The alternator is basically how a vehicle seems to have an endless supply of electricity. It takes a lot of juice to start an engine and meet all the various electrical needs of a vehicle. While different batteries can have enormous capacities, eventually the headlights, heater, stereo, navigation, and infotainment would all drain the battery of power. At Limberlost Automotive our expert technicians can perform an alternator system check to ensure everything is working properly. It pinpoints any problems that may occur with your alternator. If our technicians find a problem, they’ll let you know what they can do to fix it. We can curb any problem before it starts, so you won’t be left stranded.
An alternator charges the battery while the vehicle is running by turning mechanical energy from a spinning pulley into current. The rotor, brushes, and other internal parts of an alternator wear out over time, so replacing it is something everyone eventually needs to do. The following symptoms should give you an idea of what’s gone wrong, but if you’re still not sure, you can always bring your vehicle to Limberlost Automotive for a charging and starting system test.
Signs of a bad alternator
If your car is exhibiting any of the following behaviors, you could be in need of an alternator repair or replacement. Signs of a potentially bad alternator include:
- Dim headlights: The alternator is part of the electrical system of your vehicle. Its key role is to provide power to operate the starter, ignition and all of the electronic accessories in your car. If the alternator starts to die, you might notice your headlights and/or dashboard lights beginning to dim. Once the dash light or headlights dim, it is a clear indication of potential alternator malfunction. A waning alternator may cause other electronic accessories such as power windows and/or power seats to operate a more slowly than usual.
- A dead battery: A car battery, by definition, has a finite life and will not last forever. As good as an alternator is at replenishing your car battery; it can only recharge it to the point that it has a decent amount of life left in it and is able to accept a charge. If the battery is really weak or dead, the alternator cannot bring it back to life. To troubleshoot whether the issue is the alternator or the battery, just charge the battery and restart the vehicle. If the battery is weak or dead, the car will continue to run but the lights will again become dim after a short time, indicating a problem with the charging system. If the vehicle has difficulty starting after the battery is fully charged, the problem likely is with the alternator.
- Starter problems: The starter relies solely on the battery to start your car. When the battery is undercharged, the engine cranks slowly or doesn’t crank at all.
- A growling or whining noise: There are many different parts that spin inside your vehicle’s alternator to produce electrical current. If one of these parts becomes worn or breaks, this could cause a grinding or whining noise. Specifically, worn out bearings inside the alternator have been known to cause this type of noise. If the bushings that the alternator is mounted on have gone bad, a noise will be produced. Alternators are normally replaced as an assembly.
- The smell of burning rubber or burning wires: An alternator works in conjunction with a system of belts. If a belt is not turning freely, the excess friction will cause the belt to heat up, which produces a burning rubber smell. If you catch a whiff of a smell similar to that of an electrical fire, this could indicate that the belt is slipping on the alternator pulley, causing poor alternator output. Tightening the belt often does the trick. If the situation arises where tightening your belt does not fix the strange smell and alternator output, we recommend having your alternator evaluated by our expert professional.
- The “GEN” or battery light shows up on the dashboard: Most modern cars have a dashboard warning light that alerts you when the alternator is on the fritz. Usually, the light will be shaped like a battery, though, some might say ALT (for alternator) or GEN (for generator). This light may only trigger if you are using multiple electrical components. It is generally contingent on how much life your vehicle’s alternator has left and how much electricity your vehicle is using.
If we find that the alternator is an issue, we will replace it with a top tier alternator and get you back on the road.