An alternator is an important part of your car. It charges your battery, allowing you to start your vehicle and use accessories such as a radio and headlights. When your alternator has problems, you will notice that your car cannot start or stay on for a longer time. If your alternator is failing, you should buy Acura alternators to avoid getting stuck on the road.
Here are 5 signs that your alternator is failing
- Dead battery
Occasionally a dead battery results from the battery getting to its expiration date, or perhaps you mistakenly left the headlights on overnight. Other times, a dead battery might mean the alternator is faulty. A malfunctioning alternator will not adequately charge the battery when the car is moving.
A simple way to determine if the dead battery is a result of a faulty alternator or battery-related problem is jumpstarting your vehicle. After you jumpstart your vehicle and it starts working, you need to replace the battery quickly. On the other hand, if you jumpstart the vehicle and it stops a few minutes later, the alternator is faulty.
- Slow or faulty accessories
If the alternator is not supplying enough power to the battery, your car’s electronic accessories will not work properly. For example, if your car windows take longer than normal to move up or move down, or your speedometer is nonfunctional, your alternator might have a problem.
Most modern cars are programmed to have a list of accessories so that the onboard computer cuts the power supply earliest if the alternator is not supplying enough power. If you are driving a car with a faulty alternator, your radio and other accessories that are not essential will switch off first before the headlights.
- Too bright or dim headlights
A failing alternator provides unreliable energy to your car’s electric accessories. So you will notice the accessories are overly performing or underperforming like headlights can be excessively dim or very bright. Also, you might experience shaky lights or lights that unsteadily go from bright to faint and vice versa.
- Whining or growling noises
Vehicles make loads of odd noises. Some might indicate a problem, while others are harmless. If your car is making whining or growling noises, it might mean that the alternator has a problem. You need to look for a professional to check your car as soon as possible.
- Battery warning light on the dashboard
When the battery warning light displays on the dashboard, you can mistakenly think your battery has an issue. However, when the battery warning light specifies a problem with the electrical system, possibly the alternator. If the alternator fails, the battery’s voltage capacity lowers, causing the cautioning light to pop out on the dashboard. Hence you need to get your car to an alternator inspection to avoid getting stuck on the road.
Bottom line
The alternator is an essential part of your car as it charges the battery allowing you to turn on your vehicle and other electronic accessories. If you notice your vehicle turns off a few minutes after turning on or the electrical accessories are not working properly, it indicates the alternator is faulty. Hence, it will be best if you look for professionals to check your alternator.
Comments are closed.