Driving with dim headlights can be very dangerous. You need a clear view of what’s ahead when you are driving at night. The reason why your headlights are so dim could be that the alternator is going bad and no longer generating a minimum of 13 volts of electricity. Here are other signs that you have a bad alternator.
Frequently Dying Battery
If you have had to jump-start your battery frequently lately, it’s possible that the alternator is not keeping the battery charged. If your battery is younger than three years old, it should not be dying yet. Rather, it is discharging without being recharged by the alternator.
Accessory Malfunction
Your automobile’s accessories may also start to malfunction if the alternator is going bad. This includes things such as your GPS, your entertainment system, and the power seats and windows. At first, the accessories may slow down. Eventually, they may not work at all.
Stalling Frequently
You already discovered that the alternator provides power to numerous things in your automobile. One more thing is the spark plugs. Unfortunately, if the plugs are not receiving energy so they can generate sparks, your automobile will stall frequently, especially when you are sitting at an idle.
Growling/Whining Noises
The alternator is known to make strange sounds when it is dying. It may start to growl or grumble in the engine if the internal mechanisms are grinding against each other. The alternator belt may also start to whine or squeal if it is going bad. Replacing the alternator can solve the problem.
Burning Wires or Rubber
We mentioned above that the alternator should generate at least 13 volts of electricity. It should also cap off the electricity generation at 14.5 volts. If the alternator is malfunctioning, it may overproduce electricity and overheat the electrical system in your automobile.
Dashboard Warning Light
Finally, you may end up with the dashboard warning to let you know that the alternator is going bad. Usually, the battery light turns on if the alternator is malfunctioning. If you drive an automobile that has several years under its tires, you may have a light on the dashboard that spells ALT. this is a light for the alternator and it will illuminate if the alternator is having problems.
We would be happy to help, so call us today if you are having any of the difficulties discussed above. We can test your alternator and battery to see where the power production problem lies. Once we have determined the problem, we will fix it.
