When you start your car, the battery supplies the power to the ignition, and your engine turns over. Once your car is moving, your alternator takes over and supplies power to your car’s electrical system and it also recharges the battery. If your alternator fails, your car’s battery can only supply power for about 14 minutes if it is fully charged itself. As your GMC dealer, we don’t want you to ever be stuck on the side of the road. These are some of the signs to watch for that you need an alternator repair.
3 Signs Your Vehicle Needs an Alternator Repair at Your GMC Dealer
Battery Light Goes On
The battery light is a good indication that something has gone wrong with your charging system. The problem may be a minor one, but as with any problem, if it is not repaired it will grow worse. The light indicates that the voltage in the electrical system is less than your car’s electrical systems requirement.
The alternator supplies the electrical power to all your car’s electrical components, and if it starts to fail it will produce less power, and the warning light will come on. If the battery light comes or flickers on and off, contact our service department and we will find and repair the problem.
Dead Battery
A battery lasts for 3-5 years and then needs to be replaced. If you have an old battery and it dies, we will replace the battery. If your battery is new and it dies, this means that there is a problem with your alternator. A failing alternate doesn’t provide enough power to completely charge the battery, and the battery will run down and eventually die. We will check the alternator, and if it is failing, we will replace it with a new one.
Strange Noises
Every driver is familiar with the sounds their car makes, and any unusual sound is cause for concern. The serpentine belt runs on pulleys through numerous engine components including the alternator. Due to constant friction and heat in the engine, this belt can fray and wear. The belt can also slip off one or more of the pulleys and it will start to make a squealing sound.
Bearings inside the alternator can also fail, and they produce a grinding sound. You might also hear a knocking sound, which can happen when one of the belts on the alternator snaps and hits against other engine components. We always recommend that you contact us if you hear any unusual sounds from the engine, so we can examine your car and fix the problem.
If you are in the Lake City, FL area you are always in safe hands if your alternator starts to fail.
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