The alternator is often a very misunderstood component. The battery gets most of the credit for providing your car’s electricity, but the battery depends on being recharged by the alternator. If your alternator fails, your battery will fail soon afterward. When your alternator is showing signs of failure you’ll need an alternator repair. Your Chevy dealer in Anderson, IN, can help you.
Battery Warning Light
The warning lights on your dash are connected to sensors placed throughout your car. Each sensor is connected to one of your car’s important components, and the sensors watch for any sign of trouble. If one of the components malfunctions, the sensor will relay the information to your car’s computer, and the warning light will come on.
As your alternator ages, its voltage decreases. If the sensor attached to the alternator detects a fluctuation in the voltage, this causes the light to come on. The warning light can also signal a problem with your battery. As a battery gets older, it has problems in holding an electrical charge, and the electricity it provides reduces. Either of these issues can cause the warning light to come on.
Weird Noises
No driver likes hearing strange sounds from their car. Any odd noise suggests a potential problem. Whining or rattling noises can be caused by several different issues. If you’re also having electrical issues, the alternator could be the most likely cause of these noises. Your alternator is driven by the alternator belt, and this belt is powered by the turning of the crankshaft as your car moves. The alternator pulley is driven by the alternator belt.
The alternator pulley sits on a set of bearing and bushings which allow it to move. A cracked bushing or a worn bearing will cause whining noises as the pulley spins. A rattling sound is very unusual but also very serious. If a damaged alternator is not replaced, it will place additional strain on your engine. This additional strain can lead to damage to your engine bearings, and these damaged bearings will make a rattling noise.
Difficulty Starting
When you turn the key or press the start button, your battery sends a strong electrical charge to the starter solenoid. This tiny component causes your engine to crank. Normally, your engine will start almost instantly. If your engine takes longer to crank, there could be a problem with the alternator. While the battery provides the charge to start your car, your alternator is responsible for recharging your battery.
A weak alternator won’t be able to fully recharge your battery. This means that each time your battery is used, it will get progressively weaker. The delay in starting is due to your battery needing to build up enough charge to start your engine.
If you experience any of the signs above, or you’re concerned your alternator may not be working correctly, call us right away at Ed Martin Chevy. We’ll fix it for you.
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