An alternator is an important part of your vehicle. In fact, if your alternator isn’t working, your entire vehicle will quickly become inoperable. The alternator is responsible for recharging the battery so that it continues to supply energy to the electrical and computer components of your vehicle. Without this continual recharge, your battery will die, and you could find yourself stranded. When an alternator stops working, you’ll start to notice several symptoms from your vehicle. Plus, when you turn the ignition on the vehicle, the engine won’t start, or the vehicle might even stop operating while you’re driving down the street. Alternators have a limited life, so learning about them now could save you a lot of frustration and confusion later when it eventually needs replacement.
How to Know When an Alternator Is Starting to Fail
When you have an alternator that’s breaking, you want to recognize the signs as soon as possible so that you can get your vehicle to a mechanic before you’re stranded and need to call a tow truck. While alternator failure might seem pretty sudden, there are a few symptoms that can let you know that it’s coming.
For instance, if you notice a burning smell coming from the alternator or notice that your engine is making a squealing sound, there could be something wrong with the alternator. Another sign is problems with your electronics, such as the radio coming in and out or the power windows working slowly. You might also notice that the power of the lights on the head beams isn’t at a consistent, high-level brightness.
How to Extend the Life of Your Alternator
If you need to get your car jumpstarted, make sure that you’re doing it properly, as a jumpstart done incorrectly can damage the alternator. You should also be careful about any aftermarket electronic additions that you put on your vehicle because too many of them, especially if they’re not installed correctly, can put an added load on your alternator. Remember that a new alternator is more likely to last longer than a refurbished one, and it’s often worth the extra price to get a new one.
Having an alternator that’s in good condition is essential to the functioning of your vehicle, but it’s very common for alternators to need replacement after about 150,000 miles. The exact time between replacement can vary according to the model that you own, and the price for the alternator and installation can range from a few hundred dollars to over 1,000 dollars for a luxury vehicle. If you’re concerned that your vehicle needs an alternator soon, bring your car into a repair shop so that they can run a diagnostic and determine how long your alternator is likely to last.
