Easy tips

What can keep killing your alternator?

What can keep killing your alternator?

“your car needed a new alternator, and this battery cable needed to be replaced also.” Running in full charge mode continuously can kill an alternator, so trying to have your new alternator try and charge your dead battery can result in immediate alternator failure.

Why does my truck keep going through alternators?

It is possible that the drive belt has broken or come off the pulley, or the tensioner went bad completely. Alternators put out alternating current, and the battery needs direct current to charge, so there is a voltage rectifier that converts it, and it can suddenly go bad, too.

What does it mean when your alternator is not working?

Headlights are dim or flickering Flickering or dim headlights are a strong signal that your alternator may not be working correctly. The alternator provides power to the headlights, so the flickering usually means the alternator is struggling to perform.

Can a bad alternator leave a Dodge Ram without power?

A bad alternator can leave your Dodge Ram without power and unable to move. Alternators don’t always go bad in the exact same way. We’ll cover the symptoms of when an alternator goes bad, and how to diagnose a bad one (which is really pretty easy).

Is it a case of your alternator being possessed?

Is this a case of your auto being possessed? No. Most likely it’s one of many possible alternator problems, and without some attention, the alternator can cause car trouble ranging from slow starts all the way up to a dead car.

Can a bad alternator cause an engine Rattle?

This seems like a vague symptom–after all, lots of things can cause unusual noises in the car. However, sometimes alternator failure can cause some of the bearings to fail in the engine, creating unusual rattles. The alternator might be the culprit, especially if accompanied by some of the other symptoms we’ve mentioned.

What does it mean when battery and alternator don’t match?

Also the voltage at the battery and the voltage at the alternator should be within 0.5v of each other. If the voltage at the battery and alternator don’t match. For example the battery reads 12v and alternator reads 14v. This means that there is an issue with wiring. While applying the same conditions as above.

Can a bad alternator leave a Chevy Silverado without power?

A bad alternator can leave your Chevy Silverado without power and unable to move. Alternators don’t always go bad in the exact same way. We’ll cover the symptoms of when an alternator goes bad, and how to diagnose a bad one (which is really pretty easy).

What are the symptoms of a bad alternator?

In rare occasions the service engine soon light may light up. Also, some vehicles have an “alt” light that specifically tells you there is a problem with the charging system, and not the battery itself. Outside of the battery warning light, a dead battery is the most common symptom of a bad alternator.

What to do if your alternator has bad ground?

Place the red lead on the positive battery terminal (if possible dig it into the battery post, not the terminal). Place the black lead on the bad post of the alternator. Same thing as above, if the voltage is above 0.5v then examine the positive cabling for problems.

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Ruth Doyle