3 Signs Your Chevy Needs an Alternator Repair

Every electrical component in your Chevy is important, but your alternator may be the most important. When it falls into disrepair, you may notice annoying signs, like a failing radio. However, it is also possible to have serious problems, such as a motor that will no longer turn over. Today, we’re looking at three signs your Chevy needs an alternator repair at your Glenview, IL Chevy dealer.

1. You Have Trouble Starting Your Car

One of the clearest signs that your alternator needs to be repaired is difficulty starting your car. Your alternator is responsible for charging your battery while you drive. Your battery is responsible for igniting the spark coil that acts as a transformer and starts the combustion process so your motor can turn over. When your battery isn’t charged fully when you drive, it may not have enough volts to start the ignition process.

If your battery is fewer than three years old, there is a very good chance that it is still holding a charge as it should. It just isn’t getting enough power from your alternator while you drive.

2. You Have Problems With Your Radio

If you notice that your radio cuts off randomly while you drive, there is a very good chance that your alternator needs to be fixed. Your alternator is responsible for delivering power to all of the electrical components in your vehicle. When it isn’t operating at 13 volts or more, it may not have enough power to distribute to all of your electronics.

It will prioritize sending power to your motor and transmission. However, if it doesn’t have enough power, your accessories will suffer. For example, your radio may cut off while you drive, and it may not come back on before you make it to your destination. Other accessories that commonly have problems when an alternator is dying include heated seats, power windows, and charging outlets.

3. You Have Problems With Your Headlights

Another clear sign that your alternator needs to be repaired is headlights that are acting funny. Remember, your alternator is responsible for power distribution. If your alternator is operating at fewer than 13 volts, your headlights may be dim despite clean lenses and relatively new light bulbs, wires, and spark plugs.

If your alternator is operating at over 14.5 volts, your headlights may be very bright, even if you are only trying to operate your daytime running lights or headlights. This is a serious problem because excessively bright headlights can blind oncoming traffic or the vehicle in front of you. Finally, you may notice flickering headlights when you have a faulty alternator.

There are many signs that you have a failing alternator, including difficulty starting your car, problems with your radio, and headlights that are acting funny. If you’ve noticed any of these signs that your alternator is dying, don’t let the problem get any worse. Schedule a service appointment at Jennings Chevrolet on Waukegan Rd today.

Image by Michael Kauer from Pixabay 

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