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How does an alternator go bad?
My mechanic told me that my alternator went bad, and that I’ll need to get it replaced. I’m wondering though, what makes an alternator go bad?
Natalie Todoroff · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
How an alternator goes bad is because inside your engine, your alternator is exposed to extreme temperatures and lots of debris. These conditions can wear down your alternator’s bearings, which allow the rotor (in your alternator, different from your brake rotors) to spin. It’s simple: if the rotor cannot spin, the alternator cannot work.
And it won’t be shy about letting you know it, either! When your alternator begins failing, you’ll hear a
grinding noise
when you start up your car, and your dashboard lights
will flicker and glow dimmer—-and possibly trigger the “check battery” light. Alternators can also wear out with time. Most only last between seven and ten years, so if you’d had yours for about that long, it’s probably time you got it looked at.
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- Gregory R.
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