{"id":973,"date":"2023-05-10T08:14:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T15:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gwrench.com\/?p=973"},"modified":"2023-04-27T18:01:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T01:01:42","slug":"vista-auto-repair-tip-knowing-when-your-alternator-is-going-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwrench.com\/vista-auto-repair-tip-knowing-when-your-alternator-is-going-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Vista Auto Repair Tip &#8211; Knowing When Your Alternator Is Going Bad"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The alternator is perhaps the most underappreciated part of your car.<\/p>\n<p>The battery often gets all the credit for keeping the electricity running. But it\u2019s the unheralded alternator that serves as the car\u2019s generator, powering some of your vehicle\u2019s most vital features\u2014including the headlights, the heating and cooling systems, and even the battery itself. In fact, nothing in your <a href=\"http:\/\/gwrench.com\/volvo-auto-repair-vista-ca\/\">vehicle<\/a> that uses electricity would function properly if it weren\u2019t for this trusty component.<\/p>\n<p>The alternator consists of two main pieces\u2014a stator and a rotor\u2014and is driven by the serpentine belt. Applied voltage creates a magnetic field in the rotor. As the rotor spins inside the stator, that moving field creates an induced voltage in the stator\u2019s windings, and the voltage charges your battery and powers all the electric circuits, says Timothy Hatcher, Director of Technical Operations for the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association.<\/p>\n<p>These moving parts inside the alternator are put through the wringer every time you turn the key to start your car, and sometimes they break down. Here\u2019s how to know if you may have an alternator problem\u2014and what to do about it.<\/p>\n<h2>Warning Signs Of A Bad Alternator<\/h2>\n<p>Because of the alternator\u2019s importance, it\u2019s essential to watch for signs that it may be going bad, in order to avoid a potential breakdown. According to Hatcher, there are two main problems that can occur with the alternator: Either it undercharges or it overcharges itself.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of an undercharging or no-output alternator are usually pretty obvious:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You see a message or warning light, such as a battery light on your dashboard, indicating an issue with the charging system.<\/li>\n<li>You notice that your dashboard lights are dimming, or your headlights run brighter when you accelerate but then dim when you come to a stop.<\/li>\n<li>Your battery dies when the car is parked.<\/li>\n<li>The car doesn\u2019t even attempt to start or \u201cturn over.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Overcharging happens when an alternator shorts internally and puts out too much voltage. Here are some symptoms in this case:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your car\u2019s dash comes equipped with a voltmeter, you notice it showing an overly high voltage: 15 or more volts.<\/li>\n<li>Your lights can be especially bright when your engine speed increases (they just won\u2019t dim, as they can do with undercharging).<\/li>\n<li>You hear a loud grinding noise from under the hood. Sometimes heat or dirt can cause wear and eventual breakdown of the small bearings, or bushings, that let the rotor spin smoothly inside the stator. The resulting sound will tell you immediately that something is wrong.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What To Do If Your Alternator\u2019s Bad<\/h2>\n<p>If you suspect an alternator problem, the first step is to check the serpentine belt. If it\u2019s worn or loose, you may hear a squealing noise when you first start the <a href=\"http:\/\/gwrench.com\/mercedes-auto-repair-vista-car-owners-trust-listen-to-your-mercedes\/\">car<\/a>, and the alternator won\u2019t operate properly, even though the alternator itself may be fine. A mechanic can easily replace the belt.<\/p>\n<p>You also want to check the battery. Because the battery works with the alternator as part of the car\u2019s charging system, it\u2019s common to misdiagnose a bad alternator as a battery issue. Here\u2019s one way to make an educated guess: If you know you didn\u2019t leave a light on and can recharge the battery, it could be a sign that the battery is fine and the alternator is the culprit. Have a service professional test your charging system so you know for sure which one is faulty.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, says Hatcher, if you think there might be a problem, don\u2019t wait to check it out. A faulty alternator can quickly deplete and shorten the lifespan of a perfectly good battery. The reverse is also true: A bad battery can put a greater charging demand on an alternator than it should, which can wear out the alternator. If one of those two parts fails, it\u2019s not uncommon to have to replace them both.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you know what that means,\u201d says Hatcher. \u201cA bigger repair bill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Rod OConner &#8211; https:\/\/www.geico.com\/more\/driving\/auto\/auto-care\/alternator\/<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Golden Wrench Automotive is one of the reputable Vista auto repair shops. We&#8217;ve been providing quality Vista auto repair services for more than 25 years. The mechanics are ASE certified, continuing with advanced educational courses in up-to-date technology. Call <a href=\"tel:17609406060\">(760) 940-6060<\/a> now and experience a hassle-free service!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The alternator is perhaps the most underappreciated part of your car. The battery often gets all the credit for keeping the electricity running. But it\u2019s the unheralded alternator that serves as the car\u2019s generator, powering some of your vehicle\u2019s most vital features\u2014including the headlights, the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[73,176,21,74,28],"class_list":["post-973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auto-repair-shop-vista-ca","tag-alternator","tag-alternator-repair-in-vista","tag-repair","tag-tip","tag-vista"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vista Auto Repair Tip - Knowing When Your Alternator Is Going Bad - Golden Wrench Automotive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Call (760)940-6060 for Vista Auto Repair Alternator. 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