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2011 Alternator failure, recall?

9K views 11 replies 3 participants last post by  Tripplec 
#1 ·
Hi, my 2011 3.5 liter just had the battery symbol on the dash come on. 104,000 km, so I'm just off warranty, darn. I checked with a voltmeter, and sure enough the alternator is not charging the battery, even when revving the engine (11.8 volts). I got the car home safely, put a battery charger on it and the voltage is coming up nicely (13.9 volts after 1/2 hour at 10 amps).

I read in a thread here:
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/cm-2007-2012-santa-fe/118171-2010-santa-fe-recall-alternator.html
that some 2010 Canadian SF's had an alternator recall. I have my fingers crossed. I noticed "Johnny-Bobby" mentioned his voltage dropping to 12.5 volts with no lights or accessories on, then jumped up to 14.2 volts with lights on. I noticed this exact same symptom last summer, but unfortuntely had not read this thread yet, and thought I was seeing things.

Anyone know anything more about this possible recall? I am dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow.
Thanks,
-Chris
 
#2 ·
no recall

So they replaced my alternator for $709 (Canadian). Apparently no recall for 2011 models.
They also noticed:
-left head gasket leaking
-crossover pipe gaskets leaking, then a hand written note that says "thermostat housing complete to both heads"
-frt engine cover and both valve cover gaskets leaking

I'm not sure what this adds up to, but I'm just over warranty at 104,000 km, so it does not look good. Does this stuff need to be done right away? Should I be looking for another deer to hit? I just had the thermostat nipple and the oil pressure sending unit gasket replaced under warranty. This car is not doing well so far.
-Chris
 
#8 ·
So they replaced my alternator for $709 (Canadian). Apparently no recall for 2011 models.
They also noticed:
-left head gasket leaking
-crossover pipe gaskets leaking, then a hand written note that says "thermostat housing complete to both heads"
-frt engine cover and both valve cover gaskets leaking

I'm not sure what this adds up to, but I'm just over warranty at 104,000 km, so it does not look good. Does this stuff need to be done right away? Should I be looking for another deer to hit? I just had the thermostat nipple and the oil pressure sending unit gasket replaced under warranty. This car is not doing well so far.
-Chris
If they were not proactive I'd call Hyundai Customer relations. When its that close to the warranty many manufacturers will do the repairs under warranty. Been there done that before. Nothing to loose. Call another dealer as well since they're all different as well. Its not something you'd notice unless doing an oil change or some other service as you indicated in your case the alternator. So its been like this for a while.


It certainly disheartening. I don't see the engine mentions but for the coolant leak I'd check the connection point of the hoses. It could be leaking there and an easy fix after the years of service they may be failing needing replacing or reclamping.
 
#3 ·
"-left head gasket leaking"

Never like to see a leaking head gasket for ANY reason. Might be a mild oil leak to the outside world now, but the fact that anything is getting through is a bad thing. Should it eventually turn into an oil + water situation, you get to start from scratch.

Did they identify the nature of the leak to you? Their comment was FAR too vague to really know anything.
 
#4 ·
First of all, thanks again Canderson for your comments. You help me sleep better. The comments I gave on my second post are word for word what was on the bill. The service girl did not offer much more, though I asked. We have never gotten along since she told me that there was only one $330 gas tank sending unit in my 2008, and the people on this forum must be talking about American Santa Fe's which might have two.

I was just under the car, and there is indeed oil that was not there last time I changed the oil. I have attached some pictures. The oil seems to be coming down the rear right side of the motor. I have read that tightening the valve cover sometimes will cure this. I will be reading on how to access that this evening.

The coolant drip under the center of the motor is new as well, I assume this is the from head gasket leak. Which is the Left Head Gasket? With the motor mounted transverse, wouldn't they be front and rear? I am assuming this is a big ticket item best left for a proper mechanic. Would the mechanic see the head gasket while changing the alternator?

So I have to make the decision whether to take it to my dealer or my regular mechanic (who I trust more), and how much I should use it in the meantime. Obviously not much, though my 2000 2.5 liter Subaru has had an external head gasket leak for 8 years and 100,000 km (240,000 km on it now). I think it fears the crusher!

