Top 10 Signs of Alternator Problems HowStuffWorks

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It could be a bad starter, corroded cables, or a broken connection somewhere between the battery and starter. When a coil goes bad there may be smoke or odor. Open the hood immediately and check. A failed solenoid can make a clicking sound when you try to start the engine.

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The alternator on your vehicle is a generator that produces direct current (DC) voltage which is used to keep your battery charged and your electrical system working properly. But when your alternator starts to fail, you may notice a few specific symptoms before it leaves you stranded.

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1. Battery light The illuminated battery light on the instrument cluster is the first sign to the driver that there is an issue with the charging system. When the battery light is displayed, it is best to give it attention as soon as possible.

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7 Signs of a Failing Alternator 1. Dim or Overly Bright Lights When an alternator begins to fail, it provides inconsistent voltage to your electronic accessories. Generally, that takes the form of under- or over-performing equipment, such as headlights that are either too dim or extremely bright.

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Symptoms Of An Overcharging Alternator. When the alternator overcharges, it causes the headlights or dashboard lights to flicker. It can also cause brighter lights than normal, dashboard warning lights, shortened bulb life, a bulging battery, strange smells from the battery and a bunch of other electrical issues.

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So what are the signs of an alternator going out? The first indicator of a failing alternator is when the dash warning light ("ALT" or "GEN") comes on. The lights are dimmer than usual. Accessories such as power windows, power locks, dashboard lights, air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc., will start to act up.

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Press each probe to the correct terminal, touching negative to negative and positive to positive. Your multimeter and battery are probably both color coded, so the negative terminal and probe will be black while the positive terminal and probe are red. If your vehicle has a battery that is tucked away, like under the rear seat or fender well.

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Method 1 Using a Voltmeter Download Article 1 Buy a voltmeter. You can find one at any auto parts store for less than $20. [1] Don't worry about getting an expensive one; a cheap voltmeter will do for this purpose. If you have a multimeter, you can use that instead.

Top 10 Signs of Alternator Problems HowStuffWorks


First, open the hood and start the car. While the engine is running, remove the negative cable from the battery. If the vehicle stalls or dies, the alternator is likely bad. This happens because the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the engine running on its own.

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6 Signs of a Bad Alternator - In The Garage with CarParts.com Think your alternator may be going bad? Find out what the symptoms are and learn to differentiate between a bad alternator and a bad battery.

Know The Difference Between A Bad Alternator And A Bad Battery


Know the warning signs of a failing alternator and what to do if it goes out. Dimming Lights The alternator by itself can be the cause of dimming lights, fading radio, and/or stalling. If the alternator is going bad, you will notice that dashboard lights appear dimmer than usual.

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A simple OBD2 scanner can help you here. Your headlights or interior lights dim or flicker, especially when using the air conditioner or stereo. Other parts of the vehicle, like the power windows.

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The warning signs of a failing alternator include dimming headlights while the engine is running and warning lights on the dash lighting up when the engine isn't running, indicating a lack of battery power caused by a dying battery. In addition, some cars will not start at all with an alternator issue, which is another sign of a problem.

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1. Dim lights The failing alternator symptom most drivers recognize is dim or flickering lights. This is really obvious when headlights are on at night, but also noticeable in dash lights and the center dome light. If the lights brighten as RPMs pick up, that's even more of a sure sign. 2. Battery light

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10: Warning Light If the alternator's output goes below or above a pre-set limit, then your car's warning dash light will come on. In most vehicles, it looks like a battery. Baloon111/ThinkStock Within the instrument cluster of most cars built in the last decade is a warning light dedicated to signaling an alternator issue.

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The first is, very simply, a gauge in your dashboard. Many vehicles have a voltage gauge - indicated usually by a graphic of a battery. Most voltage gauges are not calibrated, they simply indicate a correct range of voltage for your battery while the engine is running. Normally, the needle pointing straight up means the alternator is charging.