How often does a car need a new alternator?

The average longevity of an alternator is seven years or about 150,000 miles. Several factors can impact the lifespan of your alternator, including the quality of the part, the overall condition of the vehicle, and how many electronics are being used.


How can you tell if you need a new alternator?

7 Signs of a Failing Alternator
  1. Dim or Overly Bright Lights. ...
  2. Dead Battery. ...
  3. Slow or Malfunctioning Accessories. ...
  4. Trouble Starting or Frequent Stalling. ...
  5. Growling or Whining Noises. ...
  6. Smell of Burning Rubber or Wires. ...
  7. Battery Warning Light on Dash.


How long do alternators usually last in a car?

How Long Does an Alternator Last? Alternators have an impressive lifespan of seven years–or between 80,000 to 150,000 miles. But be careful that you are not wearing it out prematurely!


How much does a new alternator cost?

In general, expect $130 to $250 for a quality alternator. The lower end is offers professionally remanufactured alternators, while the high-end price range is generally new alternators running higher amps for modern vehicles.

Do alternators just go out suddenly?

Alternators can go bad suddenly, or slowly over time. If your alternator is slowly going bad over time there are some warning signs you can look out for.


AutoZone Car Care: When to Replace Your Alternator



Is it expensive to replace an alternator?

Some car repairs are minor, costing under $50 while major repairs can be thousands of dollars. An alternator is on the lower end of the scale and, depending on several factors, the cost to replace the alternator can range somewhere between $100 and $1,000.

How does a car act with a bad alternator?

Some of the things to look for are no-starting and trouble starting, dimming lights and problems with stereo system output. If your car starts but stalls when you're underway, your battery is probably not being recharged due to a faulty alternator.

Can you drive a car that needs a new alternator?

Driving around with a bad alternator isn't a smart idea; as damaged or broken alternators can cause a wide range of problems. They can interfere with your car's electrical features, make it harder to start the engine, and even cause the battery to drain entirely, leaving you with an utterly unresponsive vehicle.


What causes an alternator to fail?

Most of the time, alternators fail as a result of age or use. However, some other factors can cause an alternator to fail prematurely. Fluid leaking on the car alternator can commonly lead to failure. Often, engine oil or power steering fluid can work its way into the alternator and cause it to malfunction or fail.

What happens if alternator dies while driving?

If your alternator goes out – your car isn't going anywhere fast. Because your alternator charges your car's battery, without it, you won't be able to start your car, which means you'll need a tow to the mechanic. When you have a dead alternator, your battery will also die during normal use.

How to check alternator?

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  1. Get a multimeter.
  2. Set your multimeter to DCV (DC Volts) above 15.
  3. Make sure your alternator's positive and negative terminals are clean.
  4. Put the multimeter's black cable to the negative terminal and the red cable to the positive terminal.
  5. Look for an ideal alternator reading of around 12.6.


What are the warning signs of a bad alternator?

It all starts with a few telltale problems: A dash light coming on for a brief moment, maybe dimmed headlights and a few flickering gauges. Perhaps your car even gives off an odd smell, or you hear a growling sound coming from under the hood.

What noise does a bad alternator make?

If you're hearing a grinding sound in your car, this could indicate that the alternator is going bad. The grinding sound may be caused by a worn-out bearing. Your car can also make a whining sound when the voltage regulator is sending signals to the alternator to charge more than is necessary.

How do you tell if it's my battery or alternator?

If the engine starts but dies immediately, your alternator probably isn't keeping your battery charged. If a jump starts and keeps your car running, but the car can't start again off of its own power, a dead battery is probably your answer.


Should I replace my battery when I replace my alternator?

While you have to disconnect the battery from the engine, you do not have to replace the battery when replacing the alternator. Alternators typically have a lifespan between seven and ten years, while batteries last between three and four.

How long does it take to put a new alternator in a car?

In general, it will take about two hours for you to replace an alternator on your own, though this could vary somewhat depending on your knowledge of car mechanics. If you take your car into a shop in order to have the alternator replaced, timing may vary somewhat, and you may have to leave the car for the day.

How long does it take a mechanic to replace an alternator?

Replacing an alternator will take a professional about two hours. However, that doesn't mean your car will only be at the shop for two hours—there may be a wait before a mechanic can address your ride.


How long do bad alternators last?

If you're noticing that your car is having problems starting, you may be wondering just how often do alternators go bad? Alternators can typically last a long time, about seven years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles. But some mechanics report that they are replacing alternators at about 80,000 miles.

What is the most common problem with an alternator?

One of the most common problems you're likely to experience with an alternator is a failure in the bearings. There are needle bearings in the alternator that allow the rotor to freely spin inside the housing, and those bearings can break down over time as a result of exposure to heat and dirt.

Does AutoZone test alternators for free?

A worn, loose, or damaged connector can cause a massive voltage drop. If everything appears fine, the alternator should be removed and bench tested, which can be done for free at AutoZone.


What is draining my car battery when its off?

What may drain a car battery when it's off are things such as interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays. While your engine runs, the alternator recharges the battery — which is why you typically don't have to worry about the battery dying while you're blasting the radio on your drive to work!

How do I know if my alternator is working?

A simple test to check the working of the alternator is by running your car; and then unplugging the positive connection of the battery. If the car stops, then you most likely have a problem with the alternator.

Will a bad alternator throw a code?

If you have a “Check Engine" light on, connect a code reader to the diagnostic port. If you find code P0562, you very likely have a failing alternator (note that codes may vary by vehicle make/model/year). Get it checked out before it fails entirely.


Will a car start if the alternator is messed up?

If your alternator is dead, the car might start but will be running solely on the battery. Can you jumpstart a car with a bad alternator? It is possible in some cases to jumpstart a vehicle that has a faulty alternator, as long as the battery has enough of a charge to keep running.

Can hitting an alternator fix it?

The Do Nots of the Alternator

Your car will just not start. Some people believe that you can just tap the alternator with a hammer to get it to operate. You should not do this because it will damage the part and you might even damage the surrounding parts to the car, resulting is a large car repair bill.