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So, in your alternator, the voltage regulator's job is to control the amount of electricity produced by the alternator. Imagine this: You're walking down the street at a comfortable pace.
Your brain is like the voltage regulator. It tells your body that there is no need to breathe any faster or get your heart rate up because you're not exerting yourself. Then you start walking more briskly until you're at a gentle jog. Your brain sends a signal to your heart to pump a little faster to bring more blood and oxygen to your lungs, which in turn causes you to breath a little faster.
Then you start running. Your brain again sends a signal to your heart and lungs so that you bring in more air and get oxygen and blood to where it is needed. Now here is the important part: When you start to slow down and get back to walking, your brain sends the signal to stop putting out so much energy. If your brain didn't do that, your heart would continue beating really fast, your breathing wouldn't slow down and you would quickly hyperventilate and pass out.
Your voltage regulator does pretty much the same thing. When you turn on your radio, it puts out a little more power. When you turn on your windshield wipers, your car needs a little bit more. The more accessories you turn on, the more electricity it needs to stay running.
Nowadays, we can do a lot of things with the car. Imagine driving your car on the freeway which needs more power with your iPod playing music through your radio's Bluetooth function while your and your passenger's phones are charging, your heater is on because it's cold, your headlights are on because it's getting dark, your windshield wipers are going because it's raining, your headset TVs and DVD player are going in the back for the kids, and you just pushed in the cigarette lighter.
That's a lot of things to all be getting power at one time. Your alternator needs to know when each one of those things is plugged in and turned on, so that it can increase power. More importantly, just like with your breathing, your alternator needs to know when to put out less power.
As you reach a stop sign, turn off a tv, unplug your phone, turn off your headlights, etc, your alternator needs to put out less and less. If the alternator continued to put out so much power, your battery would blow up and make an incredible mess, and the acid would eat up half of your engine compartment.
Now, as I said, electricity is not my forte. I understand enough of how it works with mechanical devices and vehicles to know if it's working or not working and how to make it work again. I don't understand it enough to explain what happens when each system breaks down.
So let's just say that over time, your voltage regulator wears out and stops working like most things in life, and when its life is over, it cannot tell your alternator how to do its job correctly. When it stops working all together, your alternator won't even turn on anymore, and, thus, your car will not start. There are other components that can wear at as well. Your alternator is attached to a pulley system or wheel that has a belt on it, known as an alternator belt go figure, right?
If the belt loosens or breaks, your alternator won't be able to send power to your battery anymore. It's rare, but I've also seen a pulley break or become bent. This usually only happens on extremely old cars where the alternator has been rebuilt instead of replaced and so the pulley is extremely old. There are several elements inside and outside of your alternator that use wiring, and when the wiring gets old or corroded, it can prevent the alternator from working correctly. Likewise, there are some terminals on the back that can also become corroded and possibly break over time.
However, the more common problem with terminals is that the wiring attached becomes loose over time, which is easily fixed by tightening up the bolts or replacing them if they are stripped. Some alternators have also work with fuses. If they do, it's common for the fuse to go out if the alternator experiences a surge of electricity that might otherwise corrupt the alternator or hurt the battery.
If this happens often, it's a good idea to examine your voltage regulator. Last, but certainly not least, if you have a vehicle that is newer than a model, you might have an alternator that is controlled digitally by a "brain" computer. In this instance, the brain can sometimes be at fault for an incorrectly operating alternator.
It's super easy to test your alternator with a multimeter. I'll break it down into simple steps that anyone can follow. During step two, above, if your multimeter reads less than In steps two and three, if you find that your alternator is testing in the correct range, but your battery is testing below Check the connection at each terminal and make sure the wire isn't broken anywhere that you can reach.
During steps two and three, if you find that the voltage on your alternator drops below During steps two and three while your car is running , if your alternator tests below During step two while your car is running , if your alternator tests above Having the right tools for the job makes all the difference. In this case, having a multimeter can save you money and lots of time in making sure it actually is your alternator giving you problems.
Alternator Attached. Multimeters are absolutely among the number one tools I recommend that all drivers have in their toolboxes, even if they are not mechanically minded or even all that interested in the art of automotive repair. With a multimeter, you can test your battery, alternator, starter, and more. You can also use the very same tool to test just about any electrical element in your home, RV, boat, or favorite gadgets. It's worth it to have one around.
