HOW LONG WILL MY ALTERNATOR LAST?

The question of how long will my alternator last has come up recently and I wanted to take a little time to explain what exactly the alternator does and what affects the longevity.

The alternator is an important car part that recharges the battery using power from the engine.  The alternator keeps the battery from losing its charge and eventually dying, because when the battery dies, all the electrical features included on your vehicle go along with it.

We ask a lot from our auto parts, especially our vehicle's electrical system.  It wasn't that long ago when an alternator only had to power headlights, the radio and a few other accessories.  But now, our cars come complete with GPS navigation system, electric seat heaters and even DVD players.  It's easy to see how alternators and batteries have to handle a much heavier load these days.

Factors Affecting Alternator Longevity

As mentioned earlier, alternators have a tough job.  Every year, cars are built with more and more complex electrical system and devices.  The alternator is the car part responsible for supplying the power to the battery that keeps them all running.  Starting the car and using the radio, the on-board navigation system, the heated seats, power mirrors and windows and any other electrical equipment will decrease the alternator's longevity.

The action that generates electricity as a rotor spinning past coils inside the alternator.  That rotor is spun on a needle bearing, an auto part which can break due to excessive wear or dirt and grime that can build up inside.  In addition, the diodes inside the voltage regulator can fail after time.  Heat from the engine also puts an extra strain on the part, decreasing its car part longevity.

In other words, an alternator is an auto part that cannot last forever.  Since there are so many factors that can affect its life, it's hard to say exactly how long an alternator can actually last.  It depends on the car, the engine, the conditions in which it's used, how much electrical equipment it's regularly operating and so on.

If you have any questions regarding this article please give The Auto Analyst, your one stop auto repair shop, a call today at (530) 621-4591 or visit our "Service Assistant" page on our website www.theautoanalyst.com.

Is Your Vehicle Ready For Fall?

Be Car Care Aware...

Preventative maintenance is by far the cheapest and best way to prevent even larger problems down the line. Here are a few Fall car care tips:

• BATTERY:  Have your battery checked especially after the extremely hot weather where it was overworked.
• TIRE PRESSURE:  Make sure your tires have the correct pressure.  Air pressure in a tire decreases 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change.  For an accurate reading make sure to check tire pressure when the tires are cold.  Driving even a mile can affect the psi reading.
• TIRE TREAD:  Check your tire tread to make sure that you have the recommended safe about of tread left.  Also check for cracks, bubbles, and any other irregularities.
• BRAKE CHECK:  Driving on worn brake pads and/or shoes not only decreases stopping power but can damage brake rotors and/or drums as well.
• WASHER FLUID:  May not seem like a safety feature but water will freeze on your windshield in the winter.  choose a cold weather washer fluid that won't freeze in colder temperatures.
• CHECK FLUID LEVELS:  Keeping an eye on fluid levels can alert you to a needed service or potential problem like a leak.
• HEATING AND COOLING:  Check the HVAC system.  Proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.
• PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE:  Keeping up with basic car care helps save from a breakdown or unexpected repair.
• WINDSHIELD WIPERS:  Now is the perfect time to check to make sure that your wipers work properly without smearing.  Don't wait until you are in a down pour to find out that your wiper blades only smear causing vision obstruction.
• LIGHTS:  Winter days mean longer nights.  Make sure all of your vehicles lights are functioning properly.

Next time you are in for maintenance or repair make sure you ask for your Fall Courtesy Vehicle Inspection free of charge at your one stop automotive repair shop, The Auto Analyst.  Schedule an appointment today by calling (530) 621-4591 or online at www.theautoanalyst.com.