What happens if alternator dies

When the alternator is failing, there might not be enough power in the spark plugs to keep the engine alive, which can cause it to stall for no reason while running, or to have trouble starting. Ignore this symptom, and your car eventually won't start at all. Obviously, batteries sometimes fail on their own--but a bad alternator can actually cause the battery to drain because it's failing to recharge it. If your battery goes dead, have the alternator checked when replacing the battery so it doesn't happen again.

For trusted excellence in automotive and transmission repairs in Olympia, you can rely on Lloyd's Automotive and Transmission. To learn more about the signs of a failing alternator, or to schedule an appointment, they can be reached at online coupons from their website; they can be reached at Growling or Whining Noises Cars make a ton of odd sounds — some are harmless while others can indicate serious mechanical problems.

Smell of Burning Rubber or Wires A foul odor of burning rubber or wires could indicate that parts of your alternator are starting to wear out. Alternator Service with a Smile If your car's electrical system is giving you grief, it may be time to check the alternator. Up Next. Your alternator does W-O-R-K. Learn what an alternator does, plus how to spot car alternator problems with help from Firestone Complete Auto Care.

Coolant is one of your vehicle's essential fluids. Learn what makes coolant so important and what could happen if you drive with low coolant levels. Your car needs care, even when stored. Dont just park it and forget about it! Learn what happens when you let a car sit and how to store yours properly. Then wait. If the alternator is failing to charge the system, the car will soon die again and you've pinpointed the problem. However, if the car runs and continues to run, then the likely problem is with the battery.

Use caution, however, as a dying battery can only receive a charge for so long and may go completely dead at a later point despite the best efforts of the alternator. You can test the battery with a voltmeter, and most auto stores have the facilities to check a suspect battery, usually free of charge. In this case, everything with your car's alternator seems to check out OK — no belt issues or other visible signs of trouble — but the car's battery is dead, as is most of the car's electrical equipment.

That might mean that the alternator is producing electricity, but it's either not going anywhere or it's not the right type. Alternator electricity is piped through large cables and smaller wires. Any problems within the wires, cables or connections at either end can reduce or stop electricity from getting through. Occasionally, a symptom of this issue might be brighter lights, as the alternator produces more energy to overcome the resistance in a bad wire or a broken or loose connection.

This symptom is usually accompanied by the smell of hot wires, too. Higher resistance within a wire creates heat, similar to the way an electric burner on a stove heats up by resisting the flow of electricity. Another problem could be the alternator's diode rectifier. Alternators produce alternating current AC electricity in three phases, but a car's accessories require direct current DC to operate. The rectifier changes the current from AC to DC.

Without that critical component operating properly, the electricity the alternator produces can't be used. The next three symptoms are less obvious than a signal from a warning light; however, these signs of alternator trouble can tip off a driver that there's something going on that is out of the ordinary. Mechanics are used to customers complaining of classic alternator issues, and then opening the hood to find the belt missing, hanging off the engine block, or so loose it's flapping around the engine compartment.

Since a broken or loose belt is pretty obvious, take a peek under the hood to see if your car has any of these issues, even if you aren't skilled enough to fix them yourself.

If you're comfortable with basic maintenance and you're familiar with your car's components, you're in good shape to catch a problem before it leaves you stranded. A quick visual check of the belt for cracking, excessive wear, and other age issues can give an indication of a future problem.

Keep in mind that the belt must have the proper tension to run the alternator correctly; too much tension is just as bad as not enough. A quick check of the belt tension is usually enough to determine if a problem exists.

Make sure to let your car cool off before you start touching anything under the hood. If the sight of a failing alternator isn't obvious enough for you and it's totally understandable if it's not , the sound might clue you in. Drivers will sometimes complain about hearing a "growling" or "whining" noise before an alternator gives out. The alternator is driven by either an accessory belt or a serpentine belt in conjunction with the crankshaft pulley.

The alternator pulley typically spins about two or three times faster than the crankshaft pulley to produce the power necessary at lower engine speeds, such as at idle. The alternator pulley spins on a shaft, which in turn is supported by either bearings or bushings. If the pulley is not in correct alignment with the belt, if it's canted on the shaft or if the bearings and bushing are worn out, the growling or whining noise will let you know there's a problem.

Since lots of car problems cause strange noises , this symptom is most useful if it is paired with other symptoms, especially since it can be hard to identify the source of a sound while you are driving. If the alternator is so far gone that it has caused damage to your engine, you might hear rattles from inside the engine caused by failed engine bearings. Engine damage is one of the worst-case scenarios of alternator trouble and it is definitely a possibility, but it's so difficult and inconvenient to keep a car going with a bad alternator that you'll probably get it fixed long before it causes damage to your engine.

Smell is the third sensory sign of alternator trouble, and it comes from the fact that your alternator is working way too hard to the brink of overheating. Have you ever been near an electrical fire? An overworked alternator might smell kind of like that.

The hot wire scent can be caused by an overheated alternator, one pushing too much power through the rotor and stator. Or burning rubber? Yeah, that's another possibility, thanks to the rubber belt that keeps the alternator going, as well as the rubber sheaths on the wires that connect everything in your electrical system.

A pulley that isn't in alignment or not turning freely will cause more friction on the belt, which creates heat and then the smell of burning rubber. If those get too hot, your nose will probably know. Not all bad smells indicate potential alternator trouble. The aroma is distinct from other attention-worthy car smells, like the smoky sting of burning oil , the sweet stench of overflowing coolant, or the singe of overheating brakes.

If you find yourself stalling for seemingly no reason, it could indicate troubles with your alternator. Hearing strange noises coming from your engine in conjunction with some of the other symptoms listed could indicate a problem with your alternator.

Listen for whining, grinding and rattling sounds as these could all indicate a failing alternator. AAMCO Minnesota has top quality mechanics and equipment to diagnose and repair any problems to your cars electrical system.

Schedule an appointment with your local AAMCO Minnesota location to have your alternator or other electrical systems checked for performance and safety today. You must be logged in to post a comment. The information contained in this website, or any of our content, videos, and publications is for general information purposes only.

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