The alternator’s job is to produce electricity to power your car’s electrical systems. Alternators are tough and will usually work effectively for at least eight years. In time, the alternator will become worn out or damaged, and you’ll need an alternator repair at your Nissan dealer. These are some signs your alternator could be failing.
3 Signs You Need an Alternator Repair at Your Nissan Dealer
Battery Warning Light
An early sign of alternator trouble is an illuminated battery warning light. Your electrical system has numerous sensors attached to its components that monitor their health and operation. These sensors are very sensitive and can detect even small changes in a component’s behavior. If a problem is detected, they will immediately alert your computer, and the warning light will illuminate.
A healthy alternator produces approximately 14.5 volts. An older alternator slows down, which reduces its electrical production. A damaged alternator will also produce less power than it should. If the voltage drops below 12.5 volts, the warning light will come on. We can test your alternator and install a new one if necessary.
Dim then Bright Lights
Once an alternator starts to go bad, it gradually produces less and less power. Eventually, the alternator will struggle to supply enough power for all your car’s systems. When this happens, your car’s computer will have to intervene. The computer apportions the available power to systems that need it the most. It will also supply power to critical systems, like the lights, but this may be only enough electricity for the system to switch on.
If your lights grow dim, this could be due to the lack of available electricity. Part of the charge needed to fully power the lights is drawn away to support another system. If your lights become much brighter a short time later, this means the computer has overcompensated and supplied too much power. We can test your alternator and install a replacement if required.
Damaged Battery
One of the alternator’s jobs is to recharge the battery. The recharging process starts as soon as your engine is running. The alternator will begin by recharging the battery at full power for five minutes, then switches to recharging at 10% of battery capacity until the battery is fully recharged.
A healthy battery sends a message to the alternator that the first charge was received. If your battery is worn or damaged, this message won’t be sent. The alternator will continue to try to charge the battery at full power. This can damage the alternator, and cause it to overheat. We’ll check the condition of the alternator, and replace it damaged. We’ll also replace your battery to prevent the problem from happening again.
If you experience any alternator problems, call us right away at Tony Nissan.
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