Your car’s charging system needs an alternator to work. It changes the engine’s mechanical energy into electrical energy, which powers the car’s electrical system and charges the battery. But just like any other part of your car, an alternator can break for a number of reasons.
Five Signs That Your Alternator Is Bad
1. Dead Battery
One of the most common indicators of a faulty alternator is a dead battery. It’s natural for a battery to lose its charge over time, but if your car’s battery keeps dying soon after being charged or has trouble holding a charge at all, it could mean that your alternator is failing. The alternator charges the battery while the engine is running. If it stops working, the battery won’t have the power it needs to stay charged. If the alternator isn’t working right, just changing the battery won’t fix the problem. It’s important to deal with this right away because a car with a bad alternator might leave you stranded with a dead battery at any time.
2. Headlights Issues
If your car’s headlights are getting dimmer or flickering while you’re driving, it could mean that the alternator is going bad. Your car’s electrical parts, such the headlights, get their electricity from the alternator. If it can’t make enough power, these systems stop working. If your lights are dimming or flickering, it’s a warning that your alternator may need to be checked out before more serious electrical problems happen.
3. Weird Sounds
When an alternator goes bad, it can make weird noises like whining, grinding, or screeching. These noises usually mean that something inside the alternator is breaking down. A loose or worn-out belt, for example, might make a high-pitched squeaking sound, while a failed bearing inside the alternator can make a grinding sound. These sounds mean that the alternator is having trouble working right, and if you don’t fix it, it could get worse. If you deal with these strange noises right away, you can stop the alternator from breaking down completely and save money on repairs later.
4. Warning Lights
If the battery or alternator warning light (if your car has one) comes on, it’s a clear sign that there may be a problem with your charging system. This warning light can sometimes mean there’s a problem with the battery, but more often than not, it means the alternator is broken. The light means that the alternator isn’t giving the battery enough power, which could imply that your car won’t work right soon. If you don’t pay attention to this warning, you could end yourself stuck with a dead battery. That’s why you should examine your charging system as soon as the light comes on.
5. Electrical Problems
If the electrical system in your automobile stops operating or starts acting up, it could mean that your alternator is going bad. The alternator powers all of the car’s electrical parts when the engine is running. If you have problems with the radio, power windows, power locks, or dashboard lighting, it could mean that the alternator isn’t making enough electricity. You might see certain functions not working all the time or moving more slowly than usual, like power windows that don’t open as quickly as they should. If you don’t fix these electrical difficulties, you could lose all of your power, thus it’s important to fix alternator problems as soon as possible.
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Source: https://www.greatwater360autocare.com/news/5-signs-of-a-bad-alternator
