A healthy alternator should consistently generate more than 13 volts of electricity, and sometimes as much as 15 volts. If your alternator starts to break down and produce less than 13 volts, the electrical parts of your car will begin to stop working too. With this in mind, the following four warning signs should tell you it’s time to visit your nearest Subaru dealership for alternator repair or replacement sometime soon.
How To Tell When Your Subaru Needs an Alternator Repair
Electrical Power Falters
There are all kinds of electrical components in your car, including the headlights, internal cabin lights, dashboard dials, power windows, windshield wipers, air conditioning, heated seats, stereo, and more. If these components all begin to act strangely, flickering, fading, acting erratically, it’s quite likely that your alternator, andfailing and the battery is struggling to manage them all on its own.
Battery Fails to Recharge
One crucial task the alternator serves is to keep your battery fully charged. When a bad alternator can no longer do this, you’ll find that your electronics stop working as soon as you turn off the engine.
If the battery’s dead, you might not even be able to start your car again. And even if you successfully jumpstart the engine, it won’t be able to keep going for long with both a bad alternator and dead battery.
Engine Losses Power
The spark plugs inside your engine require a steady flow of voltage from the alternator. If this flow of power dries up, the spark plugs will begin misfiring, causing your car to jolt and sputter. And eventually, the engine will die altogether.
When the alternator stops functioning, the battery will keep your engine going for a short time. But you’re likely to notice your car struggling and misfiring, and it’s best to get to a dealership or at least get off the road before you stall somewhere inconvenient.
Dashboard Warns You
Some Subaru models have an ALT light on the dashboard, which directly tells you if the alternator is having trouble. Other models have a mode general battery light, which indicates a problem with the car’s electrical system at large.
This battery light could mean there’s a problem with the alternator, battery, wiring, or something else. Whichever warning light your car has, if you see it come to life, have a technician check your alternator without delay.
How Often to Visit Your Subaru Dealer for a New Alternator
Alternators usually last between six and ten years, which is about 80,000 to 150,000 of driving. So you can expect to need to replace your alternator two or three times over the lifespan of your car.
To check the current condition of your alternator, you can have it tested at your local dealership at any time. This might give you an indicator of how much longer it will last.
Visit Sunset Hills Subaru today to have your alternator fixed or replaced. We’re a trusted local dealership that’s been proudly serving the local region’s drivers for over 40 years.
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