When you get a flat tire, it’s pretty clear what the problem is, right? When it comes to your car, some issues are obvious, like a crack in the windshield, a broken tail light, or a system that blasts cold air when you want heat. However, some problems may be a mystery, such as when your alternator starts to go bad in the Plainfield, Indianapolis, Fishers, and Bloomington area.
At Andy Mohr Collision Center, we are equipped to handle all your collision-related needs, like frame repair, paint jobs, and dent pulling. Did you know, however, that we’re also equipped to make other repairs to your vehicle? If you think something may be happening or getting ready to happen with your alternator, give us a call.
What Does the Alternator Do?
Whenever your car is running, it’s as a result of the battery and the alternator working together. The alternator is used to charge the battery and the electrical system of the car, so when it stops working completely, your car isn’t going to start.
Fortunately, most of the time if you battery dies as a result of a bad alternator, you can jump-start your car to get it moving again, but you’ll likely end up doing so every time you need to go somewhere. Unfortunately, the battery, alternator, or starter are going to have the same symptoms that it’s dead, so you’ll have to pay close attention to your car beforehand to firmly diagnose the problem.
How to Tell if Your Alternator Is Going Bad
Some car issues make themselves pretty obvious, but the alternator isn’t one of them. It will, however, give you some signs before it quits on you completely. Here’s what to watch for:
- Dimming – If you notice a dimming in the interior lights, the clock, or other well-lit features of your vehicle, your alternator is letting you know that it’s running out of juice.
- Electrical System Malfunction – You may notice that it takes a lot longer for your windows to go down or your mirrors to adjust, because the alternator is no longer supplying them energy in the way it should.
- Battery – If you notice you’ve been jump-starting your car quite a bit lately, chances are the problem is one of two things. Either your battery itself is bad, or your alternator is. When the alternator isn’t working properly, your car will use the battery for power, thus draining it quickly.
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If you’re noticing any of these signs or symptoms, it’s time to call us. Get the alternator fixed long before your car has the circumstances to not start. Our team of certified service technicians can help you by diagnosing whether the alternator is your issue.
With four convenient locations to serve you, we will have no trouble fitting you in for an appointment for one of our highly trained technicians to take a look under the hood and see what’s going on before the alternator fails completely.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
With an online scheduling system and four locations to serve you, we’re trying to make every service visit as convenient as possible for our customers. Choose us at Andy Mohr Collision Center for all your auto repair needs in the Bloomington, Fishers, Indianapolis, and Plainfield areas. Schedule your alternator repair and so much more with us today.
