Most of the systems in your Chevy depend on a continuous supply of electricity. The alternator in your engine is responsible for generating power and recharging your battery. An alternator, like any mechanical system, can wear out or get damaged due to other component problems. If this happens, your Chevy dealer can provide an alternator repair. We’d like to tell you about some signs that your alternator could be failing.
Dead Battery
The battery is responsible for providing the power that starts your engine. Supplying this power uses a large portion of your battery’s reserves. Under normal conditions, your alternator will begin recharging the battery as soon as your engine starts. If your alternator is wearing out, it supplies less power. The reduced power supply will become obvious if your car experiences electrical glitches.
Strange electrical behavior is a sign the alternator can’t supply enough power. The lack of power will affect the battery, as the alternator can’t supply enough power to recharge the battery. Each time you start your car, the battery will become weaker and eventually fail. Our technicians will test your alternator and the battery to find the cause of the problem.
Flickering Headlights
Flickering lights are one of the first signs that the headlight bulbs are failing. If you recently installed bulbs, this problem could be due to a weak alternator. As we’ve seen, a weak alternator produces less power. The lack of power means some systems will receive just enough electricity to function and will cause the lights to flicker.
Headlight bulbs require a sufficient and stable supply of electricity to work effectively. They are sensitive to any fluctuations in the electrical system. If the light bulbs only receive enough power to light up, they are more likely to fail faster than they should. We’ll examine the electrical system to find the problem. If we install a new alternator, we’ll also test the bulbs to ensure they’re in good shape.
Screeching Noises
Screeching noises from the engine can be caused by a worn or damaged alternator belt. This belt is responsible for powering eh alternator. The belt connects to the crankshaft and the belt runs across a series of pulleys as the crankshaft turns. The belt’s movement causes the pulleys to spin and powers components attached to them, like the alternator, AC compressor, and others.
A worn belt can jam as it passes over a worn or rusted pulley. It can also move slightly off-center, and this creates a screeching sound. We can replace a damaged belt very quickly.
A failing alternator can result in serious electrical problems. Call us right away at Sax Motor Co.
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