The alternator is a component that is easy to ignore until something goes wrong with it. When you start your engine, the battery supplies the change to the starter. Once your car is moving, your alternator supplies the electrical power to your car's systems and also charges the battery as you drive. An alternator can fail, and these are the signs to watch for. If you need an alternator repair in New Carrollton, MD your car dealer can help you. 1. Damaged Electrical Connections The alternator is a dynamo that creates electrical power through your car's movement. This power is distributed to all the electrical systems in your car via wires and cables. Individual cables can suffer wear, and if they do, they will have greater difficulty in distributing power. Some of your electrical systems may start to suffer intermittent problems. more Damaged wiring will prevent power from reaching the necessary components and the wiring will start to heat up. If you smell the odor of hot wire or burning plastic, these can be signs of damaged wiring. The smell is very unpleasant, and burning plastic emits toxic chemicals. We advise calling us immediately, and our skilled technicians can check and repair or replace any damaged wiring. 2. Dead Battery A battery, especially if it is five or more years old, can simply fail due to age. If your car battery is relatively new and it fails, this can be a sign of an alternator problem. The alternator charges your battery as your car drives, but as the alternator starts to wear out it becomes less efficient at generating power. Eventually, the alternator will not generate enough power to charge your battery, and the battery will run down. Under normal conditions, your alternator should last for approximately eight years before it wears out. Maintaining a regular service schedule for your car is important, as our technicians check your vehicle's components and can spot signs of wearing parts. Regular checks also help to maintain all the components and increase their lifespan. 3. Starting and Stalling Problems The battery supplies power to start your engine, but a battery's power can run down very quickly. If your alternator is failing and it is not able to supply enough power to your battery to charge it, your car will experience starting difficulties. When you start the ignition, you should be rewarded with the purr of your car’s engine. If there is a delay, this is a sign of a charging issue. Stalling can be extremely dangerous depending on where you are driving when it happens. The alternator supplies electrical power to your spark plugs for them to ignite the fuel. If your alternator fails, the spark plugs won't spark, and your car can simply stop dead. Get Your Alternator Repair at Our Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM Dealer in New Carrollton, MD Now you know some of the signs of an alternator failure, if you experience any of them call us right away at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of New Carrollton. Do you need other auto repairs in New Carrollton? We have a comprehensive list of repairs that we do here at our Service Department.
