Alternator

Failing Alternator Symptoms: Keep Your Ride Powered up at All Times

Unexpected alternator failure can leave your vehicle stranded on the side of the road. It’s easy to brush off early failing alternator symptoms because they can be as subtle as dimmed headlights or slow window motors. However, left unchecked, alternator issues will drain your battery and cause your vehicle to fail to start. 

Because your alternator is so important to your vehicle’s electrical system, you should immediately bring it to Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair if you notice any symptoms of a bad alternator. We can get weak alternator symptoms diagnosed and fixed. 

Alternator: The Power Behind Your Vehicle’s Electrical System

The electrical components in your vehicle, such as the headlights and radio, run off the alternator. Your battery, alternator, and voltage regulator make up your vehicle’s electrical system. The battery starts your vehicle initially, but once it’s running, the alternator supplies electricity to the battery and electrical system. When your engine runs, a belt around your alternator causes it to spin and generate electricity, which is then transmitted to the electrical system in your vehicle. 

Alternator Warning Signs

If your vehicle experiences any of the following signs of an alternator going bad, you should bring your vehicle to Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair for inspection and alternator diagnosis. 

Dim or Flickering Headlights

When your alternator starts to fail, it will deliver inconsistent voltage to the electrical system. Because of this, your headlights may be dimmer than usual, or they may flicker brighter and dimmer. Although the alternator voltage drop may seem like a minor sign, it’s often the first sign of an alternator going bad completely. Come to Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair before your alternator fails completely. 

Battery Warning Light on the Dashboard

The battery warning light indicates more than just a battery issue. It may also signal a problem in any of the components of your vehicle’s electrical system, including your alternator. If the alternator goes under or over its voltage capacity, it could set off the battery warning light. 

Dead or Weak Battery 

If your battery is within its lifespan but goes dead or seems weak, the problem may not be the battery at all. It may be that the alternator isn’t working. Your battery depends on the alternator to continually charge it while your vehicle is running. When your fairly new battery is dead, even though you didn’t do anything like leave the lights on all night, you should suspect alternator problems in your car and let Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair diagnose it. 

Whining or Grinding From the Engine Area

Odd noises coming from your engine are always worrying. While some can be harmless, others can be faulty alternator symptoms. Whining or grinding noises can signal that you have a problem with a belt, including your alternator belt. This issue should be checked out by Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair immediately, since it could mean your alternator is not working properly. 

Electrical Failures 

Any electrical failure, such as your power windows not working or having erratic dashboard readings, can be due to problems with your alternator. You may not realize how many electrical components are in your vehicle, but your alternator provides power to them all. 

Engine Stalling

One of the primary bad alternator signs is engine stalling. Without a working alternator, your vehicle won’t start at all. If it’s going out, your vehicle may stall while you’re driving. You might notice that your battery light flickers on while your vehicle is stalling, which tells you your control modules don’t have enough power from the alternator to operate.

Let Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair Inspect Your Vehicle’s Alternator

Don’t delay an inspection if your vehicle shows any signs of alternator failure. At Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair, we provide fast, affordable alternator repair services. The earlier you perform alternator troubleshooting, the less chance you’ll end up stranded because your vehicle won’t start. 

Whether you have alternator problems or something else is causing your issue, we’ll figure out what it is and get you back on the road. Exhaust Plus - Complete Auto Repair has been offering alternator and other vehicle maintenance services since 1992. Visit us at 1401 Crestwood Ave, West Salem, WI 54669, or call us for a consultation on (608) 786-5400 today!