Signs of a Faulty Alternator
The alternator plays a critical role in your vehicle’s electrical system, converting mechanical energy produced by your engine into electricity that’s used to power the various systems of your vehicle. While batteries get much of the attention regarding electrical maintenance, automotive batteries are only used to get the vehicle started while maintaining that flow of electricity is instead the job of the alternator and charging system.
With so many systems relying on a constant stream of power, you can imagine that issues in your alternator can cause a host of issues affecting various parts of your vehicle. In this article, we’ll discuss what the alternator is, how it works, and what symptoms you may experience if yours has failed.
What is an Alternator
The alternator essentially acts as a mini generator for your vehicle to pull its necessary electric power from. Connected to the engine through the accessory belt, the alternator takes energy from the rotation of the belt and converts it to electrical energy for use in any system that relies on electronics.
Symptoms of a Failing Alternator
Battery Warning Light
The battery warning light is responsible for relaying information on potential issues the electric system is experiencing. One of the most frequent causes of this light is a faulty alternator, as the light may be warning you of an inadequate amount of power being produced.
While this light can appear for a number of different reasons related to your electrical system, ensuring that the alternator is operating properly is a great place to start when diagnosing this warning.
Dim or Flickering Lights
If the alternator is struggling to provide enough power for every system in your vehicle, you may begin to notice that some of the various lights in your vehicle are dim or flickering. The lights affected by this can range from the backlighting of your gauges to the headlights or taillights.
In some cases, a faulty alternator may actually produce too much power, causing your lights to become unusually bright or even overloading them to the point of failure.
Stalling or Trouble Starting
Although the battery is responsible for providing the initial power for ignition, the alternator handles just about everything after that point. Since the vehicle relies on this component for sustained power, a faulty alternator may prevent proper ignition or cause the engine to stall from a lack of electricity.
Malfunctioning Accessories
Most vehicles, especially modern ones, use a wide variety of electronically powered and control accessories in their interior, from power windows and seats to the infotainment system. Each one of these accessories is vulnerable to issues when the alternator is failing, as the lack or overabundance of power coming from the alternator can cause these electronics to respond slowly, malfunction, or even stop working entirely.
If any aspect of your interior feels a little “off”, such as glitches in the radio head unit or slow operation of the power windows, it may be a good idea to ensure that your alternator and charging system are providing adequate power to your vehicle.
Smell of Burning Wires
A strong odor from your vehicle is generally never a good sign, but if you notice the specific smell of burning rubber around your engine bay, it may be the result of a failing alternator. As the internal mechanical components of the alternator wear down, they produce an increased amount of friction which can overheat the wires and their rubber insulation.
Electrical System Service in Naperville, Illinois
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, or other problems with your electrical and charging system, call or schedule online with the experienced technicians at Becker Service Center in Naperville, Illinois. Our team has extensive training in diagnosing, servicing, and repairing the electrical systems of all makes and models, and will ensure yours is in the proper shape to power your vehicle!