What makes your alternator go out

We'll call or text back ASAP! JavaScript is disabled in your browser. For our website to function properly, you must enable JavaScript. If you do not enable JavaScript, certain features will not function correctly. Often, the alternator can go out with little or no warning. The lights are dimmer than usual and may pulsate from dim to bright. Other electrical systems, such as power windows, power locks, dashboard lights, air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc. Bearings in the engine may fail, creating unusual rattles.

There might not be enough power in the spark plugs to start the engine, or to keep the engine alive, causing it to stall. The battery will drain because the alternator is not keeping it charged. Unlike an electrical problem, bad belts are a little less common; however, they too could point to an alternator issue. A bad alternator can often be caused by loose or missing belts.

You can perform a quick check of the belt, looking for cracks, excessive wear, and other signs of age. But bear in mind that the belt must have the correct amount of tension ; too much or too little could cause an alternator malfunction. Aside from an alternator problem, many other issues can also cause frequent stalling and difficulties in starting your car.

Things like a bad battery or a faulty fuel pump can result in similar symptoms, so be sure to check everything else going on with your vehicle to find the root of the problem. Around the size of a coconut, alternators tend to be found near the front of the engine. The alternator gets its name because it uses an alternating current AC to generate electricity. Alternators produce AC power through a stator and rotor. In the meantime, the voltage regulator ensures the voltage remains constant. Some cars may experience a faulty alternator after 40, miles, whereas others will go , miles without running into issues.

Remember, the alternator only had to power a few things in older cars, like the interior and exterior lights, the radio, and one or two other electrical components. Modern cars, however, have many more electrical accessories like GPS units, heated seats, each power window, and more. All of these things need to be powered by your alternator, increasing its load.

In its simplest form, starting and running an engine involves three steps: the battery first delivers a jolt of energy to the starter motor, powering up the car. A voltmeter measures the electrical difference between two points on a circuit. If you suspect a bad alternator, a voltmeter can be the easiest way to determine this. What About the Starter System? What Causes Alternators to go Bad?

Using jumper cables wrong, An accessory that overloads the charging system, Leaking fluid in the alternator, or A tight belt in the alternator that can damage bearings. The alternator can die with little or no warning but there a few signs to watch for: The "ALT" or "GEN" light illuminates on the instrument panel.

The lights are dimmer than usual and may pulsate from dim to bright. Other electrical systems, such as power windows, power locks, air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc. Bearings in the engine may fail, creating unusual rattles. The engine will stall as there is not enough power in the spark plugs to start the engine or to keep it running.

Steve Clausen. Prev Next. Recent Posts. When the alternator is going bad, other systems that are powered by the alternator may start to act up. These can include the power windows, power locks, dashboard lights, air conditioning, even your car radio. Other things might be causing these failures, but it's worth taking it to a trusted auto repair service to have it checked out.

This seems like a vague symptom--after all, lots of things can cause unusual noises in the car. However, sometimes alternator failure can cause some of the bearings to fail in the engine, creating unusual rattles. The alternator might be the culprit, especially if accompanied by some of the other symptoms we've mentioned.