The alternator is a very important part of your car’s electrical system. It turns mechanical energy from the crankshaft into electricity to power your car’s electrical devices, like the radio, windshield wipers, and others. The excess energy your alternator produces is stored in the battery and keeps the battery at full charge. An alternator lasts for many years, but as with any component, it can suffer damage. When you need an alternator repair, your Chrysler dealer will fix it.
Battery Warning Light Comes On
When a warning light comes on on your dash, it is always an indication that something is wrong. Your car has numerous sensors connected to its vital components. Each sensor checks that the component it’s attached to is working correctly, and if all is well the light on the dash stays dark. If a problem is detected, the sensor will immediately illuminate the relevant warning light.
The battery-shaped light is responsible to rate the electrical charging system, and it will light up if the voltage in the system changes. The alternator produces electrical power for your car and its voltage output is between 13.5 and 14 volts. A change in the voltage is a sign that your alternator is struggling and needs to be checked. Our technicians will test the alternator, and a simple repair may be all that’s needed to fix the problem.
Starting Problem
Your battery provides the charge to start your engine, but it has a very limited electrical storage capacity. The alternator, as we have seen, provides energy to keep the battery topped up. If your alternator starts to wear out, it becomes less efficient at producing electricity. An alternator that fails won’t produce any power at all, and the battery will have to draw from its stored power.
A good, fully-charged battery only has sufficient energy to power your car’s electrical systems for approximately 14 minutes and then it will run out of juice. When you turn your key, the battery sends a charge to the starter solenoid that will crank the engine. The solenoid requires a large amount of power to start the engine, and a battery that is weakening due to a faulty alternator will not have enough charge to start the system immediately.
Sudden Stalling
The alternator supplies power to all the electrical systems in your car including the spark plugs. When you step on the gas, fuel enters the combustion chamber and mixes with air drawn in through the radiator. The spark plugs provide the spark to ignite this mixture and cause the controlled explosions that allow your car to move.
An alternator that fails won’t produce any electricity, and if the spark plugs are deprived of power they will stop working immediately and your car will stall.
If you experience any problem with your alternator, call our expert technicians at Ourisman Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Alexandria. We’ll find the problem and repair or replace your alternator.
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