Do you sometimes find yourself with a dead battery and don’t understand what could have caused it? With no lights, radio, or anything power-consuming on in your car? Does your car sometimes lose power even when driving? Then your problem might not be your battery.
If it’s not the battery what could it be?
If your car is giving the above-mentioned symptoms or more, then the problem might be that you have a faulty alternator. What is an alternator? An alternator is a device that generates and regulates electricity for a car’s electrical system and serves to recharge the battery while the car runs and drives. It converts mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy. It forms a very vital part of the combustion engine in vehicles and is especially essential in today’s more electrically advanced vehicles.
Signs of a failing alternator.
Usual symptoms of a failing alternator closely resemble those of a dying battery. It usually starts with a warning light illuminating from your car’s cluster, closely followed by frequent stalling and/or starting problems. Your headlights will also start flickering or getting dim (or, in instances where the car is overcharging, they will appear extremely bright), especially when using other power-consuming components in the car, such as the A/C or windscreen wipers. A burning smell may also start to develop, along with a growling sound coming from your engine and some electronic features starting to fail.
How do you diagnose this problem?
The first thing one can do is to conduct a visual inspection. Check for any loose or snapped belts or any damage to the alternator itself or its pulley. Secondly, one can use a multimeter to read the voltage coming from the alternator to see if it is overcharging or undercharging (with normal voltage being anywhere between 13.5 and 14.5 volts). Thirdly, you can do a terminal removal test, in which you start the car, let it reach optimal driving temperature, and then remove the negative terminal. If the car’s performance deteriorates or the car stalls, that is another sign that you may have a faulty alternator.
Can I fix it, or do I have to replace it?
Getting a new alternator for your car, if indeed it is faulty, sounds like the perfect solution, but keep in mind it is only a good option if you are buying a genuine replacement part and not a pirated part that will most likely last half the lifespan of your original one, if not less, and could affect your car’s electrical system badly. Genuine replacement alternators can get very pricey; that is why it is also recommended that one just fix or refurbish the original one from the car, seeing that the common failure problems are related to worn brushes, a faulty voltage regulator, damaged diodes, and failing bearings.
Pay Deltec a visit
At Deltec, we understand the stresses of everyday life and how they can be affected when your means of mobility is compromised. We always aim to educate our customers on the common problems related to elements that can affect the health of your car and battery. We also understand that not everyone is equipped with all the right tools to conduct tests, nor do they sometimes have the time to do so.
We have trained staff at your disposal who have all the right tools and knowledge to help diagnose your car and get to the root of your problem. We also have vast stock holdings, so if you think you are experiencing battery or alternator failure, pay us a visit and let us help you bring your car’s power back to life.