Signs of a bad alternator
In our June article, we take a look at faulty alternators and how a defective alternator manifests in vehicles. A poorly functioning alternator can have serious consequences for your motor and vehicle. Want to first learn more about alternators? Read our February articles on how alternators work here or learn more about alternator parts here.
Why does an alternator fail?
There are multiple causes that can trigger an alternator to fail. One of those reasons is regular wear and tear of the alternator parts, such as the bearings, rotors, brushes for slip rings. Another important aspect are the alternator belts. These serpentine belts are continuously in movement when the motor runs, and when they haven’t been optimally adjusted, are easy to tear, catch dirt, crack or even break.
To ensure your alternator performs at the top of its ability for as long as possible, we advise our customers to do the following: for bigger alternators, adding an extractor hood allows cool, clean air to get to the alternator, which limits the amount of debris reaching the alternator. Another promising solution is using pulleys with multiple grooves. These offer better grip and have proven to slip less than v-belts.
You can find our expansive assortment of multi-groove pulleys below.
Warning signs
One of the very first signs when your alternator needs maintenance involves flickering dashboard lights. The system monitors voltage output. The more accessories are used, the harder the alternator has to work to maintain the necessary voltage. If this output goes above or below the preset limit, the warning lights go on.
Headlight issues
All electric car accessories begin to show symptoms when your alternator stops performing at peak level. With headlights, this can manifest in different ways, such as dimmed lights or extremely bright lights.
Dead battery
When your vehicle doesn’t start it can point to a dead battery. This however, can also point to an alternator problem, since the battery can act as a capacitor for the system. Batteries are not designed for long-term power use, so when your battery is not working anymore, it can very well be an alternator issue.
Quick fact: the alternator warning light can take different shapes: battery, “ALT”, CHARGE, or “GEN”. This is because in older vehicles, the alternator was referred to as a generator.
This can have a range of consequences, from headlights, to sunroofs, to the electro-hydraulic lift on a snow plow. Modern cars, however, have built in safety systems that ensure essential accessories are powered first over non-essentials ones, such as the radio or seat heating.
Smell of burning rubber or wires
When the alternator is working too hard, it will easily overheat, and therefore pushing too much power through the rotor and stator. A smell of burning rubber can also indicate alternator failure. A badly aligned pulley can cause friction on the serpentine rubber bands.
How we can help
At BermanTec, we offer alternator parts for a variety of international brands, both original and replacement models. Our collection includes Bosch, Chrysler, Delco Remy, Prestolite and Hitachi, just to name a few. Click on the links below to find the replacement parts you need.
Stators | Rotors | Bearings | Slip rings | Brushes | Brush holders | Regulator | Rectifier | Frame collector |
