Back to all

ABC Auto Works Automotive Tips: Alternator

January 31, 2017

Your alternator makes electricity to start and run your engine and all of the vital electrical systems in your vehicle. That’s everything from the on-board computers to the turn signals. And of course there is the entertainment system, seat heaters, power windows and everything you plug into the power outlets. After your alternator makes enough electricity to do all that, it recharges your battery with what’s left over.

When Walled Lake drivers constantly have a low or dead battery, the alternator is usually a prime suspect. However, the alternator is just one vital component of the starting/charging system, and a problem with any of the other components could be the actual cause.

In addition to the alternator, the charging/starting system includes the battery, starter, serpentine belt system and all of the electrical cables that connect them. Your ABC Auto Works service advisor has a systematic process of testing components and connections to get to the source of your trouble. The initial symptoms determine where to begin the diagnostic process, and he follows the procedure until he tracks down the culprit.

For example, diagnostic tests at ABC Auto Works could reveal that the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the battery charged. Is the alternator bad? Not necessarily. A worn serpentine belt tensioner could be allowing the belt that spins the alternator to slip. So the perfectly good alternator is not spinning at the proper speed. The solution for Walled Lake drivers is to replace the serpentine belt system – not the alternator.

The good news for Walled Lake drivers is that our highly-trained technicians at ABC Auto Works can properly diagnose all your vehicle troubles and make the necessary repairs to get you back on the road in Walled Lake.

Give us a call.

ABC Auto Works
127 E. Walled Lake Drive
Walled Lake, Michigan 48390
800-742-4511



Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from ABC Auto Repair & Tire Center

Why Maintaining Your Windshield Wipers and Washers Matters (Windshield Wiper and Washer Inspection)

November 2, 2025

What do mud, bird droppings and frost all have in common? When theyre covering your windshield, they can temporarily obscure your view of the road, leaving you driving blind. And when you cant see the road clearly ahead of you, it can be really scary. Thats one of the reasons its important to m... More

Before You Buy a Used Vehicle (Car Inspection before Buying a Used Vehicle)

October 27, 2025

Before You Buy a Used Vehicle (Car Inspection before Buying a Used Vehicle) Perhaps this sounds familiar. Your vehicle seems like its been around forever, and youve decided its time to move on. But when you check the price of new vehicles, the sky-high price tags have you considering a nice, pre... More

No Charge (Why Won?t My Battery Hold a Charge?)

October 23, 2025

When your vehicles battery is dead, it leaves you with that horrible, helpless feeling. A dead battery means it wont hold a charge, and there are several reasons it wont. One is age. Batteries have chemical and electrical systems in them that create power, and as time goes by, they wont work we... More