The alternators in most recent models don’t typically require any maintenance. In fact, they usually last for at least 100,000 miles. However, sometimes you may encounter alternator problems. For example, you may find that the battery in your car is no longer charging like it should. You may also find that the electrical equipment in your car has ceased operating.
You may think that you need a professional to fix these problems. However, certain issues can be fixed on your own without the aid of a mechanic.
First, before you touch your alternator, you should retrieve a pair of gloves. You will need to wear gloves to keep your hands clean. Alternators tend to be covered in a decent amount of grease. Next, open up the hood of your car. Prop it up so it stays open and make sure it’s secured in place so it doesn’t fall down.
Now you will need to find the alternator. First, find the alternator belt. This will likely be located near the front of the car. Follow this belt until you reach a cylindrical component. This component will be secured to the car’s engine with bolts.
This is the alternator. It should be aluminum and have side vents as well as a wheel towards the front that is used as a pulley. This is the pulley the belt goes around.
Now you will need to check the alternator’s wiring. Look for two rather thick cables connected to the alternator. Make sure they are both fixed to the alternator very firmly. They should not move at all. If one of these cables is loose, get a wrench. Take this wrench and use it to tighten the nut that keeps the cable’s connectors fixed to the alternator terminal.
You may also find cables completely detached. If this is the case, you will need to reconnect them. Be aware that the red colored cable connects to the alternator terminal labeled “Bat” or “B.” On the other hand, the black colored cable goes into the terminal that is labeled as “Field” or “Neg.”
You should also check the smaller width wires that should be properly connected to the alternator. These will have connectors that simply push into the alternator. Check to see if any are lose. If they are, you can push them into place with your finger. Thankfully, you will be unable to push the wrong connector inside a socket. This is due to the fact that each socket in the alternator is a different size.
Next, you’re going to need to check the alternator belt for problems. Examine the belt and see if it appears tight. If it’s loose, the wheel of the pulley will not be turning fast enough. This can result in the battery not being charged and the failure of electrical equipment in the car.
Now retrieve a small ruler. Place it the center of the space between the pulley’s two wheels. This should be between the water pump and the alternator. Keep the ruler in that position. While the ruler is in place, start moving the belt along side the ruler. Use the ruler to measure how far it moves. If the distance is more than one and a half inches, the belt is too loose. You will need to tighten it.
Find the bolts that keep the alternator connected to the engine. There should be one in the front and one in the back. Take a wrench and loosen these bolts part way. You will also need to locate a third bolt. It goes through an adjustable bracket and onto the alternator. Loosen it part way as well.
You should now be able to take the alternator and swivel it. Swivel it and move the alternator away from where it connects to the engine. The alternator’s belt should begin to tighten. Move the alternator in that direction until it can not be moved anymore. Next, tighten the third bolt with your wrench.
This will hold the alternator in place. If the alternator belt now moves less than an inch, fix it. If it moves more than that, do this procedure over again.
Once you have accomplished this, tighten the first two bolts you loosened. Double check to make sure the alternator is properly held in place. Also check to see if the belt remains tight. If you performed these steps properly, you should have fixed the likely causes of your alternator problems.
