The alternator that is underneath the hood of your car, truck, or utility vehicle is an amazing piece of equipment. This part in the electrical system generates the electricity that your vehicle needs for its accessories and components. This includes the battery. The alternator lasts approximately 10 years before it needs to be replaced. Let’s talk about how the alternator generates electricity.
How It Generates Electricity
The alternator uses a pulley system to attach it to the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt rotates when you start your automobile. The serpentine belt will continue to spin until you turn off the engine. As the serpentine belt spins, it turns the pulley that is attached to the alternator. This, in turn, spends a set of magnets and a rotor shaft around a coil inside the alternator to generate a current.
The current is initially an alternating current or AC. This current needs to be converted to a direct current or DC in order to work in your vehicle’s electrical system. The alternator routes the current through a rectifier to convert it. Then, the current is sent through the electrical system to power the various electrical components in your automobile. It is also sent to the battery.
Signs It Is Going Bad
As we mentioned above, the alternator will last approximately 10 years. This being said, you may get more life out of your alternator. The best thing to do is to look for signs that the alternator is going bad if your automobile is a decade or older. These signs include
- Dim, flickering, or overly bright lights
- The need to jump-start the battery constantly
- Accessories that slow down or malfunction
- Misfiring spark plugs that stall the engine
- Growling noises coming from the engine
- The odor of burning wires or burning rubber
- An illuminated dashboard battery light
All of these things point to the fact that the alternator is not generating enough electricity. It could also be generating too much electricity, which is why you will smell hot electricity in the engine. A functional alternator will generate between 13 and 14.5 volts of electricity.
You can call us to schedule an appointment for your automobile if you are experiencing any of the problems discussed above. These problems are signs that the alternator needs to be replaced with a new one. Generally, it will take us about three hours to replace the alternator. We promise to get you back on the road as soon as possible.