6 Common Symptoms of a Failing Alternator
First off—What’s an Alternator Do?
Learn the signs of a failing alternator and what you need to do about it!
Almost everyone has heard someone refer to their vehicle’s alternator, but not everyone knows what the thing does.
The alternator is a device that uses an artificially produced alternating current to effectively recycle your car’s limited electrical supply. This ensures that your engine continues to start properly, and that the car’s basic functions operate correctly.
Your battery provides the initial charge required for combustion to be set into motion, but due to the enormous amount of sheer power required to operate any motor vehicle, your battery’s store of energy would be quickly depleted without the assistance of your alternator.
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Most Common Signs of a Bad Alternator
- Car shuts down after being jumped
- Electronic operations weaken while driving
- Alternator warning light is on
- Headlights dim more than usual
- You smell burning wires
- Engine makes a whining noise
The importance of your alternator is significant since electrical power from your automobile is used to operate your car stereo, power your spark plugs, and is essential for your vehicle to run properly. Not only is a failed alternator extremely expensive due to the costs involved in frequent battery replacements, but it is shockingly harsh on many different components of the vehicle itself.
Take a look at a few of these common signs of alternator failure and general malfunction.
1. Car Shuts Down Shortly After Being Jumped
Over a period of years, your car battery loses its initial charge until eventually, it needs to be replaced. However, for a short period of time, you may need to jump-start your car using the power from another battery.
From there, your alternator will recycle the power you need to keep going, or at least so long as the car engine remains running. However, if your alternator is failing, your car will die not long after being jumped. The absence of recycled energy makes it impossible to keep your car running once the battery’s main storage has been used.
2. Car’s Electronic Operations Weaken While Driving
One of the surest signs of a dying alternator is the weakening of the vehicle’s electronic operations while driving. Due to a lack of power, you may find that your radio’s volume and display are both hard to see/hear despite appearing to be in perfect working order. Also, you might notice that your headlights have lost their brightness, and your high beams may appear to not work at all! Other signs can include a poorly lit dash display, dim interior lights, and possible loss of electronic operations all together.
3. Alternator Warning Light is On
Quite possibly the most obvious, yet often overlooked sign of possible alternator issues is the initial appearance of your alternator warning light. Most people see this particular light whenever it first comes on, however, it is frequently misidentified as something else.
Typically, the standard alternator warning light is shaped like a battery and will appear on your front dash display. Other older vehicles may communicate to the owner simply through the “check engine” light. Newer vehicles may say ALT or GEN within the icon itself, but ultimately you should check with your factory-issued owner’s manual the second you see a warning light of any type appear.
With this in mind, you should not rely solely on the assumption of your alternator light alone to identify the problem. Varying factors including the amount of power your battery has left can determine if your alternator light will warn you, and it does not promise to be a completely foolproof way of determining the second your alternator starts to experience difficulties.
Often alternator malfunctions can be identified and resolved long before your warning light comes on. So, be sure to always keep a close eye on your engine and how it is operating.
4. Headlights Dimming More than Usual
The alternator is important for a working car stereo, spark plug, and overall power for the car to run!
While there can be other factors contributing to unusual headlight dimming (old bulbs, poor electrical connections, etc.), the alternator is usually a common cause. Driving around without functional, or poorly lit headlights is not only reckless and hazardous, but it is also illegal in many states as well.
Without the necessary power being recycled to operate all the different components of your motor vehicle, the added strain on battery power can drastically impact the effectiveness of not only your headlights, but also turn signals, brake lights, and your high beam power.
5. The Smell of Hot or Burning Wires
If you notice the pungent smell of burning wires, this is a good sign that your alternator, if not something more serious, is wrong with your engine. The root cause of this is usually the overheating of the alternator itself due to a reduced electrical current or a byproduct of friction resulting from a malfunctioning pulley or belt.
Your alternator works closely with the serpentine belt, and when a malfunction occurs, the belt does not freely move as it should. These inconsistencies can cause an easily identifiable foul odor and should be looked at by a trained mechanic as soon as possible.
6. A Whining Noise from the Engine
A whining noise coming from your car’s engine can indicate a multitude of different issues. However, it can also be the byproduct of your crankshaft belt about to give in. The crankshaft pulley works in conjunction with the serpentine belt and is vital to your engine. It is connected to the alternator and is an essential part in helping recycle your vehicle’s electrical energy. A whining sound from your engine can be a sign that your crankshaft belt is about to fail and should be evaluated right away before serious damage can occur.
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