#5 Signs of car alternator problem

The car alternator is the main component of your car charging system. It is worked with the battery to provide an electric current to all electric equipment in your car. For example, Headlights, Audio-video, Air Conditioner, Engine control unit, Sensors, and many more).

The car battery saves the electric current from the alternator and uses when the engine is off, for example, is to start the engine. When the engine run, the alternator is used to recharge the battery and to use in all electric equipment.

As an important component, a bad alternator can bring inconvenience if you still use the car for any reason. Your car will stall on any road without being compromised. Here are five signs of car alternator problems you have to know to prevent this situation.

1. Battery warning light is on

The first sign of car alternator problems you will find is the battery warning light is on. The battery warning light is an indicator light that you will see in your car dashboard panel. Some old cars model used ALT (for alternator) or GEN (generator) signs. Still, most cars used the battery shape look-alike with red light colour.

The battery warning light will trigger if your car alternator doesn't have sufficient voltage to use in your car electrical system. At this moment, your car engine will be running temporarily. When the electricity inside your battery runs out, your car engine will stall.

2. Weak battery

The second sign of the car alternator problems is a weak battery. A weak battery results when your car alternator doesn't recharge the battery while the engine is running. Weak battery brings more problems into your car, such as the engine won't start, dimming lights, no indicator lights lit on when the IG key is on, and so on.

The alternator function provides an electric current for your electric equipment inside your car when the engine is running. At the same time, the alternator should recharge your car battery so the battery can keep enough electricity to be used when the engine is off. When your car battery goes weak, this can indicate that your car has problems with alternator.

3. Strange sounds inside the alternator

The third sign of the car alternator problems is strange sounds heard from inside the alternator. In most cases, worn out alternator bearings are the main part that brings strange sounds. Anyway, more components inside the alternator would bring strange sounds such as grinding sound, whining, or rattling.

For example, alternator bearings would bring whining and grinding sounds. In contrast, rattling sounds can cause by the rotor coil fan that hit another component inside the alternator. If you hear strange sounds more often from inside the alternator, you should check the alternator quickly to ensure the problems with alternator.

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4. Weird smells from the alternator

The fourth sign of the car alternator problems is weird smells. Burning smells or rotten egg smells from the alternator could indicate the alternator is going bad. In most cases, burnt stator coil or the IC regulator are the main causes of weird smells from the alternator.

But, many cases show that the alternator was driven by a serpentine belt, more often producing weird smells such as burning rubber. Mostly is because the belt is slipping on the alternator pulley.

The slipping belt brings heat and smoke with a burning rubber smell. Otherwise, it's also affecting the alternator output to be lower than it has to. If this happens, try to fix it first by tightening the belt. If the weird smells still arise, it signs of alternator problems. We recommend having your alternator evaluated by a professional technician.

5. Dim lights

The last signs of alternator problems is dim lights. Since the alternator is the primary source of electrical power in your car while the engine is running, dim lights can be a sign that it is going bad. The most common electrical equipment that tells you if the alternator is going bad by dim light conditions is car headlights.

The car headlights are the main electrical load for the alternator that use more power to bring the lights on. If your car headlights begin to dim, you may notice that the alternator is starting to die. It could happen if the IC regulator is failed to regulate the voltage and flow more voltage to the headlight. In the other case, we can use brighter car headlights too to indicate the bad alternator.