3 Signs Your Subaru Needs an Alternator Repair

Your Subaru has a huge variety of systems and devices that make driving easier and more comfortable than ever before. All of these systems depend on electricity, and it’s your alternator’s job to provide this power. The alternator runs continually from the time your engine starts and quietly generates the necessary electricity. It will eventually become worn or damaged, and you’ll need to visit your Subaru dealer for an alternator repair. These are signs your alternator could be in trouble.

Damaged Wiring

The electricity produced by your alternator has to be carried to every component and system in your car. A copious amount of cables and wires run throughout your car, and they have to be carefully protected. Electrical wiring is delicate, and a car engine isn’t an ideal place for wires. Heat and slight movements are two of the problems wiring must contend with.

Wiring will gradually degrade over time, and this can cause it to break. Broken wiring won’t conduct electricity, and this cuts off power to the components the wire is connected to. Electricity will continue to flow through the broken wire, and it will heat up. The protective covering around wires can burn if they get too hot and this produces toxic fumes. We can examine your wiring and replace any worn or damaged sections.

Old Alternator

An alternator has a useful life of approximately eight years before it needs replacement. When an alternator gets older, it gradually produces less electricity. This occurs due to aged and worn-out parts. Worn components move slower, and electrical production will drop. A failing alternator isn’t easy to identify, but eventually, it won’t be able to produce enough power for all your systems.

If you suspect an alternator problem, we can examine it to determine its power-generating capability. We can easily replace a worn alternator, and your car’s electrical supply will return to normal.

Electrical Glitches

Random electrical problems can occur at any time, and for no obvious reason. They are the result of an unexpected or diverted electrical charge. In the vast majority of cases, these problems aren’t significant as they won’t reoccur. If you’re experiencing frequent electrical problems, you could have a worn alternator.

As we’ve seen, a worn alternator doesn’t produce the level of power it once did. Eventually, the failing alternator won’t produce enough power for all your car’s systems. When this happens, your computer will allocate the available power to satisfy the demand. A jammed sunroof, malfunctioning AC controls, or a seat heater that doesn’t work could all be signs of an alternator problem. We can easily replace a failing alternator to fix this problem.

If your car has an alternator problem, call us right away at Puente Hills Subaru.

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