5 Common Signs That Your Car Needs an Alternator Repair

Your car’s alternator is a key part of your vehicle’s electrical system, as it turns the energy from the crankshaft into electricity to power the electric components and charges your battery. Without a functional alternator, your car will be dead on the side of the road, so make sure you understand these signs that your car needs an alternator repair.

Warning Light Comes On

The first main indicator of a failing alternator in a car is the warning light that illuminates on your dashboard. It might say “alt” or “gen,” but they both mean the same thing: your alternator needs attention. Even if you don’t notice any other signs that your alternator is going bad, pay attention to this warning light and have your car serviced right away. Ignoring this light could leave you stranded when your battery can’t charge.

Flickering or Dimming Headlights

Your headlights are connected to your vehicle’s electrical system, which means if the alternator starts acting up, it will affect your headlights, either making them dimmer than usual or causing them to flicker. You might also notice problems with the lights in your cabin, radio, or other electrical components as well. You’ll want to get your car into a service center as soon as you can because eventually, they’ll stop working altogether when your alternator fails.

Unusual Sounds

While this is a vague sign, bearings that are rattling around in your engine could indicate an alternator failure. You may not know what a specific sound means, but any time you hear something out of the ordinary, it could mean there’s a problem with one of your car’s components. If it is your alternator making these sounds, you probably don’t have very long before it fails entirely, so have your car inspected to find the source of the sound.

Car Stalls or Doesn’t Want to Start

Your car runs on more than just fuel; it also needs the electricity that is generated by the alternator to power your spark plugs, which then ignites the fuel. If your alternator is not capable of generating enough electricity needed to run the car, it’s possible you’ll have trouble starting it or it may even stall while you’re driving it. This could cause an unsafe situation, especially if you’re in the middle of traffic when your car stalls.

Battery Dies

The alternator is responsible for using the electricity it generates to charge your battery, and while batteries can certainly fail on their own, you’ll want to make sure the alternator isn’t the cause before investing in a new battery. Otherwise, the new one will drain as well and you’ll have to get your alternator fixed anyway. Have both your battery and alternator checked at your service center at the same time to pinpoint the actual problem.

If you ignore the signs of a failing alternator long enough, you’re bound to be stuck on the side of the road when your car won’t start. Come by Palm Coast Ford to have your alternator and battery inspected to ensure your car keeps running the way it should.

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