Your car relies on both the battery and the alternator to give it the power it needs to keep itself running. When the alternator isn’t doing well, that causes issues all throughout the car. MotivWerks has these tips for spotting alternator trouble.
Your Car’s Battery Is Having Problems
If your car is having a tough time starting or doesn’t start at all, there might be a problem with the battery. But the battery gets recharged via the alternator, so if the alternator is having issues, it can’t do what it needs to do for the battery. And that might mean that you spot the immediate problem, which is the battery, and overlook the crucial issue of the alternator not working properly.
Accessories and Components Are Not Working
Any time that you notice that accessories and components are acting weird or aren’t working at all, there’s likely something going on somewhere in the electrical system. These items typically plug into your car’s electrical system through one of the accessory outlets. If the car doesn’t have the juice to keep itself running and run your components, your components will be the first to go.
You’re Smelling Hot Electrical Smells
Hot electrical smells are not pretty and they’re a sign that you should turn the car off until you know what’s going on. Typically when you’ve got an overheated or failing electrical system, you’ll smell something that smells like hot chemicals. Beyond hot electrical smells, though, you might also smell burnt rubber. That can happen if a belt is near a wire that is going bad or near the alternator itself. If you see smoke, definitely turn off the car and get out.
You’re Seeing a Dash Warning Light
Dashboard warning lights are important to pay attention to because they can let you know that there’s an issue before you’re dealing with some of these bigger symptoms. Your car probably doesn’t have a separate alternator light, so if there’s a problem with the alternator you might just see the battery light on the dash. If you are seeing any warning lights about the electrical system, don’t ignore them.
Need help figuring out your car’s electrical issues? Give us a call at MotivWerks in Chambersburg, PA. We can diagnose the problem fully and let you know whether you’re dealing with something that’s just a battery problem or a more complicated issue involving your alternator.