Now, when it comes to tools, I am definitely pro Snap-on tools whenever possible. They are definitely pricier than most other tool brands, but when it comes to tools, I've found that brand makes a difference when that brand is Snap-on. With just about anything else, I'd say screw brand names and go for any quality item, but in this instance you want something you know you can rely on.
Snap-on tools are like Jeeps or Singer sewing machines: They last. Not only that, but Snap-on will always repair their tools and devices, even if you are not the original owner. You don't need a receipt or anything, just a tool branded "Snap-on" or "Blue Point" a Snap-on sub-brand.
More specifically, I recommend the very common Blue Point Snap-on multimeter. It's the same kind that I own and works fantastically. You can get better fancier ones, but this one is reliable and, most importantly, user friendly.
That being said, I know what it's like to be broker than broke, so if you want to start out with a cheaper multimeter, I also have experience with a more affordable option, the common All-Sun mini multimeter from Amazon.
It uses up batteries fairly quickly and certainly doesn't last as long as the Snap-on, but it's accurate enough to do the job. If going to a mechanic or getting a multimeter yourself are out of the question and you really burn with the desire to know if your alternator is a problem, here is the "shade tree" style of checking your alternator. If you find that the car dies instantly or within 30 seconds when you remove the terminal cable, then the alternator is the most likely culprit.
This method of alternator diagnostics is NOT in any way recommended, especially on cars newer than the year On vehicles made prior to , there is not a high degree of risk, but the risk is still there. What risks? Well, there is the chance that you could get electrocuted. It's not a lot of electricity, but it still hurts and can hurt your heart.
There is also a very small risk from the sparks created when you reattach the terminal cable, that the battery could could overload, and that battery could blow up. On cars made after , you also run the risk of confusing the car's on-board computer or blowing fuses and relays in the computer.
This is why I will always recommend that you use a multimeter or voltmeter. That being said, if you are willing to risk it and you are desperate to know note it is rare to be that desperate , then you have this option. See Your Mechanic. When it comes to replacing or fixing anything in your car or truck, you always have the option to either do it yourself or take it in to your favorite local mechanic.
When it comes to alternators, if you're at all mechanically inclined or you'd like to be, I would definitely recommend changing your alternator yourself. I recommend DIY in this case, because most alternators only require a few steps from beginning to completion and even the greenest mechanic can usually have the job done within minutes.
Most of it is turning a few bolts, and the hardest part in some vehicles is getting the tension pulley down, which just takes a bit of leverage.
That being said, if wrenches and wires give you the heeby jeebies, then please do take your car into a mechanic so that the alternator can be changed out correctly and in a timely manner. If you've decided to go with the DIY option, you can go a step further than replacement and instead rebuild your alternator. This is also sometimes called "remanning" and is where you open that puppy up and replace any defective or worn out parts inside the alternator and then spit shine everything before you close it back up.
Rebuilding an alternator is definitely worth the time and is very cost effective. That being said, it's definitely a task for the mechanically inclined.
You certainly don't need to be a master tech or even very experienced. You do need to have a strong understanding of basic electrical and mechanical components and assembly. That being said, if you're not afraid of diving into new things and you don't mind not having your car immediately available to you, you can always use YouTube as an instructional tool and get the job done.
Professionally refurbished or rebuilt alternators are often just as good as brand new ones and can cost as little as half the price. If you've chosen option B and have decided that you'd rather not DIY, there are plenty of options available to you.
The first of those many options is whether or not you want to get a brand-spanking new alternator or a refurbished one. Honestly, there isn't a great deal of difference between the two, but there is some. A brand-new alternator is obviously unused, so you are not likely to get a dud. You'll also most likely get a lifetime warranty with your alternator, so if you keep the receipt, you can always get a free replacement one down the road.
That being said, new alternators also tend to come with that brand-new price, which is where you can definitely win with a refurbished alternator. To be honest, a refurbished alternator is really just a fancy term for one that has been rebuilt and made shiny again. It has had most of its innards exchanged for brand new components and is virtually a new alternator with an old casing. Still, there are some things to be mindful of.
Some remanned alternators can be duds. It's also common to find that refurbished alternators only come with a short warranty, though there are plenty out there that do have lifetime warranties. It just depends on how hard you look. To be honest, whenever possible, I prefer to purchase my alternators in a store, though the only reason for the preference is convenience. I'm often trying to get a part instantly, so I can take it back to my client's car and put it in.
