My Car Keeps Burning Out Alternators; Is There Any Fix?
You can suffer from the issue of burning out of the alternator anywhere and anytime. There might be one or multiple issues inside your causing the burning out of your alternator. It can be oil spillage, overload accessories, or modifications you have done with your car.
It also might be the improper installation of the alternator.
There are other different reasons why this might be happening, and one of the common ones could be a bad battery. If you don’t want to buy a new alternator, try replacing just the battery instead. That’s it. You’re done.
So now, what if the battery is not causing the issue? Keep reading this guide to know more about the causes and their fixes.
Table of Contents
- What Would Cause My Alternator To Keep Going Bad?
- Why Would A Brand New Alternator Go Out?
- Can A Bad Car Battery Ruin An Alternator?
- What Is The Lifespan Of An Alternator?
What Would Cause My Alternator To Keep Going Bad?
There can be several causes that can make alternators in your car go bad. Here are some of the common reasons that you can check out for bad alternators:
1. Oil Spillage:
Oil can leak into the alternator, and this will cause the bearing in the alternator to wear out. This is a common problem, and it will result in your alternator not working as expected. You may have to keep replacing your alternators until you can fix the oil spillage on your car.
2. Overload of power due to extra accessories:
You can install extra accessories in your car, which will cause the alternator to run at its maximum power since it has to supply all the energy required by these accessories.
The extra strain or energy on the alternator will cause the alternator to be overworked, and if it fails to deliver enough power, you will have some issues with your car.
3. Damaged battery:
A damaged battery can ruin your alternator, particularly if you have a leaking or damaged cell. You must get your battery checked by a professional mechanic to see if there is any damage and need to replace it.
4. Bypassing or improper usage of your alternator:
You can misuse the car’s alternator. This means you bypass the alternator with power from the battery. This will cause a lot of damage to your vehicle since it will be overworked until it breaks down and no longer works as intended.
5. Wiring issues:
Wiring issues are another common reason the alternator fails to work. You should check the wire to ensure it is not hot or short. You can connect a volt meter to the wire and see if you get a proper reading.
This is one of the reasons why you will be forced to go for constant alternator repairs until you can get it done right by a professional mechanic or car engineer.
Replaced Alternator Car Still Dies: What’s Wrong With It?
engine diary
Why Would A Brand New Alternator Go Out?
It is frustrating to know that your new alternator has also burned out. But the new alternator you installed recently can go out due to multiple issues.
• Using Jumper cables wrong
It is expected that when people run out of battery, they try using jumper cables to start their cars. When a vehicle starts and then runs off, it seems that the problem has been fixed, and people think they can drive away happily.
But they are wrong, and this is how so many new alternators burn out in the first place. So it would be best never to use jumper cables to run your car.
The new alternator is also highly dangerous because any wrong connection can damage or destroy it.
• Using the wrong voltage
Your car needs 12 Volts for the engine to start and run, but if you use 14 or 16-volt car batteries, it can damage your new alternator very badly. This kind of voltage can destroy its internal parts within weeks or days, and you will have to spend a lot on getting a new one then.
• Fluid leakage
It is common to find fluid leakage at the alternator. Some people think it is normal and nothing to worry about, but it is a serious problem that can destroy your new alternator quickly.
The internal parts of the alternator should not be filled with any fluid because it can cause corrosion and destroy the whole unit very soon.
• Using cheap Alternators
So many cheap alternators are available in the market these days, but they are not worth buying or using. If you have bought a brand new cheapest one, then it’s better to throw it away and buy a high-quality professional-made alternator only.
Can A Bad Car Battery Ruin An Alternator?
A faulty battery can indeed damage your car’s alternator. The most common cause of alternator failure is a dead battery. The battery can get dead due to many reasons like not getting charged well, the age of the battery, or due complete drainage of the battery.
This situation can cause the alternator to overheat and break. However, there are a few ways to avoid this from happening.
One way of detecting if your battery is not working correctly is by checking for an electrical charge on the battery terminals when you turn on your car’s engine.
If it does, there may be a problem with the alternator or other system components, which need to be checked by a professional mechanic.
A bad car battery can cause specific problems, resulting in permanent damage and costly repairs. To prevent all these problems, ensure you maintain your car correctly and periodically check with a professional mechanic or auto repair service before purchasing any new batteries.
My Car Dies After Replacing the Battery and Alternator: What is Wrong?
engine diary
What Is The Lifespan Of An Alternator?
The average life of an alternator is about 90,000 to 120,000 miles, which is about eight to ten years. Then, of course, this alternator can start showing signs of failing; however, this does not mean that you cannot use your alternator more than the average life span; you definitely can if you take care of a few things.
An alternator’s lifespan depends on how you drive your car and how many extra accessories you have put up in your vehicle.
For example, how many services or features are there in your car? Because as you know, every electronic present in your vehicle, such as AC, lights, sound system, navigation system, heated seats, etc., uses high power.
This usually puts a lot of pressure on the alternator, which will eventually become the reason for their failure. So thus, you can increase the lifespan of your alternator if your drive correctly or do not install unnecessary electronic devices in your car.
