The health and safety of our staff, customers, and community is our top priority. Read an important message from Rick Roush Honda.
The alternator is the center of your Honda’s electrical charging system. It produces electricity, which is then transported to all your car’s systems and devices. If your alternator is worn or damaged, your Honda dealer can fix the problem. These are a few signs that you may need an alternator repair very soon.
Signs You Need an Alternator Repair at Your Honda Dealer
Burning Smells
As the alternator ages, it gradually becomes weaker. Components start to wear out or fail, and the alternator won’t produce the level of electricity it once did. When your alternator can’t produce enough power the electrical shortfall will become apparent. Signs of a lack of electricity in your car’s headlights becoming dim, frequent electrical glitches, and other issues.
When the alternator can’t produce enough power, your car’s computer will instruct it to work harder. The alternator will spin faster to try and generate more power, but a worn alternator will quickly start to produce a strong burning smell. This smell is caused by the metal heating up as it struggles to produce electricity. Our technicians will examine your alternator and replace it if it’s worn out.
Flickering Headlights
Headlight bulbs have a varied lifespan depending on the type of bulb. When a headlight bulb starts to fail, it will usually flicker for a while before it finally burns out. These bulbs can also flicker if the electrical supply they receive isn’t stable. Bulbs require a constant and consistent power supply to operate correctly.
If your alternator is wearing out, the power it supplies will drop. Your car’s computer will have to adjust the power supplied to each component to maximize the usage of the available electricity. This can result in fluctuations in the amount of power supplied to the headlights, and they will flicker as a result. We can test your alternator for you. If your alternator is failing, we’ll install a new one to fix the problem.
Damaged Belt Tensioner
The alternator is powered by the movement of the serpentine belt. This belt is connected to the crankshaft, and it runs across a series of pulleys. As the crankshaft turns, the belt moves and causes the pulleys to spin. One of these pulleys is connected to the alternator, which produces electricity in response to the movement of the serpentine belt.
The belt is maintained at a constant tension by the belt tensioner. If the belt is too loose, it can slip off the pulleys. A belt that’s too tight could snap. If the belt tensioner is damaged, the belt won’t move at a consistent rate. This slows down the movement of the alternator and accepts your car’s electrical supply. We’ll examine the belt tensioner and adjust or replace it depending on the situation.
If you suspect a problem with your alternator, call our service department at Rick Roush Honda.
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