But I have also purchased plenty of alternators from various online auto-parts stores and eBay. They work just as well, are usually more affordable, and often only take a day or two to get to you. The only big concern with purchasing them online is that if you are not sure exactly which alternator to get, you could be sent the wrong one the first time. Most credible online stores are pretty good about getting you the right one, but like brick and mortar stores, they don't always have the proper one listed and sometimes their staff picks out the wrong one.
This will mean you'll have to send it back and get the right one, but it's not a big deal if you don't mind a little wait. Junk Yard Alternators. Another option is hunting down an alternator from a junkyard or wrecking yard. I'm often asked about this option from folks who literally only have or only want to spend a few bucks for an alternator.
So here's the deal:. A junkyard alternator, at its best, is only going to be a bandaid. Ninety-nine percent of what you're going to get from any wrecking yard is going to be a well-used alternator that hasn't been inspected or even tested to see if it's still good. In most cases, you have to purchase it before you can test it, so you won't know how good it is until after you take it home. You might get lucky and find one that could go a couple of months, or in rare cases even up to a year.
To be honest, even if you're really in a bind, I wouldn't go for a junkyard pull. It's a big gamble, which can often cost you even more time. That being said, if you like a gamble, you can often find places like our local Pick'n'Pull that remove highly sought-after parts like alternators and batteries.
Now, because there are so many different makes and models of vehicles throughout the years, I cannot give you a customized how-to for your specific need.
If you want to read about the most common alternator problems and reasons for them, click here for a separate article on that topic. This article should,hopefully, give you some guidelines on how to deal with an alternator repair, offer some possible solutions as well as cost estimates.
There are essentially three ways to make an alternator repair either by the mechanic or yourself :. Before starting with alternator repair solutions, I will again emphasize on the importance of using a multimeter when pin-pointing the electrical part of the problem.
Improper voltage output is the first sign of trouble. So before making any kind of repair or expense, first use the multimeter. If you want to know how to make an alternator voltage output check up, click here for a separate article on that topic or watch a video on our You Tube channel. These types of problems will manifest themselves literally so to say; through sound grinding, screeching or else , the serpentine belt may fall off etc. Namely, should you fix the old alternator or completely replace it with a new or refurbished one.
Also, it may help answer the question whether you should make the repair yourself or let a good and trustworthy mechanic do the job for you. When a grinding noise appears it is almost certain that the bearings have worn out. There are two bearings, one in the front housing and one in the rear; these bearings hold the rotor in center. The front one is more prone to wearing out as it holds most of the load caused by the serpentine belt. You should check the front one first.
In a lot of cases, the rear one may not need replacement just good cleaning and some lubrication. Nevertheless, if you have the possibility, best change both of them. Be sure to use quality brand bearings so they can last for a long time. This can be a tell-tale sign of high voltage. If the multimeter shows higher voltage then Of course, low quality car bulbs may cause these problems also, but even the low quality ones should last at least a couple of months.
If the voltage is too high, they will burn out about once a month. If you want to learn how to change a headlight bulb, click here for a separate article on that topic or watch a video on our You Tube channel.
The smell of rotten boiled eggs from the car battery is a sure sign of high voltage. If it is, it can seriously damage the car battery and the electric installation and components. A word of warning: before starting any kind of repair, let the fumes out from the engine bay as they are flammable. A sharp screeching sound usually comes from the serpentine belt sliding over a stuck pulley or the belt is extremely worn out.
In case of an alternator repair, serpentine belts can snap or get damaged for two reasons: either its worn out or the alternator pulley is jammed. Best way to pinpoint the cause of this problem is to try turning the alternator pulley manually while the engine is turned off. Do this especially if the serpentine belt previously snapped. If not, then take the belt off and try then turning the pulley. If the pulley is freely turning, with no resistance, then just change the serpentine belt.
To broaden the topic at the beginning of this article; what are your options for an alternator repair? Alternators are not cheap to buy for most car models but the best thing with this solution is the longevity of repair new is new after all.
Do this if your alternator is severely damaged and the price of a new one is the same or lower as the repair. Otherwise you may end up buying another piece of junk to lay around the garage.
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