If your car is getting hard to start or it stops running after you get it started, you may be worried about some kind of issue with three important parts of the starter system, the car battery, the alternator, and the car starter. How do you know which one is the culprit, you ask? This is when you need to head to your auto repair shop to have your auto mechanic check out these three parts and pinpoint the source of your starting issues.
If the starter and battery are ruled as the cause of your starting issues that means the alternator is failing to do its job of keeping the battery charged. This means that your battery is not receiving the power it needs to ignite the car starter, and ultimately, your battery will be completely drained of power.
But how can you know when your alternator is starting to fail so you are not left stranded on the side of the road one day? Here are various general recommendations from manufacturers of alternators for preventative maintenance:
- Check some parts, like brushes, at specific mileage or time intervals (about every 12 to 24 months).
- Follow specific procedures for testing the field of outputs.
- Visual inspections can pinpoint damage to the alternator from heat, vibration, and external contaminants to the connections, as well as oil or other fluid leaks.
- Inspect the tension of the belts about every 30K to 40K miles. Too tight can damage the bearings and too loose prevents correct charging.
Tip to Remember: In older vehicles, the alternator only had to power a few things, such as the radio, lights, and ignition. Though, in today’s modern vehicles, the alternator’s load has increased significantly powering GPS units, heated seats, power windows, seats, door locks, built-in computers, and sensors, plus more!
Worried about what causes alternators to fail? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about the starting system and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves car owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.
