When you need an alternator repair, you’ll notice problems with your car’s electrical system. It may even seem like you have a dead battery, but the culprit could be your alternator. When your car’s electrical system is having problems, you need to head to the Honda dealer to find out exactly what’s causing the issue.
Is It Time for an Alternator Repair from Your Honda Dealer? 6 Signs
1. The Battery Light Switches On
The battery warning light in your car can switch on when there’s any kind of problem with your electrical system. Reasons it may switch on include wiring problems, a dead battery, or a faulty alternator that’s making it seem like your battery is having issues.
2. The Engine Is Stalling
Your vehicle might stall if your alternator fails while you’re driving. You may be able to get the car started again by jumpstarting it, but this will only work if there’s still some charge left in your vehicle. Even if it does switch on, it usually won’t stay on for very long because a faulty alternator may not be able to charge the battery while you’re driving, leading to a loss of power.
3. The Engine Has a Burning Smell
Sometimes alternator problems can create a burning smell under the hood. The smell usually occurs if there’s damage to the drive belt.
4. The Battery Is Dead
A dead battery isn’t always a broken battery that needs to be replaced. Sometimes your battery will act as though it’s malfunctioning, but in reality, the battery is functioning just fine: it just isn’t charged.
As we mentioned earlier, a faulty alternator may not be able to charge the battery, so you may be unable to get the car started one morning when you head out to drive to work. Sometimes the battery won’t be completely dead, but you may have a difficult time getting the car started because it’s undercharged.
5. The Electronic Accessories Are Failing
Your electronic accessories will fail if there’s a problem with the battery, the alternator, the wiring, or another part of your electrical system. Sometimes an electrical feature will stop working completely, but other times, you’ll notice the features are just slowing down. The windows may move up and down sluggishly, or your phone might take an eternity to charge when plugged into one of the USB ports in your car.
6. The Lights Are Dim
Lights are also electronics that can suffer when your alternator is in disrepair. Because your battery doesn’t have sufficient power to supply the lights inside and outside your car, they may become dim or start to flicker. The headlights can be badly affected by a faulty alternator.
If your car is having any of the problems above, then it’s time to get it checked out. Come to Boyd Honda Oxford in Oxford, NC today.
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