Have you ever been told that an issue with your vehicle’s performance is caused by the alternator, but don’t even know what an alternator does or what to do? This essential car component is easy to understand, so don’t worry. Read on to see the three key points about alternators: what they are, how to protect them, and how to know if there’s an issue.
What It Is
An alternator is your car’s electrical generator — a round piece of machinery that spins all the belts around your engine and re-cycles electrical power. They have been the standard for automobile electricity since the 1960s when it replaced dynamos, a similar part that used direct current instead of alternating current.
If your alternator isn’t working properly, your battery should die very quickly and you would have little or no power provided to the interior lights, headlights, air conditioning, and almost everything else in your car that needs electricity. Your car would most likely not start again after driving it, since a large amount of electricity is needed to turn the ignition over.
How to Protect It
If your vehicle uses a splash shield for your engine, make sure that it is properly installed. If the shield is missing, this could lead to engine fluids or contaminants in the air like sand and dirt getting built up inside the alternator. The component has many fast-moving parts, so keeping it protected from any loose substances is crucial. If you wash your engine, never get water or soap in or on the alternator.
It’s also important to stay on top of your oil and coolant levels. If either of these are too low, the alternator, not to mention many other components, will not be able to work properly and will wear themselves down.
Problematic Signs
If your battery loses its charge and has to be jump started and re-charged at all, you could have an alternator issue. Batteries in frequently driven automobiles should not lose their charge until they break down and need replacement. There are many spinning parts inside an alternator, so if you hear a grinding or gritty sound while it is running that’s also a bad sign. One of the clearest signs of alternator problems is dimmed lights on your dashboard and other electronic accessories. You may also notice that power features like windows or seat adjustment take longer to move.
Since the alternator is connected to many belts, you might also smell burning rubber if one of them is not turning fast enough or is out of alignment. This doesn’t necessarily mean the alternator has issues, so you might be lucky and only need a new belt. Finally, the most obvious sign of an alternator issue is a warning light that says ALT or GEN, although it may also fall under a battery signal.
If you have any of the above warning signs or suspect that your alternator needs repair or replacement, contact us today. You can trust the skilled technicians at our service and parts department to diagnose.
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