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Your Ford’s alternator works with your car battery to charge the electrical system. A malfunctioning alternator can cause many problems that will affect your car in different ways. Below are ways to tell when you need to get your EcoSport, Escape, or Explorer to your Ford dealer for an alternator repair.
Flickering Headlights
When the alternator is not working correctly, your headlights will go brighter and dimmer as you accelerate. You will also notice that your dashboard lights are dimmer than usual.
Electrical Issues
Your alternator is the source of your car’s electrical power, and when it’s failing, you’ll struggle with electrical issues. The computer will first cut power to non-essential accessories, cause your electrical windows and windshield wipers to move slower, and affect the power locks and heated seats.
Strange Sounds
When you hear grinding or whining noises from under the hood, all is not well with your alternator. An alternator has many moving parts, and when they fail or break, they make strange noises. The noises could come from a worn-out bearing, a misaligned belt, and when the voltage regulator sends signals to the alternator to charge more than necessary.
Hard Starts
When you find it hard to start your car, your first thought is usually that your battery is weak, but your alternator could be failing to charge the battery. The alternator is definitely the culprit if you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key in the ignition.
A Burning Odor
When the alternator’s drive belt, situated close to the engine, starts to wear out, you’ll smell a burning odor. When an alternator has frayed wires or is overworked and sends too much electricity through them, the wires heat up and resist the flow of electricity. That is when you’ll smell that burning rubber or electrical odor.
A Weak or Dead Battery
There are several ways to determine if you’ve got a bad alternator or a weak battery. A failing alternator won’t sufficiently charge the battery, causing the charge to deplete faster than usual.
Check your battery gauge on the dashboard without starting your car. If it’s sending out a strong charge, your alternator is not doing its job. You can also jump-start your vehicle, and if it keeps running, the battery is weak and needs replacing, but if your car dies after a jump-start, blame your alternator.
The Battery Warning Light Is On
If the battery light on your dashboard is on, it could also be a warning that your alternator is not working as it should. The voltage will fluctuate below or above the required output levels, triggering the battery warning light.
Make your alternator problems a thing of the past, and call Brinson Ford of Corsicana today for repairs. Our certified Ford technicians have the knowledge and expertise to repair your alternator and ensure it’s in perfect working condition.
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