3 Signs Your Ford Needs an Alternator Repair

The alternator is one of your Ford’s most essential components. This component is responsible for generating electricity for all your car’s systems. In time, the alternator can become worn out or damaged. If this happens, your friendly Ford dealer can perform an alternator repair for you. These are some signs that your alternator could be failing.

3 Signs You Need an Alternator Repair at Your Ford Dealer

Dim then Bright Lights

Your headlights should maintain a steady brightness whether you are on high or low beams. Headlight bulbs are very susceptible to changes in their electrical supply. If your beams become dim and then overly bright a short time later, you most likely have an alternator problem. This problem occurs when an older or damaged alternator produces less electricity than it should. 

The lack of sufficient power means the available electricity has to be shifted from component to component to allow them to work. Your computer may draw power away from the headlights to supply another system. This causes the lights to dim. When the computer shifts power back to the headlights, they will appear brighter than they should. We’ll test your alternator and either repair or replace it to fix this problem.

Grinding Noises

Unusual sounds from the engine are always disturbing. Harsh grinding noises from the engine bay are always a sign that something is wrong. These noises could be caused by a damaged alternator that’s struggling to work. The alternator spins at high speed to produce electricity. Bearings allow the alternator to move at a high speed. A damaged or cracked bearing will produce grinding noises as the alternator moves.

The damaged bearing reduces the speed of the alternator, and this decreases the level of electricity it can supply. A damaged bearing places additional strain on the surviving bearing, which could also break. Without its bearings, the alternator can’t spin and produce power. We can easily replace the damaged bearing and your alternator will work normally again.

Burning Smells

An older alternator gradually slows down due to worn components. As we’ve seen, a slower alternator produces less power. Your car’s systems have a relatively stable demand for power. When the alternator supplies less power than your car’s systems demand, your computer will order it to work harder to supply the necessary electricity.

The worn alternator will spin faster to try and produce more electricity, and this causes it to heat up. You’ll smell a hot metal smell from the overworked alternator. You might also smell burning plastic if the heat in the alternator causes ​its wiring’s insulation to burn. If your alternator is overheating, we can easily replace it with a new one.

If ​your Ford has an alternator problem, ​call our service department ASAP at Legacy Ford of McDonough.

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