Wondering What Causes Alternators to go Bad?

Are you starting to experience starting problems and don’t trust your car anymore? Is there a problem with the battery, the alternator, or the starter, you wonder? How do you know which one?

What About the Starter System?

The alternator is located on the engine and provides power to the battery, continuously charging it along with the electrical system and computers. The battery ignites the starter, but the alternator keeps the car running. The lifespan of an alternator is affected by the quality, how the car is driven, and how many electronic accessories are being used inside the car. When you start having starting problems though, it's difficult to know whether it’s the fault of the car starter, the car battery, or the alternator.

Even though the starter system (composed of the alternator, starter, and car battery) was designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions, just the normal wear and tear, extreme conditions, and poor maintenance can all create problems.

What Causes Alternators to go Bad?

• Using jumper cables wrong,
• An accessory that overloads the charging system,
• Leaking fluid in the alternator, or
• A tight belt in the alternator that can damage bearings.

When the alternator goes bad, the battery will eventually die as the electronics have to draw all of their power from it. Check the alternator even if you suspect the car starter or battery may be the cause of the problem. The alternator can die with little or no warning but there a few signs to watch for:

1. The "ALT" or "GEN" light illuminates on the instrument panel.
2. The lights are dimmer than usual and may pulsate from dim to bright.
3. Other electrical systems, such as power windows, power locks, air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc., will start to act up.
4. Bearings in the engine may fail, creating unusual rattles.
5. The engine will stall as there is not enough power in the spark plugs to start the engine or to keep it running.
6. The battery will lose its charge because the alternator can’t keep it charged.

Remember: If you are having starting problems, before replacing the starter or battery, check out the alternator. It could be the culprit!

Wondering what causes alternators to go bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about your car starter, battery, and alternator and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.