Keeping your alternator working correctly is important to your vehicle's overall health. Our Toyota dealership near you wants to make sure your vehicle is free of any alternator issues you may experience. We invite our neighbors in Lufkin, Livingston, Nacogdoches, Jasper and Rusk to visit Loving Toyota's Service Center for all your maintenance needs from our experienced service technicians.
What Does an Alternator Do?
An alternator is essentially a generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity for your vehicle to use in order to continually recharge your battery. A healthy alternator provides power while you're driving or idling to electrical components like your lights, power windows, radio, dashboard, and windshield wipers. In the absence of this power supply, your car battery's power reserve would be insufficient to maintain your vehicle's electrical system which would cause issues while traveling.
An alternator should last most of your car's life, however, with regular wear and tear, weather damage, overuse, and other parts issues, your alternator can become overworked and cause malfunctions. Knowing what to look for when it comes to a malfunctioning alternator can help prevent further complications down the road.
Signs That your Alternator Needs Service
- Malfunctioning or Non-Working Accessories - A failing alternator will not provide enough voltage to keep accessories working smoothly, so if you notice that your windshield wipers are moving slowly or unusually or your windows are taking a while to go up or down, it could be an alternator issue.
- Dim or Overly Bright Lights - If your alternator is not providing sufficient power to your electronic components, you may see lights that are too dim, too bright, or flickering.
- Burning Smell or Odd Sounds - The belt system that works with the alternator runs constantly, and if it's misaligned or malfunctioning, it may be causing an unpleasant burning odor. If your belt is misaligned, you may also notice a strange growling sound.
- Difficulty Starting Car, Stalling, or Dead Battery - A bad alternator won't charge your battery while the car is running. If you find that your battery dies often even after a jumpstart, your alternator may be malfunctioning.
Schedule Your Next Service Appointment at Loving Toyota!
Have you noticed any of these warning signs? The team at your local Toyota Service Center is here to help our Lufkin, Livingston, Nacogdoches, Jasper and Rusk customers! Schedule your alternator evaluation with us at Loving Toyota. Come by and visit our team at 1807 South Medford Drive Lufkin, TX 75901 or call us at (936) 699-1029 with your service questions. You can also head over to our service specials page to discover the service offers currently available at our Toyota service department.
