SHOP TALK: ALL ABOUT ALTERNATORS

Your vehicle’s alternator is one of those parts you generally never think about, until it fails and sends you to the repair shop. So, here’s a quick look at everything you need to know about it:

What does the alternator do?

It charges the vehicle’s battery and helps power electrical accessories.

How does it work?

In a nutshell, it creates AC power through electromagnetism via the relationship between a rotor and stator. The power is stored in the battery and converted to DC power to operate the vehicle’s accessories. The rotor is spun by a pulley connected to the alternator and driven by the engine’s drive or serpentine belt.

It’s important because …

While the battery is a power storehouse, its power doesn’t last long when a vehicle is started and things like the radio, lights and heater are working. The alternator continually charges the battery, ensuring there’s sufficient power to keep everything running – and making sure there’s enough power to start the car in the morning.

It might be going bad if …

The engine labours or is slow to start, very much like a weak or dead battery. That’s because a weak battery is a casualty of a bad alternator. If the alternator is going bad, it won’t sufficiently charge the battery. Also, a dashboard light that illuminates and says “ALT” or “CHARGE” or is a battery symbol is an indicator the alternator is going bad and should be inspected immediately.

You shouldn’t wait because …

There generally won’t be much of a clue before the alternator starts to go bad, but when it does, don’t wait to get it checked out – and don’t plan to drive far. When the alternator fails, you’ll only have a few minutes of battery power to keep your vehicle going. Find a safe place to pull over before the vehicle stops altogether.