Symptoms of bad or failing Car Alternator | What happens when alternator in your car fails #carcare

in this video we discuss car alternator how it works alternator symptoms testing problems alternator replacement so let's get started an alternator is a generator of electric power in a car and is a major component of the vehicle's charging system all cars with an internal combustion engine except for some hybrids have an alternator when an engine is running the alternator charges the battery and supplies additional electric power for the vehicle's electrical systems an alternator is bolted to the engine and is driven by a serpentine belt drive belt an alternator is a maintenance free unit in some cars it can last for up to 10 to 15 years without any repairs if an alternator fails the car may still run for a short time on battery power however the engine will stall as soon as the battery charge is depleted replacing an alternator with a new OEM part is expensive but there are alternatives symptoms of alternator problems the most common symptom of a problem with your vehicle's charging system is a battery-shaped warning light or the charge icon that comes on while driving normally this warning light should come on when you turn on the ignition but should disappear as soon as the engine is started if it stays on there is a problem with your charging system the charging system warning light doesn't Point directly to a failed alternator although alternator problems are very common your mechanic will need to do further testing to pinpoint the defective part another symptom of a weak charging system is when the dash lights and headlights dim at idle but become brighter when the engine is revved this problem could be caused not only by a weak alternator but also by a failing battery poor connection at the battery terminals or a loose serpentine belt a whining buzzing noise coming from the alternator is another symptom of alternator troubles in some cars it could be caused by a noisy alternator bearing in some Jeep Chrysler vehicles a bad alternator decoupler pulley could cause the same noise how the alternator is tested your mechanic can test the state of your charging system with the battery and charging system tester a battery and charging system test AVR test costs from thirty dollars to fifty dollars the test will show if the charging system is weak or not working at all it can also detect if one of the diodes inside the alternator has failed if the charging system fails the test your mechanic will need to do further diagnostic to see if it's the alternator or something else causing the problem other charging system problems include a loose drive belt faulty wiring or blown fuse defective ignition switch Etc if no charging system tester is available your mechanic can do a simple voltage test the test involves checking the battery voltage with the engine off and with the engine running the battery voltage should increase to more than 13.5 volts once the engine is started as the alternator supplies additional power if the battery voltage does not increase once the engine is started there is a problem with the charging system alternator replacement options replacing an alternator in an average car will cost from 1.0 to 2.5 hours of Labor depending on the difficulty plus the part a new aftermarket alternator will cost 130 dollars to three hundred twenty dollars part only an oem alternator from a dealer will more expensive another alternative is to have your alternator rebuilt the way it works is your mechanic can remove the alternator and send it to the nearest alternator starter rebuilding shop once the alternator is rebuilt your mechanic will install it back it may take more time but it's usually cheaper since you only pay the cost to remove and install seventy dollars to one hundred twenty dollars plus the Rebuilders charge eighty dollars to one hundred fifty dollars rebuilding an alternator at home is difficult and takes a lot of time but not impossible alternator rebuild kits are available online for fifteen dollars to fifty dollars another money saving option is a used or remanufactured part especially if the supplier provides a good warranty a used alternator can be sourced from local auto recyclers whenever the alternator is replaced it's a good idea to change the serpentine belt too it is not very expensive and by replacing it together with the alternator you can save on labor as the serpentine belt has to be removed to replace the alternator how to make your alternator last longer often an alternator fails prematurely when a protective engine undercover or Shield is damaged or missing this happens because water splashing from the road gets inside the alternator and causes it to wear faster if your engine undershield is damaged pivot replaced to keep the engine compartment clean and dry a coolant or oil leak can also damage the alternator similarly if you have to shampoo the engine compartment the alternator must be protected from water and detergent how an alternator Works common problems a typical AC car alternator has two windings a stator stationary outside winding and a rotor rotating inner winding a voltage supplied through the voltage regulator to the rotor winding energizes the rotor and turns it into a magnet the rotor is rotated by the engine via a drive belt the magnetic field produced by the rotating rotor induces AC electric current in the stationary stator winding diodes are used to convert AC current into DC current used in the vehicle's Electric System the output voltage is controlled by the voltage regulator typically a voltage regulator is built in into the alternator the most common alternator problems include worn carbon brushes worn contact rings and a failed voltage regulator bad outer and inner alternator bearings can produce a whining noise when the alternator is rebuilt the bearings voltage regulator brushes and some other parts are typically replaced with new ones hopefully you will find this video knowledgeable on car alternator and its symptoms and problems thanks for watching subscribe The Car Care channel for more informative videos on car products

Channel: Car Care (Automotive Products)

Views: 5,067

Keywords: car alternator, car alternator price, car alternator cost, car alternator problems, car alternator repair, car alternator output, car alternator wiring diagram, car alternator wind turbine, car alternator voltage, car alternator generator free energy, car alternator test, car alternator noise, car alternator symptoms, car alternator replacement, car alternator charger, alternator charger, car care, alternator problems, alternator tester, serpentine belt

Id: gdloBeS7RZg

Length: 6min 33sec (393 seconds)

Published: Wed Apr 12 2023