Does Your Chevy Need an Alternator Repair?

Strange noises under the hood, warning lights, and starting difficulties can all be signs of an alternator problem. Your Chevy depends on its alternator to supply the electrical power for all its systems. As your reliable Chevy dealer, we can fix any of these problems for you. These are signs you may need to visit our service department for an alternator repair.

Battery Warning Light

The battery warning light is usually one of the first signs that you could have an alternator problem. This warning light is connected to sensors that monitor your car’s electoral system, including the alternator and the battery. These sensors constantly feed information to your car’s computer to enable it to make its decisions.
An alternator that’s failing starts to generate less power. A healthy alternator produces approximately 14.5 volts, but as the power drops, your electrical system will suffer problems. This power drop is gradual but irreversible. If one of the alternator sensors detects less than 12 volts from the alternator, it will cause your computer to illuminate the light. We’ll test your alternator and replace it if it’s failing before the problem gets worse.

Strange Noises

Under normal circumstances, you should only hear a slight background sound from under the hood. Your Chevy engine is designed to operate quietly yet efficiently. Screeching, grinding, or clunking noises are signs something is going wrong and needs investigation ASAP. They could signal a worn alternator belt, a broken alternator bearing, or an internal failure in the alternator.
The alternator belt, for example, powers the alternator and enables it to spin and produce electricity. This belt runs across a series of pulleys. We routinely check the alternator belt during your scheduled services as this belt is subject to wear and damage as it works. A belt that hasn’t been replaced could stretch or even snap and shut down your car’s electrical supply. Our technicians will investigate and repair the problem.

Starting Problem

Your Chevy should start almost immediately after you hit the start button. If you hear laboring noises from your engine, you could have an alternator problem. The battery is responsible for powering the starter motor, but it depends on the alternator to recharge it. As we’ve seen, a failing alternator produces less power than it previously did and this affects the battery’s recharging level.
A failing alternator that doesn’t supply enough power to recharge the battery will prevent your car from starting easily as it’s designed to. We will test the alternator and replace it with a new one if it’s the source of the problem.

A damaged or worn-out alternator will cause numerous problems that get worse over time. Call us today at Park Hills Chevrolet – our experienced service technicians are ready and waiting to get your beloved vehicle in tip-top shape!

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