Your car’s alternator plays an essential role, as it produces the energy to power all of your car’s electrical devices and gadgets. The alternator is powered by the crankshaft, and the alternator converts the mechanical energy produced by the turning of the crankshaft into electricity. Like any mechanical part, your alternator needs to be maintained or it will eventually break down. When you need an alternator repair, your Cadillac dealer is here to help.
A Dead Battery
Your car’s battery provides the charge to start your engine, and it also supplies the power many of the systems need when your car is stationary. The interior lights, door chimes, and car alarms are just a few of the devices supported by the battery. A car battery has a limited life, and it will usually wear out within five years. If your battery isn’t very old and it suddenly dies, a damaged alternator could be the problem.
If you have a worn alternator and it suddenly fails, your battery will no longer be recharged. A battery isn’t physically capable of storing a large supply of electricity, and as your car’s systems draw on the battery instead of the alternator your battery will also fail. Our technicians can test your alternator and replace it if it’s worn out. With a new alternator, your battery should start recharging again.
Headlight Problems
Problems with your headlights can be a good sign of a failing alternator. When your alternator is working correctly, it produces more than enough electricity for your car, but it loses capacity as it ages. If your alternator isn’t supplying enough power, the limited energy available will be supplied to as many systems as possible depending on their priority.
The most important systems in your car, for example, the spark plugs will have a higher priority for power than your radio or CD player. If your headlights are dim when you switch them on and then they suddenly become too bright your alternator may be failing. A weak alternator provides just enough energy to your headlights to come on, then shifts additional power to the headlights and they become too bright.
Battery Light Comes On
The battery light shows that there is a problem with the charging system, not just the battery. A good alternator produces 13.5 to 14 volts, but when an alternator starts to go bad it provides less voltage. A sensor attached to the alternator will identify the reduced voltage and if the voltage doesn’t increase, the battery light will come on.
If your battery is aging and isn’t holding an electrical charge well, a sensor attached to the battery will also cause the battery to come on. Our technicians will test the electrical system and we’ll find the cause of the problem.
A dead alternator can very quickly lead to a dead battery. If your car is showing odd signs of electrical issues call us immediately at Airport Cadillac.
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