Are you interested in finding out how your car alternator works? Perhaps you’re considering replacing or repairing your alternator? This article will look at the function of an alternator and will help you decide whether your alternator needs to be replaced. We’ll also discuss how much it costs to replace an alternator as well as the cost of labor.
Table of Contents
1. What is an Alternator?
2. Why Does an Alternator Need to be Replaced?
3. Alternator Repair or Replacement
4. Alternator Replacement Cost
5. Conclusion/Summary
What is an Alternator?
The alternator is an important part of your vehicle’s functioning. It’s an electrical generator, and its job is to charge your car battery and provide electrical power on demand.
An alternator is powered by the engine (via the serpentine belt). As you drive your car, the engines pullies and belts spin, and this powers the alternator. The alternator is then able to generate electricity as an alternating current.
The alternators job is to provide the battery with power for charging. It allows your car battery to store and make electricity.
The alternator starts to spin when it receives power, and this causes it to generate electricity. The electricity produced is transferred through wires to the car’s battery. This allows it to charge effectively while driving.
The alternators job is to keep the electrical systems running. The battery starts the vehicle, but it’s the alternator that keeps it running. If your car has problems with its alternator, the vehicle will either completely stop or won’t function as well.
Why Does an Alternator Need to be Replaced?
As the alternator ages, the parts inside it start to suffer from general wear and tear. As they wear down, the alternator will produce less and less electricity.
The alternator is then likely to either malfunction, or in some cases, it could create too much energy. This will then cause problems and delays while you try to start your car. It may also cause other problems while driving.
There are many things that you should look out for that indicate that your alternator needs to be replaced. One of the obvious signs that your alternator isn’t working is that the battery warning light on your dashboard will turn on.
You may also notice an electrical smell that is caused by the burning of wires or rubber. Your car may also emit a whining or growling noise, and you may have other problems such as issues with the ignition or dim headlights. Eventually, your vehicle is likely to have a dead battery.
As the alternator provides power to the battery, your car may suffer from a range of issues if it stops working correctly. You may have problems with your power steering, heating, and lights, as well as the braking system. It can be very dangerous to continue driving with an alternator that’s not functioning correctly.
The good news is that alternators are long-lasting components. They usually last between six or seven years and allow you to drive up to 150,000 miles. However, sometimes the alternator will start to cause trouble or malfunction earlier.
Alternator Repair or Replacement
If your cars having problems and you suspect that the alternator isn’t working properly, you should seek professional advice from a mechanic who’s likely to recommend that the alternator is either repaired or replaced. A mechanic will be able to carry out an evaluation of your car’s alternator and fix any issues. This will help you to keep your vehicle on the road, running perfectly.
Many people will be wondering how long it takes to replace an alternator? This will depend on the make and model of your car, but this process will generally take a mechanic between one and two hours. Other things could affect how long this job takes, including how accessible the alternator is for a particular car and whether special parts need to be ordered or not.
Often having your alternator repaired or replaced can be done on the same day that you take your car to the garage.
Alternator replacement cost
There are two things you’ll need to consider when working out how much it’s likely to cost to have your alternator replaced. There’s the cost of the part as well as additional labor costs. In general, an alternator replacement is likely to cost between $200-$600 depending on the make and model of your vehicle. In some cases, the cost of repairing an alternator is expected to be up to $850.
You can buy either a new or manufacturer rebuilt alternator, the latter being the slightly cheaper alternative.
If you know what you’re doing, you could buy an alternator online and replace it yourself; this will probably save you a lot of money as one of the significant expenses of having your alternator replaced is the labor cost. For most people, however, replacing an alternator will be outside of their skillset, and they’ll need to get a mechanic to do the job.
Labor costs vary from mechanic to mechanic and often depend on the type of vehicle you own. The overall cost will also depend on your mechanic’s labor rates, which are likely to be between $75 and $100 an hour. If you own a foreign car and have to take your vehicle to a specialist, the labor charges are likely to be at least $125 an hour.
In some cases, slight modifications need to be made to the parts, which will increase the labor time and overall cost. It may be a good idea to take your car to a few different mechanics and ask them for a quote, which will allow you to get the best possible price.
Conclusion
The alternator is an essential part of your car and should be kept in good condition. Unfortunately, replacing an alternator doesn’t come cheap, and you’ll probably pay in the region of $200-$600 altogether. This includes parts and labor costs. The cost varies slightly depending on the make and model of your car.
If you are a DIYer, it will save money replacing your alternator as you’ll save on labor costs. This job should only be attempted if you’re confident that you know what you’re doing.