It’s true. Integrity Auto Repair advises that if you drive a car, truck, or utility vehicle that is 10 years old or older, you are at a much higher risk of having the alternator go bad. We are going to list the signs of the faulty alternator below so you know what to look for with your automobile. Do not worry. If the alternator does go bad, we can replace it with a new one.
Battery Warning Light
One of the first things that might happen is you may end up with a battery warning light illuminated on the dashboard. In some cases, your car’s dashboard may have an ALT or GEN light that will turn on. If any of these lights turn on, the engine control module is telling you that the alternator is malfunctioning.
Frequent Engine Stalls
The light may be accompanied by an engine that stalls frequently. The spark plugs require power in order to generate sparks in the cylinders. The alternator provides that power. If the alternator is going bad, it may not power the spark plugs correctly and cause them to misfire and your engine to stall.
Hard Starts/Dead Battery
You may also have difficulty starting your automobile or the battery may die frequently because the alternator is failing to keep the battery charged. This is how your battery stays charged. If the alternator is malfunctioning, it may refuse to charge the battery and it will discharge until it is dead.
Malfunctioning Accessories
The alternator also has the task of supplying your vehicle’s accessories with power. When the alternator is faulty, the accessories will start to malfunction. The power accessories may slow down and components such as your navigation system and entertainment system may refuse to work.
Overheated Electricity
The range of electricity that the alternator generates is between 13 volts and 14.5 volts. Sometimes, when the alternator malfunctions, it exceeds the maximum voltage of 14.5 volts. When this happens, your electrical system will overheat and you will smell burning wires and rubber in the engine.
Strange Engine Noises
Speaking of the engine, it may start to make strange noises if the alternator is going bad. The alternator itself may start to grind as it wears out. The alternator belt may squeal if it is having problems.
Vehicle Light Problems
Finally, one more thing that the alternator provides power to is all of your vehicle’s lights. When the alternator is malfunctioning, the lights may be dimmer than normal, brighter than normal, or they may flicker between dim and bright.
Call Integrity Auto Repair in Eugene, OR, today so we can help you by testing the alternator and replacing it if necessary.
