Signs You Need an Alternator Repair at Your Ford Dealer

Your Ford has numerous electrical systems, from the spark plugs to the windshield wipers, and all these systems require a continual supply of power. The alternator is a mini generator inside your engine that produces electricity. Over time, the alternator can become worn or damaged, and you’ll need an alternator repair. These are some signs that you may need to visit your Ford dealer for a repair.

Starting Problems

If your car has difficulty starting, you could have a battery problem or your alternator may be wearing out. When the alternator gets older, it produces less electricity. The reduced electrical supply will affect all your car’s systems, and it also affects your battery. The battery uses a large amount of power to start your engine, and it depends on the alternator to replace this power.

A worn alternator won’t supply sufficient power to fully recharge your battery. This means that each time you start your car, your battery will become steadily weaker. If you hear your engine is struggling to start, it’s time to visit our service department. We’ll examine your alternator and replace it with a new one if it’s wearing out.

Dim Lights

As we’ve seen, the reduced power supply from a worn alternator impacts all the electrical systems. Your car’s computer will have to allocate the limited available power. As more systems are switched on in your car, electrical problems will start to appear. Dim headlights and cabin lights are both signs that your electrical system isn’t working correctly.

Your computer allocates just sufficient power to allow the lights to illuminate. As systems are switched off in your car, more power becomes available. The computer may compensate for the reduced power supply to the lights by supplying more power than they need. This will cause the lights to suddenly blaze very brightly. Our technicians will examine your alternator and repair or replace it depending on the problem,

Strange Smells and Noises

Burning wiring, grinding, and screeching noises from the engine can all be warning signs of a failing alternator. When an alternator starts to fail, it will still try to produce sufficient power for your car. An alternator generates power by spinning, and it will start to spin faster than it’s designed to. The faster movement can cause the alternator to overheat.

The wiring inside the alternator can heat up and start to burn, and the bearings in the alternator will suffer damage. Grinding noises are a sign that at least one alternator bearing has failed. We’ll need to examine your alternator to find the cause of the problem. If the alternator is old, we’ll replace it with a new one.

If you suspect an alternator problem, call us right away at Devils Lake Ford.

Tags: Alternator, Battery warning light, Burning smell, Car repair, Dead battery, Difficulty starting the engine, Dimming headlights, Electrical burning smell, Electrical issues, Flickering dashboard lights, Ford dealer, Signs, Stalling engine, Strange noises, Tags
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