The alternator is a rather clever device that converts the power of your engine into electrical power to charge your battery while you’re driving. If your alternator runs into trouble, your battery will no longer charge, and your car will run into all kinds of problems. Let’s take a look at six signs that it’s time to visit Priority Toyota Chesapeake for an alternator repair or replacement.
Your Car Won’t Start
Alternators usually last a good seven to ten years, but eventually, they begin to break down. The most troublesome result of a failing alternator is when you can’t start your car in the morning.
If the starter is unable to create the electrical sparks necessary to get the engine going, then your battery is dead. Unless you’ve accidentally drained it by leaving your headlamps on overnight, either your battery is too old and has given up the ghost, or your alternator is no longer doing its job properly.
Testing the Alternator
One quick way to find out if the problem lies with your battery or your alternator is to jumpstart your car. Once the engine is going, if it dies immediately, then your alternator is most likely the culprit. It’s no longer using the engine’s power to recharge your battery. But if you jumpstart your car and the engine keeps running, then your alternator is probably fine, and your battery ran out of power for some other reason.
You’re Stalling Often
A healthy engine needs a consistent supply of electrical power to continually ignite the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chambers. If the spark plugs can no longer spark as effectively because of a failing alternator, then your engine’s performance will falter, and you’ll find yourself stalling more often.
You’re Idling Roughly
Another result of struggling spark plugs is rough idling. When your Toyota is idling, the engine should be running quietly and smoothly. But if a failing alternator is causing rough idling, then your engine will begin to sputter and shake oddly. You’ll also notice sudden inexplicable rises and dips in RPMs when you rev the engine.
Your Headlights Are Dimming
While on the road, your battery should be kept at full power by the alternator. This maintains your headlamps at maximum brightness. So if you’re driving after dark and the road ahead becomes dimmer and harder to see, then your battery might be failing due to a malfunctioning alternator. If only one of your headlights is dimming, or the light is flickering, then the problem might instead lie with a headlamp bulb, fixture, or wiring.
Your Electronics Fail
If any of the electronics in your car begin to falter, the problem probably lies with your battery or alternator. These electronic accessories include the dashboard, radio, air conditioning, power windows, sunroof, windshield wiper, and defroster.
Your Toyota Dealer Finds a Problem
If your car has alternator trouble, you’re most likely to uncover it during a routine checkup at your local dealership. Any engine inspection involves a stage of interfacing with your onboard computers and a full test of all your electrical systems. A good technician will notice any abnormalities and quickly identify if the problem lies with an electrical accessory, the battery, the alternator, the serpentine belt that power the alternator, or something else altogether.
Have your alternator examined, repaired, or replaced today by experienced technicians at Priority Toyota of Chesapeake. We’re a locally trusted dealership that puts customer service and satisfaction first and foremost in all that we do.
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