16th October 2019

stackexchange

16

Can a bad cell in a battery cause the alternator to fail?

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I sell alternators all day every day - and a poor battery is often the root cause of alternator failure. If your battery is 'Open Circuit' the alternator will either not start charging at all or will erratically bounce from low to high voltage. This causes the regulator to fail prematurely (or immediately!)

Regarding this, what keeps the battery charged in a car?

The battery is charged by an alternator on modern cars, or by a dynamo on earlier ones. Both are types of generator , and are driven by a belt from the engine. The alternator consists of a stator - a stationary set of wire coil windings, inside which a rotor revolves.

Why the alternator is not charging?

Problem: Lights flare excessively as engine speed increases. Solution: This is usually caused by an overcharged battery, which is typically the result of high alternator voltage. This can be caused by a short or ground in the rotor field winding within the alternator or a defective regulator.

Is it a dead battery or alternator?

If jump starting gets your engine started and running, but the car will not start again once you turn it off, the battery is probably the problem. In this case, the alternator is doing its job of keeping the battery going once it has been jumped, but the battery can't hold a charge when the alternator is shuts off.

1

Can you charge a battery with a bad cell?

If the battery cannot reach higher than 10.5 volts when being charged, then the battery has a dead cell. If the battery is fully charged (according to the battery charger) but the voltage is 12.5 or less, the battery is sulfated. If your battery cannot even reach a full charge, consider it bad.

2

Can you ruin an alternator by jumping a car?

Any battery or alternator issues that affect power quality will be transmitted to your car. The good news is that large 12v batteries make excellent buffers against power issues that might otherwise cause damage. However, it is still possible to suffer damage to your car from jumping someone elses.

3

Can you check an alternator by disconnecting the battery?

If you're tempted to test an alternator by disconnecting the negative battery cable, don't do it. A good alternator may indeed keep the engine running, but it was never a good test. In the pre-computer days, you could pull it off without damaging anything. Today, you risk frying every electrical device in your vehicle.

4

Why do car batteries fail?

Approximately 50% of premature car battery failures is caused by the loss of water for normal recharging charging due to the lack of maintenance, evaporation from high under hood heat, or overcharging. Positive grid growth and undercharging causing sulfation also cause premature failures.

5

What is the proper battery cable connection?

Attach the red, positive cable clamp on the other side of the jumper cables to the functioning vehicle's positive (+) battery terminal. Connect the black, negative cable clamp to the working battery's negative (-) battery terminal. Walk over to the car with the dead battery.

6

What are the symptoms of a bad alternator?

6 Symptoms of a Failing Alternator

The indicator light. It's quite likely that your vehicle is equipped with a warning indicator light in the dashboard titled "ALT" or "GEN."
Headlights are dim or flickering.
Other electrical failures.
Strange noises.
Car stalls or has difficulty starting.
Battery dies.

7

Can you test a car battery?

Fully charged automotive batteries should measure at 12.6 volts or above. When the engine is running, this measurement should be 13.7 to 14.7 volts. If you don't have a multimeter to tell you the voltage of your battery, you can do a test of your electrical system by starting the car and turning on the headlights.

8

Can you drive a car with a bad alternator?

Yes , a car will run with a bad alternator……until the battery goes dead. Yes but eventually the car will die when the battery no longer has power to run the spark plugs and other systems. If you shut the car off , it will likely not start again without a jump start.

9

How long is a car battery supposed to last?

While a battery that allows a car start at the first turn of the key is a joyful thing, it doesn't last forever. In fact, depending on where you live and how you drive, the condition of your charging system, and a number of other factors, a battery lasts about four years on average.

10

How much is a new battery for a car?

The cost of a car battery. According to CostHelper, a typical car battery costs between $50 and $120, while premium batteries cost $90 to $200. Service providers on Angie's List that we spoke with say the average battery cost runs in the $75 to $120 range. Several factors affect the cost, such as battery type.

11

How long does it take to recharge a car battery?

A car battery usually holds 48 amps so if you take that it charges at approximately 1 amp per hour you can work out how long it will take to charge your battery with various amperage chargers. Charging your battery with a four amp charger will take about 12 hours to get a full charge out of this low amperage.

12

How much does it cost to replace an alternator?

Waits says the average price to replace an alternator with a remanufactured one is $400, while Gunning adds that a remanufactured alternator on a typical, domestic car, costs about $300 to $500, including parts and labor. The price of a new alternator can run from $500 to $1,000.

13

What causes an alternator in a car to fail?

One of the most common failures is bearing failure. The needle bearings that allow the rotor to spin freely inside the stator can break down from dirt and heat. When the bearings fail, the rotor will not spin efficiently and can eventually seize. Usually an alternator with bearings failure makes a loud grinding noise.

14

Can the alternator make noise?

Odd sounds. There are many different parts that spin inside your vehicle's alternator to produce electrical current. If one of these parts becomes worn or breaks, this could cause a grinding or whining noise. Specifically, worn out bearings inside the alternator have been known to cause this type of noise.

15

Why is my car not starting?

The starter won't crank. If nothing happens when you turn the ignition key to the "Start" position, it means that the starter motor doesn't turn over the engine. Most commonly this could be caused by a dead battery; here is How to check the battery. The starter solenoid control wire could have a bad connection.

16

Can you jump start a car with a bad alternator?

If jump starting gets your engine started and running, but the car will not start again once you turn it off, the battery is probably the problem. In this case, the alternator is doing its job of keeping the battery going once it has been jumped, but the battery can't hold a charge when the alternator is shuts off.

17

How long does it take to put on an alternator?

The make and model of your vehicle will determine the exact time it takes to replace the alternator, but usually, one to two hours is sufficient.

18

What drains a car battery while it is off?

Defective alternator diode. A car alternator recharges the battery and powers certain electrical systems. If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can drain. The bad diode can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is shut off, and you end up in the morning with a car that won't start.

19

How much voltage should an alternator put out?

A car alternator needs to be putting out at least 13-14 volts (ideally between 13.8 and 14.2 volts) to effectively charge a 12 volt car battery. If the alternator is putting out too much voltage (15+ volts), it is likely your battery acid will boil over out of the battery.

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