Obvious Signs Your Car Needs an Alternator Repair

Obvious Signs Your Car Needs an Alternator Repair

Undoubtedly, when your car battery requires replacing, it will be an inconvenience. However, when your car’s alternator fails, you might find yourself in a very uncomfortable situation waiting for a tow truck. The alternator’s primary job is to provide power to your vehicle once it starts. It does its job by recharging the battery. 

It also powers the vehicle’s headlights and other accessories while it is running. Once the alternator fails, the car gets any power it can get from the battery until it is drained or completely damaged. If you are experiencing alternator issues, it is more than possible that your car won’t start or stay on for more than a short while. Here are the obvious signs your car needs alternator repair. 

1. Warning Light

More often than not, the dashboard light is an obvious sign that you will need a new alternator. The primary indication of the battery light is a charging problem as the car monitors the voltage. In a few cars, the check engine light might also be there or a check charging system indication on the dashboard. The battery light might also be there for other charging or electrical issues. This includes a defective voltage regulator, worn alternator, wiring problems, etc. If you see the battery light come on when you are driving, it is best recommended to pull over in a safe spot and take the vehicle to trained mechanics. 

2. Having Trouble Starting the Car

When the alternator fails to do its job, it forces the vehicle to keep the electrical system working through the use of the battery’s power. Moreover, the alternator must recharge the battery when you are driving. So, if it is not doing that, the result will be a battery that does not have sufficient charge to start your vehicle. Because the battery is not designed to carry the load for an extended period, you may need to replace it as well. If you find it hard to start your car, let a qualified mechanic check the full charging system. 

3. Malfunctioning Accessories

An alternator that fails to supply sufficient power to your vehicle’s accessories will lead to slow or even non-working accessories. If you think that the windows are taking longer than usual to roll up and down, or if your speedometer and other accessories are starting to go haywire, you may have an alternator problem. Some modern cars also have a preference list of equipment programmed that tells where to cut the power first if the alternator fails to provide enough power. So, if such a situation arises, you will lose power first on non-essential accessories before losing power to things like the headlights. 

4. Burning Smell

An unpleasant odour of burning wires or rubbers will likely indicate that the alternator is beginning to wear out. Since the alternator’s drive belt is under consistent tension and situated near the hot engine, it will likely wear out over time. Then, it will give out an unpleasant odour of burning rubber. Damaged wires can also create resistance to the electricity flow, resulting in heated wires and leaving bad odours. So, it will be essential to take your car for the repair.

Wrapping Up

You never want to end up in a situation where the alternator has stopped working, and you are in the middle of a vacation. This is why spotting signs early plays a major role. It will help you get your car to experienced mechanics on time and ensure it is in proper working condition again.