Alternator fail

[Ct3833]

Sometimes some people just trust that it's around that price or small markup lah.

 

How many people actually know how much an alternator cost? If not for this thread i won't know. Cos i never had such a failure.

 

But actually google reviews is quite powerful for workshop, cos the only way u know where the location of the workshop unit is via google maps.

How the hell i know in the industrial area, where the unit is...

agree. not everyone like me have been driving old car, occasional repair is a given.  But lesson learned is better be thick skin to at least ask for two quotes  .   If it is a hundred dollar or two, there is no need to waste too much time, but  when the price quoted  is too high, better be careful and ask for more than one quote.

[Ahbengdriver]

Thank you all for your kind advice and encouragement!

 

Spoke to the lady boss of GSC, initially she said that she would "refund" me the "profit of $500", they claimed that they bought the alternator from supplier at $1500.

 

However, after 24 hours, no follow up from the company and I had to chase them for replies.

 

The only reply we got from the lady boss was "accounts manager rejected."

 

And she blocked me on whatsapp after that.

 

 

 

PLEASE AVOID GSC AUTO SERVICES GUYS!

 

Alternators are not cheap items but how much were u charged.  For contis like Merc / BMW, each can cost around $1k.  Just post yr bad review about them here, and on HWZ.  Maybe after that u will get some refund.  If not, let them learn a lesson also good.

 

Actually Alternator very easy to DIY.  Just buy OEM from Stockist, get some tools from Ikea or some hardware shops.  Just need some socket sets with extensions and ratchet, torque wrench, maybe some screwdrivers, pliers.  That's it.

Edited January 6, 2019 by Ahbengdriver

[Jumpmanz]

Alternators are not cheap items but how much were u charged.  For contis like Merc / BMW, each can cost around $1k.  Just post yr bad review about them here, and on HWZ.  Maybe after that u will get some refund.  If not, let them learn a lesson also good.

 

Actually Alternator very easy to DIY.  Just buy OEM from Stockist, get some tools from Ikea or some hardware shops.  Just need some socket sets with extensions and ratchet, torque wrench, maybe some screwdrivers, pliers.  That's it.

 

Actually quite true. Its plug and play item. just that some cars engine layout might require more work.

I just pay 50rm labour to my jb workshop for them to change out a new one i bought at stockist.

[VictorLim]

Just changed alternator at Lion City at Alexandra. $200 inclusive labor. Recond alternator by them. Have changed with them about 2 times over the past 20 years and 3 cars. Alternator last a few years everytime.

[Fcw75]

6 minutes ago, VictorLim said:

Just changed alternator at Lion City at Alexandra. $200 inclusive labor. Recond alternator by them. Have changed with them about 2 times over the past 20 years and 3 cars. Alternator last a few years everytime.

They do starter too I suppose? Compressor?

[QQDreamer]

24 minutes ago, Fcw75 said:

They do starter too I suppose? Compressor?

only alternator and starter. compressor no.

[kobayashiGT]

I also repair my own alternator and get it to install at my own workshop.

There is this shop at sam leong rd called Yong Fa Specialist Electrical.

I drove to my workshop and ask them to uninstall my alternator and I took a grab there for repair. The only thing is you might not have a car for 2 days. Cause yong fa is very merticulous about their work. They will ensure everything is working before handing back the alternator.

[Arogab]

On 11/18/2019 at 11:31 AM, kobayashiGT said:

I also repair my own alternator and get it to install at my own workshop.

There is this shop at sam leong rd called Yong Fa Specialist Electrical.

I drove to my workshop and ask them to uninstall my alternator and I took a grab there for repair. The only thing is you might not have a car for 2 days. Cause yong fa is very merticulous about their work. They will ensure everything is working before handing back the alternator.

I think I know very well who you talking about. They provide one of the most reasonable pricing as one of my friend whom visit them upon my recommendation commented. 

They will also take the parts from nearby shop for other spare parts (Ho Hup Seng). I go for coffee with the old folks when I got time since my car no need repairs. I appreciate them so much when driving used car......

[QQDreamer]

1 hour ago, Arogab said:

I think I know very well who you talking about. They provide one of the most reasonable pricing as one of my friend whom visit them upon my recommendation commented. 

They will also take the parts from nearby shop for other spare parts (Ho Hup Seng). I go for coffee with the old folks when I got time since my car no need repairs. I appreciate them so much when driving used car......

thats the beauty of driving a used car. we get to learn when parts needs to be changed at certain interval or when they are time for replacement due to wear and tear. 

we will never see this when the car is brand new.

[Arogab]

1 hour ago, StreamRSZ said:

thats the beauty of driving a used car. we get to learn when parts needs to be changed at certain interval or when they are time for replacement due to wear and tear. 

we will never see this when the car is brand new.

It was nice to go thru that. Nevertheless, times changes and while we do not need to do those kind of work anymore. I do appreciate and remember old times. Thus, sometimes when I am free, I go visit the brothers, 2 of them doing spare parts and one guy till today still doing repairs for some of us drivers at the carpark. 

