Car: Santro Club 2003
Mileage: 148,000 KMs
Things done so far: Changing of Alternator CUT OUT (rectifiers or relays!!) some three months ago.
Problems:
The car runs perfectly, but sometimes it gives a strange problem, these problems occurred 4 times to be exact.
1st incident: I have parked the car in office after 7 hours i tried to start but the panel lights were dim and the car refused to start as the battery voltage was too low, only clicking sound was heard just like relay sound. then i jump start the car and that problem never happened for next 2 months.
2nd incident: I stopped at red signal and didn't switch off the engine, then suddenly the engine switched off itself, and the lights on the panel went dim, I tried to start the engine but that type of clicking sound were coming, then i towed the car to nearby workshop, he tried his charged battery (which i think was discharge, to fool me!!!), then he told me that the car discharges every battery, and the alternator should be repaired, then he repaired the alternator and charged my battery for 2 hours or so and the car starts normally. this problem then never happened again for two months.
3rd incident: I was replacing my coolant a month ago myself, i jacked up the car from front left side (please note the angle), and removed the whole radiator, then installed it back, when i tried to crank the engine, again the lights went dim and engine was not starting, i thought the alternator problem again, but i tried UPS battery to start the car and it started normally, without giving the problem again for 1 month till yesterday.
4th incident: yesterday i was in Sadar Rawalpindi with three friends, i have parked the car at inclined footpath with the front of the car up and rear down almost at 25 Degree. when i came after 20 minutes and tried to start the car it refused to start and the lights again went dim, then my friends helped me push the car and it was pushed start normally, after about 10 minutes drive i stopped at red signal & didn't switch off the engine but after say 30 seconds the engine again switched off itself and the panel lights went dim, again push started and reached home
Things i have checked after reaching home
a). I have checked the voltage of battery when the engine was running= 17.1 Volts (regulator!!!)
b). switched off the engine and checked battery voltage with negative terminal removed it was= 14.40 Volts
then again i tried to start the engine the lights again were dim, checked the battery voltage it was= 11.30 Volts.
c). removed the battery, flushed it 5 times with cold water, 3 times with warm water, cleaned the terminals, refilled with ready to use electrolyte, without charging it its voltage was 12.2 volts, then installed it back, checked the panel lights they were bright, tried to start and the lights went dim again checked the battery voltage it was 11.30 Volts.
d). now started with UPS battery and kept the engine running for 5 minutes, after that when checked the battery voltage it was 12.40 volts then removed the +ve terminal and it was 14.2 volts (strange car +ve is sucking volts), then tried to start the engine with the charged battery, but again the lights were dim. then leaved the car as it is, on today morning when tried to open the doors with remote, it failed to open, i manually open the door with key, switched the ignition on, panel lights even didn't switched on, nothing was working. then opened the hood shake and twisted the terminal of battery removed it caps, tried to start the car, this time the panel lights switched on but dim.
Problems occurring randomly
i. Starter motor spins but can not start or even crank the engine just a spinning noise can be heard for 2 seconds then after 2nd or 3rd try engine cranks and starts normally, but this problem is coming after every 2, 3 days for last 3 to 4 months.
ii. the battery warning light sometimes don't switches on with the ignition switch on.
Now dear Pakwheelers everything is in front of you, please help me, is there any problem with alternator, strater motor, or battery? or something wrong with alternator voltage regulator? or may be some minor short circuit or current leakage via +ve terminal? or anything else, please help me out i will be highly obliged.
Thanking in anticipation.
EIDIT: The digital volt meter i have is not calibrated well, and it gives slightly more voltage reading, as i checked the voltage of battery while engine running on other volt meter it is normal = 14 Volts mine showing 17.50 Volts. so all the voltage reading is slightly up in the above post. the UPS output is 232Volts mine showing 275 Volts
One of the battery cell was damaged, the damaged cell was found in a load test. then I replaced the battery with a new one, and the car is fine now Alhamdulillah.
