Signs You Need an Alternator Repair at Your Chevrolet Dealer

An alternator is an essential component in your car, as it produces your Chevrolet’s electrical supply. The electricity it produces is supplied to all the components and devices, from the windshield wipers to the radio and spark plugs. An alternator can fail due to age, damage, or failure of other components. If your alternator isn’t working correctly, your Chevrolet Service Department can fix it. These are some signs you need an alternator repair.

Dim Lights

Dim headlights are often overlooked as a sign of alternator problems, as many drivers assume the bulbs are failing due to age. The bulbs, however, could be dim due to a lack of power supply from a worn alternator. If your cabin and dash lights are also not as bright as they should be, you could have a failing alternator. Our technicians would need to test the alternator to confirm the problem.

An aging or damaged alternator supplies less power than it should. If the alternator can’t supply enough power for all your components, your computer must allocate the available power. To ensure essential systems always work, the computer will supply just enough power for the components to work. If your alternator is wearing out, we can replace it for you.

Broken Wiring

Over a mile of electrical wires and cables carry the electricity from the alternator to all your Chevrolet’s electrical systems. An engine is a harsh environment for wiring, as the wires are subject to movement, heat, dirt, and grease. The wires are protected against these potential hazards by thick plastic insulation. Car wiring, however, will age or get damaged and this will cause electrical problems.

If a wire breaks, it will automatically cut off the power supply to its connected component. This can, for example, mean your AC suddenly fails as the blower motor has lost power due to a broken wire. The alternator will continue to try and supply power through the broken wire.

Jammed Alternator Pulley

The alternator is powered by the movement of the alternator belt, which connects to the crankshaft. As the crankshaft turns, the alternator belt runs at high speed across the alternator pulley. This movement causes the alternator pulley to spin and powers the alternator. We routinely check the alternator belt and pulley during your scheduled car services.

If the alternator pulley isn’t checked, it can suffer metal fatigue, rust, or other damage. Damage can cause the alternator pulley to spin slower than it should or to not spin at all. If the pulley spins slower, the alternator will also work slowly and this creates electrical problems.

If you suspect an alternator problem, call us at Chevrolet of Ottawa.

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