6 Signs Your Alternator Is Bad

 

While you're driving, the alternator generates electricity for all of your car's electric components. Here's how to identify a bad alternator.

There are several electric components in vehicles today. We require a strong power source, such as the alternator, to safely power all of these components.

The electrical system of your vehicle, including the lights, audio, ignition, and much more, is powered by your alternator in addition to charging the battery.

Check MOT history online to see if a battery warning light was the cause of a previous MOT test failure.

The car battery is always connected to an alternator to prevent the battery from running out of power while the car is in operation.

But how will I know when the alternator has to be changed? Let's start with some typical symptoms.

If your dashboard displays the battery warning light, search online for car garages in Reading and make an appointment with a specialist mechanic to have them look at the problem. The most common indication of a bad alternator is a battery warning light on your dashboard. Potential symptoms include starting issues and headlight flashes. Any noise coming from the engine is definitely coming from a malfunctioning alternator.

Now that you are aware of the most typical symptoms, let's look a little more closely at the signs. Here is a list of the six signs of a faulty alternator in more detail:

1.      Battery Warning Light - If you have looked at all the dashboard warning lights with the ignition on but no engine running, you have likely seen a warning light for the car battery. Complete a MOT history check online to confirm if this warning light was a reason for a previous MOT to fail. If the ignition is on and the battery voltage is greater than 13 volts, this battery light will turn on. Your car battery typically has 12 volts, and when the alternator is charging, your system will have about 14.2 volts. The battery light will illuminate on your dashboard if the voltage in the system falls below 13 volts while the ignition is on, which indicates that your alternator is not charging properly.

2.      Headlights Are Flickering or Dim - One of your car's very high power users that uses a lot of electricity is the headlights. The headlights will glow up brighter the more power they have. They will dim and the voltage will diminish if your alternator is damaged. Your alternator may be malfunctioning if you've noticed that the headlight seems to be worse than it used to be. By conducting an online search for garages in Reading and scheduling an appointment, you may get a qualified technician to identify the issue correctly. Additionally, headlight flashing brought on by an alternator's unsteady voltage may be noticed. A defective alternator won't cause your LED headlights to fade; instead, they can completely shut off in newer vehicles that frequently include LED headlights.

3.      Car Starting Issue - Whenever you drive your car, the alternator should fully recharge the battery, ensuring that your car will start with no problems the following time you park it. Every time you drive, it might not fully charge, though, if the alternator is failing. Every time you drive, if the car battery is only being charged somewhat, you will eventually reach a point when the vehicle is using more energy than it is producing. This is the point at which your vehicle will no longer start in the morning. Your alternator may be malfunctioning if you notice that your vehicle feels worn out after each start-up.

4.      Unusual Noises - The alternator in your car makes noise because it has bearings and other rotating electronic parts. You can hear loud screeching or banging noises coming from your alternator if it suffered physical damage. A damaged bearing inside the generator is the most frequent issue, and this will result in a scraping noise coming from it. Alternators are typically very visible from the engine bay, making it simple to open the engine compartment and listen if you can find the alternator's sounds. However, the alternator may be tucked down in the engine compartment of some car models, making it challenging to hear any noises. Perhaps you should get in touch with a qualified mechanic in this situation.

5.      Battery Drains - Even if your car battery is in good condition, if you frequently charge it yet it still constantly drains, your car's alternator is definitely broken. Numerous factors can prevent the alternator from correctly charging the vehicle's battery. 

6.      Other electric failures - As you are already aware, there are thousands of weird problems that can arise when an electric component is not receiving enough voltage. Therefore, it stands to reason that low voltage brought on by a damaged alternator could result in a variety of odd symptoms inside and outside of your car. It's time to inspect the alternator if you believe your car to be cursed.

What location is the alternator in?

The alternator is located near the drive belt at the front of the engine. Although it is normally found high up, it can be found all the way down in the engine.

The drive belt, also referred to as the auxiliary belt, which is always located at the front of the engine, is driven by the crankshaft pulley, which also turns the alternator.