The alternator is a device that keeps your car's electrical system running once the engine is on. It's essentially a small generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity, bolted to the ...

Last week, I talked about how the alternator in my daily driver 2003 BMW E39 530i died while my wife and I were in southern New Hampshire, and how we successfully made the 45-minute trip home just as ...

The alternator in your vehicle is not a disposable item like the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid (ATF), or radiator coolant. The average lifespan of an alternator is around 80,000 to 150,000 ...

Alternator trouble is a very common occurrence, and unless you live with a silver spoon in your mouth and have a dedicated person to do your dirty work, alternator trouble is in your future. When it ...

A faulty alternator not only makes the safe operation of a car impossible but can significantly damage the entire vehicle. For instance, faults in the electrical part of the alternator lead to severe ...

Owning a car might be the biggest, and worst, waiting game on the planet. Every single day that you step into the driver’s seat and wonder, “What might go wrong?” We’re not just talking rust buckets, ...

Your car’s alternator converts mechanical energy from your engine into electricity, powering your electronics and charging your battery. But when your alternator starts to fail, what can you expect in ...

Disconnecting the battery while the engine is running isn't a valid test for alternator function and may damage sensitive electronic parts. Instead, use a common voltmeter and the following test ...

Mustangs have had alternator charging systems since August 1964, when all Fords and Mercurys became so equipped. Alternators are clearly better than generators in that they maintain a steady charge at ...

I’m a former mechanic and I have a question for you. Some of your answers refer to alternators that have “died.” But as far as I know, you have never written about why they die. I know about bearings ...

From the earliest days of motoring, cars have evolved dramatically. The very first car envisioned by Carl Benz bears little resemblance to the vehicles we drive today; since then, engineers have found ...