What Does Your Alternator Do?
When your car is up and running, there are a lot of different parts that depend on electricity. Your cabin lights and your headlights are obviously going to need a significant source of electricity, but you also have sensors, pumps, and other important systems that need a steady supply of power as well. They draw all of this power from your battery, but your battery relies on your alternator to recharge itself. Your alternator works by converting mechanical energy into usable electric energy as you drive. It works with your serpentine belt and other parts to produce a steady stream of electricity while you’re on the road, but if something gets damaged, your battery might not receive enough power to keep things up and running. If your electrical system is going haywire and you’re near Kenner, Harvey, or Metairie, then you can stop by Premier Nissan of Harvey for a quick inspection.
How Do I Know If My Alternator Is Damaged or Broken?
When your car dies, the battery is the part that tends to catch most of the blame. You can usually resolve this issue with a jumpstart, but if your battery continues to die over and over again, it usually means one of two things. Either it’s getting too old to hold a charge, or your alternator isn’t giving it enough juice. You might also start to notice that your systems are going haywire. For example, your headlights might be incredibly dim. If they only brighten up when you step on the gas, then it’s almost surely an issue with your alternator. Your alternator also can’t work without your serpentine belt. If you’re experiencing electrical issues and you hear constant squealing, or you smell that something is burning, then it could mean that your serpentine belt is on its last leg.
Where Can I Get a New Alternator?
There’s nothing more annoying than having your car constantly die over and over again. This could leave you stranded in your driveway, but it could just as easily leave you in some random parking lot. If you want to resolve the issue quickly, then you can head to our service department at Premier Nissan of Harvey. Our team will be able to figure out whether it’s a battery, belt, or alternator issue once they’ve had the time to inspect your vehicle. We can also replace any parts that might be giving you trouble, as we have a fully stocked parts department. If you’d rather handle the repair yourself, then you can also choose to order the parts that you need online.
