The alternator is one of the most important components in your car. It uses the mechanical power from the turning of the crankshaft to produce electricity for your car’s systems. The additional power produced by the alternator is then stored in the battery. If your alternator starts to wear the whole system will be disrupted. When you need an alternator repair, call your Hyundai dealer and we’ll fix it for you. These are signals that your alternator is wearing out.
Starting Problems
When you turn the key, your battery sends an electrical charge to the starter solenoid to crank the engine and start your car. The process should be almost instantaneous and effortless. If your car starts to take longer to crank, this could be a sign that your battery needs to be replaced or it could be a problem with the alternator.
Your alternator is responsible for charging your battery as your car moves. Whan an alternator begins wearing out, it doesn’t produce enough power and one of the side effects is a lower recharging rate for the battery. It takes a large electrical charge from the battery to start the engine, and a weakened alternator will not be supplying enough power. The starting delay is due to the battery needing to build up a sufficient charge to power the starter.
Damaged Wires
Your alternator produces power by converting mechanical energy from the crankshaft into electrical energy to power the systems of your car. This power is transmitted to all the electrical systems through a network of cables and wires. The cables and wires are protected by rubber coatings and they’re designed to work in the hot conditions of the engine. Wires can suffer damage or start to wear, and if they’re damaged they become less efficient at transmission power.
Damaged wires can cause the components attached to them to fail as the component is starved of selectivity. Your alternator will continue to supply power, and as more electricity is forced through damaged wires, the wires will heat up and give off a metallic smell.
Stalling Problems
A stalling problem can be extremely dangerous, as your car will suddenly just stop dead. If you’re unprepared, your car suddenly halting could cause a serious accident. The alternator is responsible for providing power to the spark plugs to ignite the fuel-air mix in the combustion chamber and allow your car to move. A weakening alternator will provide less power, and this reduced power can affect the spark plugs.
Your car’s computer regulates the available power, and you may notice stuttering from your engine as the computer sifts more electricity to keep the spark plugs working. If your alternator breaks down, your spark plugs will lose power and your call will stall.
If your alternator doesn’t seem to be working properly, call us ASAP at Crain Hyundai of Little Rock. Our expert technicians will fix the problem right away.
Image via Hyundai.
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