Alternator on Hyundai Matrix and Hyundai Avante

Both of the vehicle has a history of replacing their alternator, Elantra in 2018  shorturl.at/gSUV8 and Matrix in 2014 shorturl.at/EIMRU  . And today I send them to a shop in Kepong to have it check and replace the necessary parts.

Address: 65, JALAN METRO PERDANA TIMUR 7 KEPONG ENTREPRENEURS PARK, 7TH MILES, Jln Besar Kepong, Pekan Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

I'm not going to reveal how much is the repair cost but I can say..it is acceptable. I collected on the same day.

Had both alternator strip but before that, they mount on a spinner and test is the alternator is dead or alive. Going thru the process, since the alternator is open up, I told them to replace the bearing and bearing guide.

During inspection found both alternator carbon brush require to be replace Carbon brush assembly, left for Elantra and Matrix is on the right

Rotor without bearing

Fully assemble

The test bed to test the alternator before and after repair.

Both alternator fully restored and and wrapped  up as standby spares.

On the left is Elantra and on the right is Matrix. Both look the same but different is on the socket.

My Alternator

Here are the short history of my alternator for both of my Hyundai's

Hyundai Matrix 2005, after clocking 140,000km had it's alternator replace on year 2014...that is a good 9 years.

I had it replaced with OEM alternator....until today it still running good..now clocking to almost 200,000km, 4 years after replacement of the alternator.


My Hyundai Avante X20 alternator fail on year 2018, 10 years of continuous driving clocking 166,000km. Now clocking 180,000km...the OEM alternator is working good.

The alternator on the left is from Avante X20 and on the right is from Matrix.
Earlier plan was to send them for  recondition, until today 3/12/2018..they are still in my safe keeping without doing anything....how time flies!!!.

Looking at above, I have to prepare an alternator for Matrix as back up.

The day when the alternator fail on my Elantra

It happens without any warning...even I had fitted a voltage meter that will indicate the alternator failure, that is all it can do. Luckily the car was park at a shopping mall and not while on the move.

A day earlier, everything was good.. I always keep a look on the voltage reading 13.5-14V while on the move. The next day we drove to a shopping mall and after a few hours spending our time, it was time to go home.

Starting the car as usual, not a problem but the steering is heavy, very very difficult to turn, the air-cond refuse to switch ON and power window is dead. I did try to turn OFF and start the engine, the same result. 

Looking at the dash meter .. while the engine was running, the voltage reading maintain 12.3V ( it is suppose to be showing 13.8-14V) , battery indicator light up, EPS light turn ON and that include brake light and ABS. I suspected this could be the alternator, I was worry failure of the EPS.

The car have to tow away to my regular workshop , it's impossible to drive.

At the workshop my mechanic have confirm, the alternator has fail and best to have it replace it.....option with  OEM alternator from Korea or Original. Difference in pricing almost RM400. I opted for the OEM.

This is not the 1st time experiencing alternator failure, it has happened on my Hyundai Matrix but able to detect while driving after a few days of driving, saw the voltage meter sign of reduction of charging current drop till 12V. I have it replace it with OEM alternator as well... it still works well till today.

New alternator for my 2007 Elantra on 23/3/2018 after reaching over166,000 km ! If time permitted , will send the old alternator for reconditioning and keep as spare.