3 Signs of a Alternator Failure

Giulia Nigrini
Giulia Nigrini
Vehicle Service Contract Specialist, Traveler, Car Enthusiast
January 20, 2022
4
min. read
close up front view of a red mustang

Avoid mechanical breakdowns on the side of the road by knowing what the signs are of an alternator failure. Knowing this information will help to keep you and those who you care about safe from potential accidents caused by a fault in the alternator.

Keep Your Eyes Open

An alternator failure will lead to your engine becoming useless and even dangerous. Catching the failure early on is the best way to ensure a speedy and successful repair period for the car. All cars do have a light that appears as “ALT” or “GEN” which warns you that there is an issue with the alternator and a clear sign to take the car in for a check. Other than the light here are 3 other signs of failure:

Dim or Flickering Headlights

The alternator supplies power to your car’s headlights. If you notice that they seem dim or flicker regularly it would be best to have it checked. This could mean that there is something faulty with the alternator and ultimately lead to failure.

Difficulty Starting and/or Stalling

Cars require electricity to function. The alternator provides the power to the spark plugs which ignite the gasoline when starting the engine. When there is difficulty starting the car or persistent stalling it could be a sign that a failure is imminent. Be sure to take the car in for a check-up and fix the issue.

Battery Stops Working

As you drive around your alternator is working to help recharge your battery. Sometimes when the alternator is failing it could cause the battery to drain. Eventually, your car is unable to start as the battery is no longer storing any power. Though other faults can lead to battery failures it is often linked to the alternator.

We certainly hope this quick list of what signs to look out for in terms of an alternator failure was useful to you. Please do share if you know of anyone who may benefit from this information. See our list below of related articles that might be of interest to you:

Why Investing in an Extended Car Warranty is a Good Idea

An extended car warranty is a vehicle service contract meant to alleviate the stress and cost of car ownership. They keep your car’s critical parts covered in the event of a mechanical breakdown. The vehicle service contract exists between you and the provider where both parties need to uphold their side of the agreement. Basically this means that as long as you stick with your car’s maintenance schedule, the provider makes sure you are covered when those mechanical failures occur. There are a few reasons you should consider purchasing an extended car warranty, such as the following:

What does an Extended Car Warranty Cover?

An extended car warranty covers various parts of your vehicle. Starting from the most basic, a powertrain plan, then your powertrain plus plans that offer mid-range coverage, to the most comprehensive, a bumper-to-bumper or exclusionary plan. Chaiz offers wonderful extended car warranty plans through our esteemed providers on three main tiers as mentioned above. Powertrain plans and powertrain plus plans tend to last for longer and are more affordable while the bumper-to-bumper plans are shorter but cover the majority of your car’s parts.

Powertrain and powertrain plus warranty commonly covers:

Bumper-to-Bumper commonly covers all parts but NOT the following:

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Making Car Ownership Easier

Maintaining your vehicle is important for longevity as well as the resale value should you decide to sell one day. Our tips and advice column is all about getting you the information you need to keep your vehicle in good condition and improve the experience of vehicle ownership. For exceptional coverage in the event of a mechanical breakdown, choose Chaiz. Research and compare plans from providers throughout the country all at your own pace.
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