5 signs of a broken car alternator
(Baonghean.vn) - The car's alternator is a device that generates electricity to charge the battery and supply power to electrical equipment that operates during vehicle operation. When the alternator is damaged, the vehicle cannot operate... Below are some symptoms when the car's alternator has problems.
1. Difficulty starting the engine
If you turn the key to start the engine and the engine cranks weakly, taking a long time to start, it may be due to a faulty alternator, causing the battery to not be charged and not have enough voltage to start the engine.
When encountering the above situation, quickly drive to the garage for timely repair, otherwise your car may be stuck on the road at any time... Note that while driving, you should turn off unnecessary electrical equipment such as: air conditioner, headlights, radio... to concentrate the battery's power on the engine to have enough time to drive to the garage.
- 2. The charging indicator light comes on when the engine is running.
A normal generator system will have a charging indicator light (with a red battery icon) that will light up when the key is turned on to notify the driver of the system's presence, and this light must turn off when the engine is running (the generator is working). If you see the charging indicator light on while the engine is running, quickly take the car to the garage for inspection and repair.
3. Headlights are dimmed
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When the car's alternator malfunctions, the car's headlights will become visibly dim, or sometimes even brighter, the speedometer will stop, and the systems using energy from the generator will operate more slowly... This may be related to the generator, especially with generators that have been around for a long time. To be sure, you can replace the spare headlights and check again. If the new headlights still have the above problem, you should take the car to a repair shop for a quick fix.
4. Strange noises when driving
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A faulty alternator can cause a number of strange noises in your vehicle; the sound usually comes from inside the engine system under the hood while driving. The cause may be a worn, tilted alternator belt and crankshaft pulley; or a worn, slippery, loose, or broken belt.
5. The car smells bad
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That is the smell of burning rubber. When you smell this smell, it means that the wiring inside the car system is overheating, leading to damage to the alternator. Specifically, the drive pulley is not tightly connected, leading to greater friction on the belt, overheating, so you will smell the smell of burning rubber.