Alternators are remarkably durable car components that sometimes last the entire lifespan of a car. However, various factors can cause an alternator to falter at an earlier stage. As the alternator is vital for the proper functioning of your car, it’s best to head to your local Ford dealer at once for alternator repair.
Stalling Engine
Perhaps the most important function of an alternator is to keep the engine running. The spark plugs inside each cylinder depend on the alternator for electrical voltage to continually spark and ignite the fuel. So if your alternator stops working properly, your engine is likely to misfire and eventually, it will fail altogether and stall.
Hard Starts
Your battery depends on the alternator to stay recharged. If you find it hard to start your car or you can’t start your car at all, your battery may be dead because a bad alternator failed to supply it with electricity during your last drive.
Slow Electronics
A faulty alternator will also cause the various electronics in your car to slow down before failing altogether. The least important accessories such as the stereo, heated seats, and phone charger are likely to fail first.
This is because, in the event of a failing alternator, modern cars are designed to cut off the voltage from non-essential components before the components that keep you safe on the road. So your dashboard dials, indicator lights, and headlights will probably be among the last parts to fail.
Erratic Headlights
If you’re driving at night when your alternator malfunctions, your headlights may enter a cycle of growing dimmer and brighter as the supply of electricity becomes erratic. It’s best to pull over if you notice this as soon after, the headlights will probably fail to work altogether.
Burning Smells
If the wiring inside an alternator has trouble, you may smell the wire’s insulation burning. Sometimes the drive belt that powers the alternator can come loose under the hood and start rubbing awkwardly against the pulleys, which may also create a burning rubber smell.
How a Ford Dealer Can Repair Your Alternator
To diagnose the cause of an alternator fault, the technician at your local dealership will disassemble it. They can then inspect the alternator’s rotor, stator, brushes, bearings, o-rings, bushings, diode pack, and hardware for signs of damage.
Once the worn-out or malfunctioning part is identified it can promptly be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. The alternator can then be reassembled and tested extensively to ensure that it’s back in good working order.
Have your malfunctioning alternator fixed today by qualified technicians at Freeway Ford. We’re a full-service dealership with an extensive array of new and used vehicles and attentive, courteous staff on hand to help resolve your car-related needs.
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