What are the Signs of a Bad Alternator?
Some drivers may not have heard the term alternator before so they associate starting problems with a dead car battery or a bad car starter. However, in many cases, starting problems are related to a failing alternator.
You may be wondering just what does an alternator do? The alternator charges the battery by turning mechanical energy from a rotating pulley into current while the vehicle is running. The job of the car starter and the battery is to actually start the car, and the alternator keeps it running. If the alternator fails, the electronic accessories will try to draw all of their power off the battery, which in turn causes it to lose its charge.
Oftentimes, the alternator will go out with little or no warning. Over time, the rotor, brushes, and other internal parts of an alternator wear out, so if you keep your car long enough, you will eventually need to replace it.
What are the signs of a bad alternator?
- Dim or flickering lights.
- An electrical burning smell coming from the alternator or the battery.
- The electrical accessories, such as power seats and windows, may operate slower than usual, or stop working at all.
- The alternator “ALT” warning light or a battery icon indicator lights up on the dash.
- A squealing noise caused by a worn-out serpentine belt, alternator pulley, or internal bearings.
- The engine suddenly cuts out while driving.
- A dead battery. Without a functioning alternator, the vehicle quickly uses up all of the battery's charge.
Wondering what are the signs of a bad alternator? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car starters and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
Some drivers may not have heard the term alternator before so they associate starting problems with a dead car battery or a bad car starter. However, in many cases, starting problems are related to a failing alternator.
You may be wondering just what does an alternator do? The alternator charges the battery by turning mechanical energy from a rotating pulley into current while the vehicle is running. The job of the car starter and the battery is to actually start the car, and the alternator keeps it running. If the alternator fails, the electronic accessories will try to draw all of their power off the battery, which in turn causes it to lose its charge.
Oftentimes, the alternator will go out with little or no warning. Over time, the rotor, brushes, and other internal parts of an alternator wear out, so if you keep your car long enough, you will eventually need to replace it.
What are the signs of a bad alternator?
- Dim or flickering lights.
- An electrical burning smell coming from the alternator or the battery.
- The electrical accessories, such as power seats and windows, may operate slower than usual, or stop working at all.
- The alternator “ALT” warning light or a battery icon indicator lights up on the dash.
- A squealing noise caused by a worn-out serpentine belt, alternator pulley, or internal bearings.
- The engine suddenly cuts out while driving.
- A dead battery. Without a functioning alternator, the vehicle quickly uses up all of the battery's charge.
Wondering what are the signs of a bad alternator? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car starters and alternators and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
