A car alternator produces electricity. Every automobile has an alternator. The alternator is installed when the engine is assembled in the factory. Without an alternator, you would not be able to start your automobile. In addition, anything that requires electricity in your vehicle would fail.
The Purpose of the Alternator
The purpose of the alternator is to generate electricity that moves through your car’s electrical system. The alternator generates a minimum of 13 volts to a maximum of 14.5 volts to keep everything that requires power operating as it should be. Without the alternator, you would not be able to start your automobile because the battery would not be charged with electricity. Without the alternator, your vehicle’s accessories such as the headlights and power windows would not work.
How It Produces Electricity
The alternator is attached to the serpentine belt using a pulley system. When you start the motor, the serpentine belt spins and rotates the pulley. The pulley rotates the alternator’s rotor shaft. There are also magnets that are rotated. These two parts rotate around a coil. This generates an alternating current (AC). Your automobile’s electrical system needs a direct current (DC). As such, the AC is moved into a rectifier in the alternator that switches the current to DC.
The Alternator’s Average Lifespan
On average, the alternator can generate electricity for 100,000 miles. Usually, it takes approximately 10 years to drive 100,000 miles. As such, if your vehicle is older than 10 years old, you may need to replace the alternator soon. In most cases, it will give you signs that it is going bad.
Signs the Alternator Is Dying
When the alternator starts to malfunction, strange things will happen. Specifically, the signs that your alternator is going bad include
- A battery that needs to be jump-started frequently
- Lights that are either too dim or too bright
- Malfunctioning or slow accessories
- Difficulty starting the vehicle or frequent stalling
- Growling or whining noises in the front of the engine
- The smell of burning wires or burning rubber
- A dashboard warning light in the shape of a battery
If your automobile is suffering from any of these problems, bring it to our shop so we can test the alternator. We will replace it if it isn’t generating enough voltage.
Generally, you should plan on it taking us about two to three hours to replace the alternator. If you would like to wait for your vehicle, we have a comfortable waiting room. Call us today to set an appointment that is convenient with your schedule.
