Signs that you alternator is about to give your car a breakdown @KenyanTraffic

You know you likely have a broken alternator when your car suddenly powers down when it is idling or when you are unable to elicit any response out of your car. By then, your battery will likely have drained itself of all electrical power and everything in your car that requires electricity to operate will have ceased to function – including car radio, wind shield wipers, indicator lights, and even your key less entry system.

The alternator is a tiny but vital component found under the hood of your vehicle’s engine compartment. Its primary function is to produce alternating current for the majority of your vehicle’s electrical systems, and to keep the batteries full. While your car battery provides some needed electrical power, without a means to re-charge it, total reliance on the battery alone will drain it in a matter of minutes. To prevent this from happening, vehicles need a functional alternator to continuously convert your engine’s mechanical energy into electrical energy to keep the battery recharged so that continuous electrical power can be supplied to your car. Frequently, vehicles can keep running even with a blown alternator by drawing electrical power directly from the battery until it’s completely sapped and depleted. However, continuing to drive on the street or highway with a broken alternator is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all cost. You may be able to use jumper cables to give the battery a quick temporary charge, but with a faulty alternator, your car will only be able to travel for a short and unpredictable distance before cutting out completely.

For most ordinary folks, there is little that we can do to maintain the component ourselves, other than to use our eyes, ears and gut feeling to detect the signs that may suggest a dying alternator. Keep an eye out for weakening electrical components or dimming indicator lights when the engine is idling. If your headlights or internal indicator lights start to fade or flicker, you may have a faulty alternative on its last legs. If your windshield wipers or car engine seem to be sluggish or underpowered, your alternator may be breaking down. Don’t be like me and wait until it’s too late before getting it replaced. Two times in the past I ignored the warnings signs of a possibly faulty alternator and twice I ended up with a sudden vehicle breakdown. It’s best to get the damaged alternator repaired or replaced at the time of your choosing than to experience a sudden malfunction out of nowhere.

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