Anyhow, thanks again, and I'm hitting the books (shop manual).
-Chris
PS just a thought, my oil pressure sending unit developed quite a leak last August (which you helped me with), and was replaced under warranty while I was on the road. I thought I caught it in time, but could the lack of oil caused all these sudden leaks?
 

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#5 ·
Guess the good news is that there's not much of a leak - at least from what I can discern in the 1st and 3rd photos. Nothing underneath - hard to tell without actually seeing this stuff. As for the coolant leak, unless the source is truly evident from a visual inspection, I'm a big fan of adding some UV dye to the fluid and hitting it with a black light in the shop.

Unless the dealer is willing to work with you, and it sounds like that isn't the case, if you have a shop with whom you are more comfortable, I'd go that route. ONE fuel sender? Yeah, as often as they go bad, anyone in a Hyundai shop that says that doesn't know much about these vehicles.

I doubt that the blown sender is causing your leaks now. Lost oil will get you in trouble eventually, but I'd expect top/bottom end noise if it was serious. It's loss of coolant that usually precipitates an overheating condition and a weak or blown head gasket, and you've never had that issue, have you?
 
#6 ·
Hi, I've been busy reading my downloaded shop manual (and getting frightened) so I did not see your fast reply.

Coolant levels have always been good. I have gotten just below the low line on the reservoir (with a cold engine) twice in the last 6 months and added about 250 milliliters to bring it to the low line. So I am using less than a liter per year. When the engine is warm it then goes to the full line. There is always coolant whenever I've checked the rad cap.

The oil level has not changed much at all, though like I said, this valve cover leak, or whatever it is in photo 2 above the power steering pump, is fairly new. There does not seem to be any puddles on the road since the oil pressure sending unit fiasco.

I have a UV light that I have out tonight for Halloween, maybe I should go buy some dye at Napa. Left head gasket would be the one at the front of the car, I assume. Maybe the mechanic had a better view with the alternator out. I think I will book with my local mechanic first thing monday, and hope for the best. I should have had the car in before 100,000 km for a check, though it was in for the oil pressure sender at 96,000. I think these leaks came up since then. Thanks again for the help.
-Chris
 
#9 ·
Hi Tripplec, interesting points, my wife and I were discussing the same thing minutes ago. I think I may go to my local non Hyundai mechanic for a confirmation of the head gasket leak, then approach Hyundai if it's confirmed.

Also interesting whether its a loose hose connection. All I see are the smallest drips on the underside forward bolt head as seen in photo 2. I have trouble seeing the left head gasket, but with he alternator out would it be visible to the mechanic?

I will update as things progress, thanks.
-Chris
 
#10 ·
When its up on the hoist its much easier to see. If you don't at least drive it on a ramp to go under you're not going to see much of anything. Mostly coming from a higher point somewhere. As for the oil it may have to be wiped away or partially shampooed to clean the areas so the source can be spotted. The mechanics do this regularly for this sort of thing. But contacting customer relation should still be done as soon as possible. You don't need to know the source. They would arrange a consultation with the dealer of choice to look into it.
 
#11 ·
It looks like the head gasket

Hi, I put it on ramps again, and got a better view in the daylight, sure looks like the head gasket to me. I have attached a picture. I'm looking up near the alternator area. The rusty bolt in the photo is the bottom part of the exhaust manifold nearest the front passenger corner of the car.

I just talked to the service department I visited when I was on the road in August and had the oil pressure switch leak fixed while under warranty. Their invoice says inspected for leaks and OK. They seemed very helpful, and gave me the Hyundai Customer care number. Called and they are open on Monday. I've scanned my invoices, and saved the picture, and will cross my fingers. Any idea the cost of this repair? I'm assuming a lot. Maybe I parked too close to my Subaru, and they conspired...

Thanks again, you guys rock.
-Chris
 

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#12 ·
Yep looks like the head gasket.


I'd ask why did they say OK when it was like this. It didn't just happen. Especially when you were in for another leak source.


When you take a vehicle in for repairs or maintenance especially under warranty you have to trust and expect them to not only do the repair but if something else is wrong address it and at least document it for a follow up to the service advisor.


That's a reason I do my own oil changes while under I can see if there is anything going wrong especially leaking fluids that don't belong.
 
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