Signs You Need an Alternator Repair at Your Ford Dealer

Your Ford’s alternator is a mini generator that produces electricity for your car’s systems. The varied electrical and electronic systems in your car all depend on the power supplied by the alternator. In time, your alternator will wear out, and you’ll need an alternator repair or replacement. As your Ford dealer, we can fix any alternator problem for you. These are some signs that your alternator is in trouble.

Problems in the Electrical System

As your alternator gets older, it produces less electricity than it once did. This is due to parts of the alternator slowly wearing out. The lack of electricity isn’t noticeable immediately, as your alternator can generate more power than your Ford requires. Eventually, the alternator won’t be able to supply all of your car’s electrical needs.

Once the electricity supply falls below your car’s demands, strange things will happen in the electrical system. Components may suddenly stop working, and just as suddenly come back to life and work again. These problems are caused by the electricity supply being shifted between the components that need it. A worn alternator can’t be repaired, but we can replace it with a new one.

Hot Metal Smells

The smell of hot metal from your engine is a sign that one of the components is overheating. While many components can overheat, the alternator is one of the most likely sources of the problem. When the alternator can’t produce all the power your car requires, it will try to work harder to produce more electricity.

Your alternator is controlled by the spinning of the alternator pulley. This pulley spins three times faster than other pulleys in your car to produce electricity. The worn alternator will spin faster than it’s designed to, and this will cause it to heat up. You’ll smell the hot metal of an overheating alternator. You will also start to hear strange noises as the faster speed damages the bearings and other parts of your alternator.

Your Alternator Is Old

The alternator is a relatively long-lasting component, as its average lifespan is eight years. As it gets older, its internal structure suffers wear and damage. As these parts wear, the electrical power supply will be reduced. Worn alternator parts will start to make grinding or whining noises. You may also smell the scent of burning insulation from the overheated wiring in the alternator.

Our technicians can easily test your alternator for signs of damage. If the alternator is worn, we can quickly and easily replace it for you.

A worn alternator can lead to a dead battery, car starting problems, and other issues. Call us at United Ford, and we can fix the problem for you.