I will go, then walk to the coffeeshop and order some drinks and sit around to chat. Past few years one brother had gone. so cherish those good old times with those friends around

[QQDreamer]

1 hour ago, Arogab said:

It was nice to go thru that. Nevertheless, times changes and while we do not need to do those kind of work anymore. I do appreciate and remember old times. Thus, sometimes when I am free, I go visit the brothers, 2 of them doing spare parts and one guy till today still doing repairs for some of us drivers at the carpark. 

I will go, then walk to the coffeeshop and order some drinks and sit around to chat. Past few years one brother had gone. so cherish those good old times with those friends around

very hard to find this kind of friends anymore who still remember the good old times.

it basically goes down to individual's interest in the car. there are many DIY stuffs that we can do rather than pay our hard earn money for workshop to do.

those that we cannot do or required special tools ones than pay workshop. i feel this is the way. at least i think this way.

Edited November 19, 2019 by StreamRSZ

[Arogab]

1 hour ago, StreamRSZ said:

very hard to find this kind of friends anymore who still remember the good old times.

it basically goes down to individual's interest in the car. there are many DIY stuffs that we can do rather than pay our hard earn money for workshop to do.

those that we cannot do or required special tools ones than pay workshop. i feel this is the way. at least i think this way.

Hehe, I now got nothing to pay WS to do anything. My car has 5 years free service inclusive of engine oil. I did a soundproofing to make it more comfortable. 

Thus, now as I go see those old folks, we just lim kopi and talk about good old days. 

I remember first time in 1996 when Ah Lee taking out my rusted wiper on the old Suzuki Jimny (Registered in 1979) with so much hard work, raining and charges only $35. 

My god, that was how surprise I was and realise this good mechanic which I goes to all the time.

[bum_tumble]

Recently got scammed  by this workshop also. They put wrong spark plugs in my car causing engine to misfire and have knocking sounds. When i sent back for diagnose, they say oh is turbo spoil. The knocking sound is blown turbo. Den asked me to replace for 3 plus k. When i refused, she said how bout used one for 2k plus. I refused once more and she said oh her senior say can help fix for 800 plus. Sensing that something was wrong, i rejected and she offered this "Turbo Treatment and Flush" for 200 ish whereby she said the sound will go away.

Once turbo is spoilt means is spoilt, still got such thing as treatment and flush. LOL. So i took car back and went another workshop where all i had to do was change the spark plugs and the sounds went away. Car had a lot more power too.

 

DONT ever go GSC aka 1 Action

[kobayashiGT]

35 minutes ago, bum_tumble said:

Recently got scammed  by this workshop also. They put wrong spark plugs in my car causing engine to misfire and have knocking sounds. When i sent back for diagnose, they say oh is turbo spoil. The knocking sound is blown turbo. Den asked me to replace for 3 plus k. When i refused, she said how bout used one for 2k plus. I refused once more and she said oh her senior say can help fix for 800 plus. Sensing that something was wrong, i rejected and she offered this "Turbo Treatment and Flush" for 200 ish whereby she said the sound will go away.

Once turbo is spoilt means is spoilt, still got such thing as treatment and flush. LOL. So i took car back and went another workshop where all i had to do was change the spark plugs and the sounds went away. Car had a lot more power too.

 

DONT ever go GSC aka 1 Action

Woah. Lucky you are car repair-savvy. 👍

[Kb27]

All engines have their own spark plug specs. Heat range, length, spark gap, these are very important for the engine to work properly. Any one of them is wrong and you get engine problem.

I've seen a case where one of the spark gap was too close. It cause the engine to vibrate, Since 3 out of 4 cylinders are operating at a good power level but 1 is not, the engine vibrate. Most people will think it's engine mounts problem, but it turns out to be a simple spark gap that's wrong.

Know how your mobile phone or pager vibrates ? It's the same thing, an eccentric motor spinning will vibrate.

And if you drive a diesel car, the workshop tells you to change spark plugs, you better run.

[kobayashiGT]

14 minutes ago, Kb27 said:

All engines have their own spark plug specs. Heat range, length, spark gap, these are very important for the engine to work properly. Any one of them is wrong and you get engine problem.

I've seen a case where one of the spark gap was too close. It cause the engine to vibrate, Since 3 out of 4 cylinders are operating at a good power level but 1 is not, the engine vibrate. Most people will think it's engine mounts problem, but it turns out to be a simple spark gap that's wrong.

Know how your mobile phone or pager vibrates ? It's the same thing, an eccentric motor spinning will vibrate.

And if you drive a diesel car, the workshop tells you to change spark plugs, you better run.

Hahhahaha. The last part is funny. 

[Hamsterking]

@Fcw75 Thanks for the recommendation, the shop is still around! even though their web link is dead

this is the new link https://www.chh.com.sg/

found some parts for my alternator, best is to bring the alternator to let them see. if you need the parts disassemble then bring over to compare

[Kklim]

How long do the carbon brushes last?