Your alternator is an incredibly important part of your vehicle. If it’s bad, your vehicle may not start. If it starts, it may only stay on for a few minutes before shutting off. Luckily, there are several signs you can watch out for that indicate your GMC or Cadillac needs an alternator repair at your Lancaster, OH dealer before your problems become severe.
Dimming Headlights
One of the most common signs that your alternator is going bad is your headlights dimming or becoming too bright. As your alternator goes bad, the voltage sent to your vehicle’s electronics becomes erratic. Therefore, you may notice dimming headlights, excessively bright headlights, or flickering headlights.
Malfunctioning Accessories
You may also notice malfunctioning accessories if your alternator is going bad. For example, your seat warmers may stop functioning altogether. You also may notice your windows take a lot longer to roll up or down than they usually do, and you may find your radio cutting off randomly.
Battery Warning Light
People often think that the battery warning light on their dash is indicative of a dying battery. While this is sometimes the case, it is not always true. Your battery warning light indicates that something is wrong with your GMC or Cadillac’s electrical system, including the alternator.
Your battery warning light may indicate that your alternator is not operating at the appropriate voltage. Depending on the specific model of your GMC or Cadillac, your alternator should operate at 13 to 14.5 volts. When the voltage decreases or increases significantly, your battery warning light will come on.
Stalling
If your vehicle stalls a lot while you drive, your alternator may not be sending enough power to your spark plugs to keep your motor running.
Trouble Starting
You also may have a serious problem with your alternator if you have trouble starting your car. For example, if your alternator is going bad, it may not charge your battery. If your battery is not charged, you will hear a clicking sound when you turn the key in your ignition instead of your motor starting up.
If you find yourself charging your battery so frequently that you’re considering a trickle charger, you may not have a battery problem. Rather, you may have a serious problem with your alternator.
Whining or Growling Sounds
Clicking when you try to turn on your car is not the only sound that indicates an alternator problem. You also may have a problem with your alternator if you hear whining or growling sounds coming from underneath your hood. These sounds may be due to a misaligned belt or bad bearings.
Some of the most common signs that your alternator is going bad are dimming headlights, malfunctioning accessories, and a battery warning light. If you’ve noticed any of these signs, schedule a service appointment at Performance GMC Cadillac so our experienced technicians can ensure your vehicle is running at peak performance.
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