Category Archives: Alternator

If you have a vehicle and the alternator is charging, but the battery light stays on, there can be several causes and fixes. A bad charging system often is caused by a failed alternator, but there are other components that can cause the issue. Why Does the Battery Light Come On? When a vehicle’s computer… Read More »

Testing an alternator with a multi-meter is a common method, but if no meter is available, there is another method. There is an old-school method to check the alternator by starting the engine and removing the battery cable. While I always suggest using a multi-meter to check the battery, there are some scenarios when no… Read More »

If you have a vehicle and the alternator keeps failing or burning out, it can be caused by several things. While alternators can fail, they should not fail constantly, and more than two failures usually indicate there is an issue. How Often Should an Alternator Fail? Most alternators are built to last 90,000 to 120,000… Read More »

If you suspect your vehicle has a bad alternator, there can be several symptoms. Symptoms can vary but include the car not starting, dim lights, dashboard lights coming on, and more. How Do You Know if Your Alternator is Failing? The alternator will not charge correctly when it has failed. A test can be done… Read More »

Alternators provide electrical power for a vehicle to operate, including the engine, lights, radio, or any electronic device. It also keeps the battery charged, which is necessary to start the engine. If the alternator fails, the battery will no longer receive a charge and will drain until it is dead. Type of Multi Meter Needed… Read More »