what are the causes of a bad alternator?
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['Test the Output. When an alternator wears out, it does so in stages. ... ', 'Check the Battery. Many times, the alternator will fail from being "stressed" by a dead or dying battery. ... ', 'Listening for Sounds. Inside the alternator is a rotor that spins on a set of ball bearings. ... ', 'Losing Ground. ... ', 'Belt Slippage.']
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If the battery is weak or dead, the car will continue to run but the lights will again become dim after a short time, indicating a problem with the charging system. If the vehicle has difficulty starting after the battery is fully charged, the problem likely is with the alternator.
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['Engine Sputters at High Speeds. ... ', 'Rising Temperature. ... ', 'Fuel Pressure Gauge. ... ', 'Loss of Power When the Vehicle Is Under Stress. ... ', 'Surging. ... ', 'Decreased Gas Mileage. ... ', 'Engine Will Not Start.']
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The alternator provides power to the spark plugs that ignite the gasoline in your engine. When the alternator is failing, there might not be enough power in the spark plugs to keep the engine alive, which can cause it to stall for no reason while running, or to have trouble starting.
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Another simple test is to check your interior lights. An alternator charges your battery when the car is running. If the interior and dashboard lights come on brightly but slowly start to fade, then it indicates a problem whit the alternator.
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Driving with your Battery Light on is not a good idea. If the battery is bad, the alternator is faulty, or the wiring is bad, these can cause the vehicle to lose power and not operate like it normally would. The battery powers essential parts of your car, so it is a must have piece of equipment.
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Bad diodes are a common cause of alternator failure. The diodes are part of the rectifier assembly that converts the alternator's AC output to DC. The alternator's charging output flows through six diodes in the rectifier assembly before it goes to the battery and electrical system.
68013
An illuminated dashboard light can indicate a problem with an automobile charging system. However, a very simple way to check if the alternator is working is to run the car and disconnect the positive terminal of the battery. If the vehicle stops running, then you probably have a bad alternator.
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A simple test to check the working of the alternator is by running your car; and then unplugging the positive connection of the battery. If the car stops, then you most likely have a problem with the alternator. Another simple test is to check your interior lights.
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Alternator at Fault: However, a very simple way to check if the alternator is working is to run the car and disconnect the positive terminal of the battery. If the vehicle stops running, then you probably have a bad alternator. You can also examine your interior and dashboard lights.
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If the alternator starts to die, you might notice your headlights and/or dashboard lights beginning to dim. Once the dash light or headlights dim, it is a clear indication of potential alternator malfunction.
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Defective Alternator If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can drain. The bad alternator diode can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is shut off, and you end up in the morning with a car that won't start.
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Another sign that your alternator is not charging is that the dash lights and headlights will get lower when your car is idling, but become brighter when you rev your engine. This means that you could have a weak alternator, or a poor connection at the battery terminals.
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faulty starter can cause a drain on a battery. It can pull too much energy or consistently drain off energy.
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['Frequent stalls.', 'Strange noises, including knocking and pinging.', 'Alternator problems.', 'Reduction in power.', 'Vehicle jerking/rough ride.', 'Exhaust odor.', 'After-run (the engine coughs and chugs for several seconds after shutting off the ignition)', 'Sluggishness upon acceleration.']
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While the engine is running, remove the negative cable from the battery. If the vehicle stalls or dies, the alternator is likely bad. This happens because the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the engine running on its own. If the car continues to the run, the problem may lie with the battery.
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['Dimming lighting system: The alternator is responsible for passing off the charge to the car battery. ... ', 'Unusual sound: ... ', 'Visual check: ... ', 'Discharging car battery: ... ', 'Rapid clicks: ... ', 'Non-stop rotation: ... ', 'Gear block:']