exactly it might be..

It appears that the Diode / rectifier has failed in the alternator. That would lead to all the above symptons. Please have it replaced!

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunroy

The best way to avoid these problem is to ensure that the battery never runs dry. I suggest that you check the distilled water level in your car atleast once a month, especially when you are using the AC, power Windows and Central locking or even a music system with an Amplifier. Central locking takes away a lot of juice from the battery. It is equally important to see that the terminals are fixed firmly on to the battery.

I doubt, you can avoid these issues. A good thumbrule is to replace battery every two years or so. But in modern cars, they even last upto 4 years

Shashank.A · 7th July 2008, 19:04

The battery is new one, however I was going somewhere on Saturday and the red light battery indicator was constantly on. Which meant that battery was not being charged. And since it was night, I had to use the headlights and after some time the battery simply failed and all the problems that I mentioned earlier happned then.

In the morning it had to be push started once, and after that its working fine.I drove it around 450Km y'day and sometimes for few seconds the red battery indicator still went on. but it was few seconds here and there so I did not worry a lot.

Earlier as well I am facing some problems with the charging. I guess we need around 13V or more for effective charging. But that is the issue with my car, with AC on it gave only 12.5 volts. And now the mechanic has set the RPM too high, and I can drive at over 25kmps in 3/4 gear without even touching the accelerator when the AC is on. This is severally affecting the FE of the car.

Jaggu · 7th July 2008, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shashank.A

The battery is new one, however I was going somewhere on Saturday and the red light battery indicator was constantly on. Which meant that battery was not being charged. And since it was night, I had to use the headlights and after some time the battery simply failed and all the problems that I mentioned earlier happned then.

In the morning it had to be push started once, and after that its working fine.I drove it around 450Km y'day and sometimes for few seconds the red battery indicator still went on. but it was few seconds here and there so I did not worry a lot.

Earlier as well I am facing some problems with the charging. I guess we need around 13V or more for effective charging. But that is the issue with my car, with AC on it gave only 12.5 volts. And now the mechanic has set the RPM too high, and I can drive at over 25kmps in 3/4 gear without even touching the accelerator when the AC is on. This is severally affecting the FE of the car.

Please attend as soon as possible to the underlined items in your quote!

a) Never ignore the charging light, even if its for few secs if it happens regularly.
b) Alternator overhaul is a simple job and not very costly on a maruti, and if its done properly will last really long.
c) Avoiding a & b and get stranded in middle of ANY road is NOT worth it.

Head to the reliable A S S and get it fixed asap.

headers · 7th July 2008, 20:14

@ Shasshank.A: if the diode / rectifier circuit in the alternator fails, then your battery will not charge. That is why the red light was constantly on. In such cases, use the HL conservatively.

Get the recitifier assembly changed fast!

Shashank.A · 7th July 2008, 23:44

Rectifier Assembly...hmm..any Idea about the cost..its a 97 esteem (carb)...

Secondly the light was constantly on only once. When I was driving on Sunday it came on for few seconds several times, is it possible it might be a case of some loose connection.

Last I time I got it checked, the voltage that my alternator was releasing was higher then what my battery was getting, so the mechanic put an additional wire, directly from the alternator to battery terminal.

And after the wire was put, after than only the battery indicator light has started to respond..

5th July 2008, 11:31	#1
udaydesai BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 296 Thanked: 27 Times	Car not starting Hello Guys, I need your help before I head to srevice center. Yesterday while returing from office, My ICE went dead, after some time as I was about to enter my building I notice that my head lamps has dimmed and i had difficulty in parking the car. as i was about to park the car the engine went dead.I tried starting the car , it just refuses to start, I had to push the car to park. I went home praising my luck that car got into problem in my building, had my dinner, and again went down to check on my car,I started my car and vola it started, I tried my head light it was working good , and also my ICE, I started my AC and it was working fine, I also check wheather my engine has heated up, but no it was not. Now all you great guys request you please give me feedback as to what would have happen before I head to service center. My car is 2002 Zen LXI, and all service has been done at MASS and that too on time.total KM is 60K.
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 13:58	#4
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,319 Thanked: 16,669 Times	Sound like a electrical issue, maybe a coupler/connector gone loose, battery terminal problem etc etc. Get to A S S and ask them to do a thorough check up of electricals explaining the issues. Also since you mentioned your ICE going down first, check wiring for ICE also. For any leakage or short circuits.
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 16:51	#6
udaydesai BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 296 Thanked: 27 Times	Thx for the reply, If my car is having electrical then why did it start after sometime, I do agree that my battery connection is dirty with some residu on it. May be its that reason, or my car was used very less last month,I usually take our my car every day and on weekdays I am off to a long drives, of late the frequency of my trips has reduce. Is this the reason or one of my friend has suggested that water may the the reason. can any one clearfy this. uday
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 18:17	#7
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	I've had a very similar incident with my M800. The worst about that was it stopped bang in middle of a bridge! The issue was 100% electrical. I had to check my alternator and it was faulty. Got it rectified from a local mechanic and it was all back to normal. Get your car checked up as soon as possible at a good workshop/A.S.S.
	() Thanks

7th July 2008, 10:47	#8
udaydesai BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 296 Thanked: 27 Times	Thx for all the sugesstion, It was my alternator that was faulty,MASS has quoted 500-600 RS, and I also going for full paid service of my car as I am always on move.One more help is required from you all guys, I am always travelling on Mumbai - Goa road and if my car breakdown then is the number provided by maruti helpfull. Has any one tried calling on maruti helpline. uday
	() Thanks

7th July 2008, 12:42	#9
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	This happened to me on Saturday night itself. Its like a horror movie, the lights going off, power windows failing, Ac stops functioning, got some jerks in car as in shortage of fuel... Its a electrical problem for sure, but not sure what exactly it might be..
	() Thanks

7th July 2008, 19:04	#12
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	The battery is new one, however I was going somewhere on Saturday and the red light battery indicator was constantly on. Which meant that battery was not being charged. And since it was night, I had to use the headlights and after some time the battery simply failed and all the problems that I mentioned earlier happned then. In the morning it had to be push started once, and after that its working fine.I drove it around 450Km y'day and sometimes for few seconds the red battery indicator still went on. but it was few seconds here and there so I did not worry a lot. Earlier as well I am facing some problems with the charging. I guess we need around 13V or more for effective charging. But that is the issue with my car, with AC on it gave only 12.5 volts. And now the mechanic has set the RPM too high, and I can drive at over 25kmps in 3/4 gear without even touching the accelerator when the AC is on. This is severally affecting the FE of the car.
	() Thanks

7th July 2008, 20:14	#14
headers Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Greater Chennai Posts: 4,667 Thanked: 559 Times	@ Shasshank.A: if the diode / rectifier circuit in the alternator fails, then your battery will not charge. That is why the red light was constantly on. In such cases, use the HL conservatively. Get the recitifier assembly changed fast!
	() Thanks

7th July 2008, 23:44	#15
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Rectifier Assembly...hmm..any Idea about the cost..its a 97 esteem (carb)... Secondly the light was constantly on only once. When I was driving on Sunday it came on for few seconds several times, is it possible it might be a case of some loose connection. Last I time I got it checked, the voltage that my alternator was releasing was higher then what my battery was getting, so the mechanic put an additional wire, directly from the alternator to battery terminal. And after the wire was put, after than only the battery indicator light has started to respond..
	() Thanks