Symptoms of a Bad Alternator in a Chevy

Your Chevy, like all modern internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, utilizes an alternator to ensure that your car's battery remains charged, supplying electrical power for all its features to function properly and, of course, for the engine to run.

If you start noticing bad alternator symptoms, it's best to diagnose the issue before damage occurs to your Chevy.

Our article of interest examines everything that owners should know about alternators and common symptoms of a faulty alternator in a Chevy.

Understanding the Role of Your Alternator

Your Chevy's alternator plays the starring role as the means to recharge the 12-volt battery fitted in your Chevy while on the go.

Your Chevy's alternator acts just like a mini electrical generator to keep your car's battery fully charged. A drive belt and pulley connected to the front of the engine's rotating crankshaft spin the alternator to generate electrical power.

The alternator, as it spins, generates electrical energy in the form of an alternating current (AC) that is converted into a direct current (DC) by a rectifier fitted within the alternator. Our homes may run on AC power, but all the electronics in your Chevy, like those in all modern vehicles, are powered by a low DC voltage of 12.6 volts.

Without an alternator to keep our car fully charged, we would need to externally charge our battery every time we needed to travel, which is clearly not a workable solution. Let's have a look at some bad alternator symptoms in a Chevy to help keep this important part running at its best.

How Do I Know If My Chevy Alternator Is Bad?

Let's share some common problems to look out for that indicate a bad alternator in your Chevy.

Dim or Flickering Headlights

A battery that's not fully charged due to an alternator charging issue will not provide sufficient current (amperage) for your car's lights to shine brightly. Dim or flickering headlights are a telltale sign that your battery is not being charged.

Battery Warning Light on the Dashboard

Modern cars typically feature a charging light, typically located on the dashboard alongside other warning lights in the instrument gauge cluster.

The alternator or charging light is typically red and features a battery icon. When this warning light lights up or starts flickering on and off, that's when you know that your Chevy's alternator is bad.

Electrical Accessories Malfunctioning

Eventually, your car's battery will run low due to a bad alternator. Electrical accessories, such as power windows or windshield wipers, may move slowly or stop working altogether.

Slow or Difficult Engine Start

Your Chevy may struggle to start or not start at all, even if the battery is not flat.

The engine may also start to stutter or stall while driving, or not drive with sufficient power as a result of the ignition system not getting consistent power to the spark plugs essential for the correct combustion process in the engine.

Frequent Battery Drain or Dead Battery

A vehicle's battery may frequently go dead and require jump-starts if the alternator isn't recharging it properly.

Unexpected loss of power to other electrical systems is also a distinct possibility, which may render a vehicle unsafe with loss of driver assistance features or safety features.

Unusual Noises Under the Hood

Unusual noises are always cause for alarm in your car, and a loose or failing alternator pulley or alternator belt can make odd growling, whining, or squealing sounds.

Worn bearings in the alternator itself can also result in unusual noises from under the hood that will need to be checked out before complete failure.

Diagnosing Alternator Issues

Knowing what the bad alternator symptoms are is not enough. Testing your car's alternator becomes necessary to establish if your Chevy's alternator is indeed faulty.

Some quick and simple tests will reveal alternator problems, but may require some special tools.

How to Test Alternator Output

A voltmeter is used to accurately check the battery voltage output while the engine is off and while running.

A healthy battery will give a 12.6 volt reading at rest, while a 13.5 to 14.5 voltage reading when the engine is running indicates a healthy alternator and charging system.

Checking Battery and Belt Connections

A failing battery may itself be the problem. A car's battery has a limited working life of around three years. A failing battery will no longer be able to be fully charged and hold its electrical charge to power all of your car's electrical systems.

A missing drive belt is easy to diagnose when your alternator stops charging.

Your alternator belt may have become loose and completely left the pulleys, which is an easy diagnosis of an undercharging alternator. A loose alternator V-belt can also slip on the drive pulleys, which will cause the alternator to not spin correctly and provide the necessary current for charging the battery.

When to Visit a Certified Chevy Service Center

No need to feel bad if any simple DIY checks don't reveal where a problem lies. We are not all mechanics.

Rather, visit a certified Chevy service center that will check out your car for bad alternator symptoms and conveniently sort out issues like a loose alternator belt, loose wire, or even replace a faulty alternator.

Preventing Alternator Problems

There are some quick and easy tasks that owners can do to ensure they get the best out of their Chevy's alternator.

Regular Maintenance and Inspections

Regular scheduled maintenance includes checking and tightening electrical connections, correcting loose belt tension and belt condition, plus monitoring your car's battery's health.

Keeping Electrical Systems in Check

A thorough check-up of the charging system should include electrical connections, ensuring that they are tight and corrosion-free, especially between the alternator and the battery, plus all fuses. This will go a long way to keeping problems at bay.

Using Genuine Chevy Parts for Replacements

When replacing parts in your Chevy, it is recommended to use genuine OEM parts from GM that are designed and manufactured for our specific Chevy model to ensure a correct fit and proper functioning.

Get Your Chevy Alternator Serviced at Colonial Chevrolet

Don't hesitate to contact the service center at Colonial Chevrolet in New London, CT, if you experience any bad alternator symptoms with your Chevy.

Our certified service center will provide you with an amazing customer service experience thanks to our skilled technicians who will ensure that your Chevy receives the correct and convenient repair.