2000 accent alternator and air bag light issue

My Mom has a 2000 Accent she bought in 1999, 20,000 miles (barely
driven). A few months ago she noticed that her lights were brightening
and dimming when she went over bumps. Then, this week, her air bag
light came on and stayed on. Her 5 yr warranty is over. She took it
to the Hyundai dealer...they said her alternator had spiked and caused
air bag system damage. She was quoted $950 for alternator replacement
and repairs/labor. Seems high...I saw a few posts about similar
problems.

My questions: how confident can we be in dealer's assessment of
problem? Is repair cost out of line? Should she get it checked
independently?

Thanks so very much in advance for any guidance!
Cathy

 

I just replaced the alternator on my 1998 Elantra and it actually isnt hard.
I assume its pretty close to the same. It cost me $230 for the alternator
and all 3 belts.
My check engine and airbag light come on sometimes then shut off. I would
have a friend replace the alternator for you(might cost you some beer).

As for the light, I am not sure on that. Hyundaitech might have a good
answer.

Shawn
1998 Elantra

 

thats a friggin rip off, we paid max of i think 400.00 cdn when our accents
alt went, and is common when the alt goes it trips the air bag light... ours
is a 1999 accent and all our dealer did was replace the alt, and reset the
air bag light. there was zero damage to air bag system, they are taking
advantage of u....
go elsewhere!

 

Thanks, Shawn - I appreciate the info on the alternator costs! From
what I understand, if the air bag light is on, then the air bags are
not functioning...so we'll see if I get any more advice on what that
should cost to fix. Thanks again
Cathy

 

If your mom's alternator had truly spiked you ECM would have fried and
one or more of the main fuses would have burned out as well.

You may want to change the battery along with the alternator if its
more than 2 years old.

 

$950 for the alternator seems high, but this one isn't as easy as some
other vehicles because the 2000 accent has a full subframe which gets in
the way. (Keep in mind, $950 still seems high for that job).

The air bag lamp will come on if voltage is either high or low, so,
spiking alternator voltage is indeed a plausible issue.

What did the dealer say was the damage to the air bag system? Are some of
those repairs included in the $950? Be sure to know exactly what repairs
the $950 is to include and the functionality of the vehicle after repair.
I'd strongly recommend not driving the car until the alternator is
replaced-- it could blow up every solid state device in the car. If that
happens, $950 will be a bargain for repair.

 

Thanks all - ok, my mom has new info (the car is at the dealer's and
she just asked a LOT more questions - I had her ask for the codes!)
The dealer said he can do the alternator alone for $398 (that
apparently is a "10% discount.") Hyundaitech - you are correct - they
said the rest of the cost is to replace the airbag computer. and they
will apparently do the whole job now for about $860... the CODES are B
11 11 and P 06 00 (I have not a clue about this stuff - my Mom just
gave me this over the phone. Thanks for the good advice about not
driving the car! It's at the dealers, so that shouldn't be a problem

I also told my mom to know exactly what the one year alternator
warranty includes - if it covers any damage to other systems.
I'll let you all know how this turns out!
Any definitions for these codes?
Thanks much to everyone!
Cathy

 

In trying to search for the codes myself, I found this, which pretty
much describes my Mom's car symptoms exactly...if there was a service
bulletin on the 1999 Accent, wouldn't this issue have been addressed in
the 2000 model?
http://www.motor.com/MAGAZINE/Articles/062004_08.html
So the B1111 code relates to the overcharging (spike).
The only reference I could find for P0600 was a "Serial Communication
Link Malfunction" - I have worked with computer systems all my life and
that sounds pretty general - like it could be anything!
Cathy

 

id get a second opinion and have the computer scanned at another garage for
fault codes....
how do un know those codes were in your cars memory or is the dealer just
saying they are to mkae a few $$?
then again, im pessimistic... =)

 

I'd suggest replacing just the alternator first, then seeing what effect
that has. The alternator and airbag computer repairs are separate items
in different parts of the car, so it shouldn't cost any more to have
them done separately. You may end up saving yourself a bundle if the
airbag computer doesn't need replacing.

 

B1111 is consistent with too high a voltage. I can't find any
applicability for P0600 with regard to this vehicle -- It's a CAN error,
and I don't believe the computers talk to each other, except for the MIL
request line from the TCM. I also checked for a B0600, but couldn't find
any. If B1111 is the only code in the air bag computer, it should be able
to be reset. You'll need to find out if there's some reason why the dealer
can't reset the air bag computer. I.e., have they tried and not been able?

 

That's what she is doing today - seems like a good idea! Thanks,
Brian! I am curious to know if the air bag system can be reset...

Hyundaitech - I SO appreciate your feedback - Mom will get the car back
later today, and we'll know the outcome...

Jody - I am like you - very skeptical sometimes! Heck, it's saved me
from having my own body parts removed on a poor medical diagnosis!

I own a 2002 Santa Fe myself, so I do actually like Hyundais, and it
has had some work done under warranty with no fuss (whole new hitch
wiring system and a few minor other items). Of course it's still under
warranty. And I think positive!

Thanks all,
Cathy

 

i love our hyundai =)
its great car for where we live, we had no block heater most of the winter
and the accents fired up at even -40 f
its had a few problems, but so what. what car doesnt? going to buy another
sometime soon we hope .. =)
i had hyundais since my first car a 1985 pony...
if anyone like to see pics:

Hello,

You have been invited to visit a photo album
http://photobucket.com/albums/v696/jaaribear72/

The read only password to view this album is: stellar

 

Update - alternator only replaced...dealer said airbag wouldn't reset,
and that "the light would stay on."

Of course, my Mom gets in to drive, and the usual dash lights come on
for a moment, including the air bag light, which blinks a couple of
times quickly, and then goes off and stays off. Go figure!

She hasn't asked them about it (don't ask me why!)...and I don't know
if she will...she's not thrilled. I told her she should get it checked
out somewhere else, but she's a snowbird and is leaving this week (in
another car), so her Accent will stay in the garage for 5 months.

By the way, parts and labor for the alternator (including FL tax 6%) -
$420.

Thanks again to all - this will be my last post on the subject!
Cathy

 

She didn't take it to Hyundai of Brandon, FL by any chance, did she?

 

Nope - Coastal - Melbourne...

 

If it's out after servicing, don't worry about it. It'll come back on if
it sees a problem. There's likely one of two scenarios depending on how
easily the lamp on this system resets:

1. The servicing dealer reset the lamp, or
2. The system saw the voltage was correct and reset the lamp on its own.

 

I'd suggest that you look for a good independent shop to work on the car
in the future. Rebuilt alternators are relatively cheap (typically
~$125) and it only takes ~1/2 hour to replace one, so the bill shouldn't
have been more than $200.