If the battery light comes on on your vehicle’s dashboard, this is one sign that your alternator is going bad. It can also be an indication that there is a problem with the battery. Your automobile may also be equipped with an ALT or GEN light that will illuminate when there are alternator problems. Boulevard Auto Repair lists the other signs of alternator trouble below.
Accessory Trouble
One thing that the alternator does is power your vehicle’s accessories. Consequently, if the alternator is having problems, your vehicle’s accessories will also have problems. This includes your entertainment system, GPS, the power seats, and the power windows.
Battery Trouble
Your vehicle may also suffer from battery trouble if the alternator is failing. The alternator generates voltage to keep the battery charged. If the alternator cannot generate this voltage, your battery will discharge until it dies completely.
Burning Wire Smell
A faulty alternator may also try too hard to generate voltage and, as a consequence, it will overload your vehicle’s electrical system. You may smell burning or hot wires as a result. If you smell burning rubber, this can indicate a problem with the alternator belt.
Dim Lights
A very common sign of alternator trouble is dim lights. You may also notice your vehicle lights flicker or appear to be brighter than they normally are. Any of these things point to the alternator or battery as the source of the problem.
Frequent Stalls
Aside from powering your accessories and the battery, the alternator also provides power to your vehicle’s spark plugs. If your alternator is going bad, you may end up with a frequently stalling engine because the spark plugs are unable to generate sparks.
Hard Starts
It can also become very difficult to get your vehicle started if the alternator is going bad. One way to tell whether the problem is the alternator or battery is to jumpstart your automobile and see if your battery holds the charge. If it doesn’t, your alternator is not recharging the battery as it discharges.
Strange Noises
Finally, you may also hear strange noises coming from the engine if the alternator is malfunctioning. Grinding sounds can indicate that the internal mechanisms of the alternator have worn down and are grinding against each other. Whining noises point to the alternator belt, which is your vehicle’s accessory belt.
If your car is having any of the problems listed above, call Boulevard Auto Repair in Sherman Oaks, CA, today to set up an appointment. We will test your vehicle’s alternator and battery to find the source of the problem.
