How To Tell If Your Vehicle Needs A New Alternator

Your vehicle's alternator has the responsibility of running all of the electrical components and charging the battery. However, there may come a point where the alternator stops working and your vehicle struggles in these areas. Here is how you can tell if you have a bad alternator. 

Warning Light Turns On

There is likely some sort of warning light on your dashboard that indicates there is a problem with the alternator. Unfortunately, it is not always the same from vehicle to vehicle. Some vehicles may only have the battery light turn on as an indicator, which could mean one of several things. A mechanic can read the code that the warning light is giving and narrow the problem down to the alternator.

Odd Noise

A common sound from a bad alternator is a grinding noise, which is due to the bearings going bad within the alternator. A squealing noise is an indication that the serpentine belt is going bad. A broken belt will cause the alternator to stop working, but a damaged belt can provide less traction and cause intermittent problems as well. 

Headlight Issues

Do you notice that your headlights are dim while you are driving at night, or the headlights are flickering? This is an indication that the headlights are not getting the power that they need from the alternator. It's important that you notice this while driving because the alternator should be able to provide enough power to the headlights while the vehicle is in motion.

Stalling

Does your vehicle stall while you are driving, and you're unsure what is happening? This is because the fuel and spark your engine needs is powered by the alternator, and the engine is not getting one or both of these things. It will cause the vehicle to shut down while you are driving, potentially leaving you stranded. An alternator with intermittent problems may allow the car to start back up, but not for long. 

Electronics Not Working

If you have a single electronic device in your vehicle that is not working, it is likely that you just have a problem with that one component. However, if multiple electronic devices stop working, such as power windows, the radio, and your power mirrors, then you likely have an alternator problem.

Have a suspicion that your alternator is not working right? Take your vehicle to a local mechanic to look into having your alternator replaced. 

For more information on auto parts, contact a company near you.