Your battery supplies power to your car before you start the engine. Once your engine starts, the responsibility for providing all the electrical power falls on your alternator. When your alternator starts to wear out, it will provide less power, and eventually, your car will not even be able to start. As your Chevy dealer, we’d like you to know the signs that you need an alternator repair.
Headlight Problems
Your headlights are powered by the electrical system, and when your car is running the alternator provides that power. If the alternator is weakening, it cannot supply power consistently and the headlights will start to flicker. The power fluctuations cause havoc with the delicate bulbs in the headlights, and they will burn out much faster. If you frequently have to replace bulbs, your alternator is likely failing.
Starting Difficulty Your Car
The battery provides the charge to start your ignition, and once your car is moving the alternator starts to charge your battery. When an alternator is weakening, it can’t charge the battery sufficiently, and your battery will start to run down. If your battery doesn’t have enough power, it will take longer to start your car as the battery has to build up a sufficient charge.
Electrical Glitches
As a failing alternator supplies less power, and your car’s electrical system’s power demands are constant, electrical glitches will start to occur. The glitches are random, but as the alternator weakens further they will occur more frequently. Windshield wipers, for example, can suddenly stop working, or the seat heater can suddenly go cold. The inconsistent power supply can also cause long-term damage to these components as they are not designed to work with a fluctuating power system. If you experience random glitches, we recommend contacting our service department so we can investigate.
Worn Electrical Connections
Your alternator may be working perfectly, but one or more of the connections in the electrical system may be worn or damaged. Due to the damaged connections, power will not reach the components that need it. The alternator will try to supply more power, and the cables will grow hotter. If you smell burning wire, this can be a sign that you have an alternator problem.
Check Engine Light Goes On
The engine light is an excellent early warning that there is a problem with your engine. The light doesn’t necessarily indicate that there is a fault with the alternator, but it does show that something in your engine is not working correctly. Your car will display a code, and our technicians will use the code to trace and repair the problem.
Don’t let a dead alternator leave you stranded. If you experience any of the signs above when you are in Butler, PA, call us right away at Mike Kelly Chevrolet. Our expert technicians have the best diagnostic equipment available to find the source of the problem and repair or replace it.
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