Let’s say you turned the ignition key of your car and instead of the engine getting fired up…you hear fast, strange clicks. What comes to mind?

You’d likely assume that your car battery is bad and needs a change.

You might be right but if it’s something as serious as a bad alternator…then that’s an expensive assumption. Why?

Well, if your car has a bad alternator, changing the battery will still leave you with the same problem and in the end…a dead battery.

A dead battery equals a dead car. In this article, you’ll find out all there is to know about alternators and save yourself from making a costly assumption.

Let’s begin…

What Is An Alternator?

Your car gets the charge it needs – to power up the engine – from the battery. Although some car batteries have huge storage capacities, there’s still a need for a built-in battery charger.

This is where the alternator comes in.

The alternator charges the battery while your car is running by turning its mechanical energy into electrical energy. Hence, it provides an abundant supply of electrical power to the engine, headlights, stereo, etc.

The alternator is driven by the serpentine belt [also called the drive belt] and you’ll find it attached to your car engine.

How Does An Alternator Work?

We’ve established that an alternator’s main job is to sustain the car battery by keeping it charged. It does this by using power from the engine and sending it to the battery to charge it. The alternator receives electrical power, from the engine, through the serpentine belt [drive belt]. Now you can see how important the serpentine belt is.

That’s why it’s essential to always make sure this belt remains tight and replaced when necessary. An alternator’s output is direct current [DC]. Once the pulley is rotated, alternating current [AC] will pass through a magnetic field and generate electrical current. The electrical current is then converted to direct current through the rectifier. You can refer to the alternator as a generator if you like…you’ll still be on the right path as it works like one.

What Causes An Alternator To Go Bad?

Why might an alternator go bad? Here are the reasons:

Weak Diodes: An alternator consists of three smaller alternators. These smaller alternators provide different levels of electrical power. These electrical power levels also have their pair of diodes. Once a pair of diodes fail, the rest will have to keep up and bear a larger share of the current capacity. Your car will still run unless all three pairs of diodes fail. When this happens, your car will be unable to carry out its electrical functions.
Inadequate Field Voltage: An alternator is required to have a field voltage of about 12 – 15 volts to be able to produce electrical power. Anything lesser than this will undermine the alternator’s performance. You can always make use of a voltmeter to check if enough volts are being transmitted to your car’s alternator.
Faulty Bearings: There are high-precision needle bearings that the alternator rotates on. These bearings are noiseless so you won’t hear them normally. When these bearings become faulty, the alternator will make a deep, loud noise. This usually sounds like two or more metals rubbing against each other. In the case of a faulty bearing, it’s best to have the alternator replaced.
Worn-out Rotation Belt: The alternator makes use of a rotation belt to generate electrical power. Over time, this rotation belt becomes loose and could slip as it wears out. The rotation belt is located close to the alternator’s pulley. If the belt looks cracked or shiny then you need to have your alternator replaced.

What Are The Warning Signs Of A Bad Alternator?

It’s possible to miss the warning signs of a failing alternator. This is because your car’s battery will still keep your engine running from its stored-up charge [gotten from the alternator before it went bad]. Once the battery has used up this stored-up charge, then your car will stop working. However, here are a few warning signs that you’ve got a bad alternator:

Dead Battery: If you replaced your dead battery with a new one and it dies again then it’s a sign that the problem is from your alternator and not your car battery. A brand-new battery and a bad alternator will always leave you stranded…with a dead car.
Engine Stalls: If your car engine stops all of a sudden while you’re driving, it’s likely an alternator problem. Without an adequate supply of electrical power – provided by the alternator – your engine will stall.
Dimming Headlights: A bad alternator causes voltage variations and will make your car’s headlights dim or to flicker. You’d usually notice this problem early if you observe closely. If you notice that your car’s headlights dim when the engine is idle and becomes brighter when you fire it up then it means your alternator is undercharged and will soon die out. In some cars, an undercharging alternator will highlight a ‘check engine light’ notification on the dashboard.
Bad Smell: Noticed a smell similar to that of ‘burning plastic’? It means the alternator wires or internals are burnt. If it smells acidic instead, it’s a sign that the alternator is overcharging which can result in a leaky, damaged battery.

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