Your car's alternator is an integral part of your vehicle. An alternator charges your car battery while you are driving to ensure that the battery doesn't die, and as such, a malfunctioning or broken alternator can pose a number of serious problems. Thankfully, there are a number of signs you can look out for to determine when you need to take your car in to a mechanic to have the alternator looked at.
Car Won't Start
The clearest sign that your alternator is broken is if your car won't start. If the engine is turning over multiple times without catching, you should call a mechanic, such as those at Hub Auto Supply, right away. Even if the alternator is working fine, this means that your battery has reached the end of its lifespan or has become damaged, which has much the same effect. You can try charging your car battery overnight and putting it back into your vehicle, or jumping the battery using booster cables, to see if the issue is with your battery or with your alternator. If the car starts, but the lights dim or the engine stalls after a while, the issue is with the alternator, while if it fails to start at all the battery is unable to hold a charge.
Reduced Electrical Capacity
If you turn your car on and notice that the radio, air conditioning, lights, and other electronic features aren't working as quickly or effectively as they were before, your alternator may be to blame. This can be dangerous: a reduced amount of power can affect features like power steering, which give you greater control over your vehicle. If you notice that the electric components of your vehicle are operating below par, you should head to a mechanic straight away.
Noise and Smell
A belt that has fallen out of place can create the smell of burning rubber and create a squealing or screeching sound as it tries to move. This increased friction can cause a great deal of damage to your belts, and can increase the amount of heat under the hood, which can cause other problems. If you notice the smell of burning rubber or experience any sort of high pitched sound while driving, you should pull over immediately to prevent further damage to the alternator and get in touch with a mechanic. To avoid an emergency happening on the road, you should open up your hood semi-regularly and inspect the visible belts of the alternator. At any signs of wear, you should head to a mechanic to have the belt replaced immediately.
Share15 December 2016
When I started working on finding a new car, I was a little surprised to discover just how many different varieties were on the market. It seemed like there was a car for everyone, and I was really frustrated with what I needed and wanted. I knew that I wanted a car that looked sleek and modern, but with four kids, I didn't know if that was going to be a possibility. This blog is all about finding an incredible car and knowing what to do in order to get the ball rolling. I know that some of this information really helped me eventually discover a great car.