![]() You may also have a radio that won’t turn on, or power windows that are slow to come up. You may notice a clicking sound when attempting to start the engine. Perhaps the car won’t turn over, or the car stutters when turning on. When your vehicle is having these issues, you’ll often notice other bad battery symptoms, too. It could indicate that your battery is damaged or worn out, or that the charging system is malfunctioning in some way. Your battery light, also called the dashboard battery indicator, is designed to let you know about an issue with your vehicle’s battery or charging system. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A BATTERY LIGHT ON CAR? Here, we’ll answer the most common questions about batteries, including what to do if you see the battery light on. But when the battery light on car turns on, you need to know how to respond. There are home tests that can be conducted but to know for sure what problems are occurring and how to fix them effectively you should have your car tested by a trained mechanic.Like most drivers, you probably spend more time thinking about road trip playlists than you do about your car’s battery. While these are all signs that your alternator is going bad, to know for sure you’ll need to have it tested. Other items that could be affected include power locks, windshield wipers and heated seats. Your power windows could operate more slowly. Electric failures could present themselves in a variety of ways. Since the alternator is the primary source of electrical power in your car, electrical failures are signs that it is going bad. Bad Alternator Sign #5: Electric Failures.In the beginning stages of a problem this light may come on and off sporadically. If it’s not working correctly the voltage can go below or above these levels, which will signal the warning light. Alternators often have outputs between 13 and 15 volts. Most vehicles have a specific light that is battery shaped that will come on to signal if there is an issue. The Chicago Tribune reports that if the alternator has failed, a warning light will normally come on. Of course a weak or dying battery could be the problem, but if you’ve already eliminated this possibility it’s likely your alternator isn’t working. The alternator could be bad if your car won’t start or it’s turning over several times before finally starting. Bad Alternator Sign #4: Difficulty Starting Your Car.If you hear any type of whining or grinding sound that’s a good indication that your alternator needs to be checked. Your car can also make a whining sound when the voltage regulator is sending signals to the alternator to charge more than is necessary. The grinding sound may be caused by a worn-out bearing. If you’re hearing a grinding sound in your car, this could indicate that the alternator is going bad. If one of these parts starts to work ineffectively or breaks off, you may hear some unusual sounds. It’s important to note that once an alternator goes bad the electrical devices will attempt to draw power from the battery, which in turn could cause the battery to die more quickly.Īn alternator has a lot of moving parts that spin when it’s working correctly. If it’s still sending out a strong charge, the battery is likely not the problem. Without starting the car, you can check the battery gauge on the dashboard. This means it’s important to distinguish between a weak battery and a bad alternator.Īccording to Nationwide, there are a few different ways to find out if you’ve got a dead battery or an alternator gone bad. An alternator can help replenish the battery in your car, but it can’t keep it going indefinitely. ![]() ![]() Bad Alternator Sign #2: Weak or Dead BatteryĪ battery that seems to be weak or has died may mean your alternator is going bad as well.Both flickering and dimming are strong indications that your alternator is no longer capable of generating adequate power. Lights that are dim across the dashboard are also indications of a problem. An alternator that is in good working condition will maintain bright headlights no matter what speed you are traveling.īesides flickering, your headlights may also begin to weaken or grow dim. If you notice that as you increase or decrease the speed of your engine that your headlights will grow brighter and dimmer, this is a red flag. It Still Runs states that dimming headlights is one of the first signs that your alternator is starting to malfunction. Bad Alternator Sign #1: Flickering Headlights.There are several signs you need to watch for that may indicate your alternator is bad. An alternator that’s going bad can affect your car in many ways. An alternator works with your battery to charge your vehicle’s electrical systems. ![]()
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