Related: Hearing Car Sounds? When Should You See A Mechanic
Related: Common Car Electrical System Problems
Related: The Importance of Maintaining Your Car Even When Driving Less

What Does Your Car’s Alternator Do?

The alternator is a key part of your car’s electrical system. Put simply, it converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and is essential to keeping your battery fully charged and getting your engine started. Once your car is running, the alternator powers the majority of your car’s electric functions, including the headlights, power steering, windshield wipers, radio, and even the heated seats. It does this with the help of your drive belt, so be sure to have both checked if you experience the following issues.

Dim or Flickering Headlights

As an alternator wears out and fails, it starts providing inconsistent voltage to the electronic accessories it powers. This can make your headlights dimmer than usual, brighter than usual, or appear to be flickering. The longer this goes on, the more likely you could run into real issues with a failing alternator. 

A Frequent Dead Battery

This one can be tough because it could mean a number of things. A dead battery could just be you left something on when you parked your car or it could be an old, worn-out battery that needs to be replaced. It could also signal that your alternator is wearing out. This is because a bad alternator won’t be able to charge your car battery very well, meaning that a less than fully charged battery will take less load for its power to deplete. If it’s been at least 5 years since you got a new battery or had yours checked out, you can start with that. But if your battery is somewhat newer and keeps dying or the engine is cranking slowly, it could point to a failing alternator.

Trouble with Electronic Features

Your alternator doesn’t just charge your car’s battery. It also helps power most of the electronic components you enjoy and rely on when driving. Your power windows may roll down a bit slower, your radio may glitch, your headlights appear dim, or your seat warmers could stop working as well as they usually do. Any of these could be a sign your alternator is failing.

Difficulty Starting Your Car or Frequent Stalling

There are a couple of different parts that could be impacted if you’re experiencing these symptoms. If you have trouble starting your car, it could be the battery – or the alternator not charging the battery enough to crank the engine properly. If your car frequently stalls, it could be the computer system is not being supplied enough power or too much power. In either case, it’s best to have a mechanic diagnose the underlying problem.

Loud Squealing and Smelling Burning Rubber

There are a lot of possibilities when you notice a burning smell from your car. Paying attention to when you hear this noise and what type of burning smell you notice can help identify what’s causing it. In particular, smelling burning rubber when you haven’t recently locked up your brakes could point to your alternator drive belt slipping because the alternator bearing is going bad.    Another possibility is a smell like an electrical fire or a very acidic smell. Any time you smell burning or an acidic sulfur smell when driving or around your vehicle, no matter the timing, you should have a  professional Technician take a look.

Battery Warning Light

The Battery Warning Light relates to much more than just the battery. It really can mean a problem with any part of your car’s electrical system, which includes the alternator. If the alternator is to blame, you may notice the warning light flickering. When this happens, have a professional Techncian take a look to accurately diagnose what’s causing the light to illuminate.