How Much Does an Alternator Cost?
It can be concerning if the electrical system in your car seems to be malfunctioning. There is a chance that a dead battery or glitchy electronics could distract you from the road.
There can be a lot of causes for these troubles, but the alternator could potentially fail.
The generating station is small and powerful and needs to be fixed if there is a problem.
Minor repairs can be as low as $50 while major repairs can run into the thousands of dollars.
The cost to replace an alternator on the lower end of the scale can range between $100 and $1,000 depending on several factors.
Factors Affecting the Alternator Price
The price of a new alternator will be affected by the differences between them. They have included:
The Year, Make, Model, and Engine Size
It is only an exact match for your car’s needs that will do, so always shop for parts like the alternator that take its specifications into account.
The Amperage
Smaller alternators that don’t generate as much electricity for the car tend to have less high-value material like copper used in the windings. The cost of manufacturing is lower. Sometimes, it is not the case.
Its Mounting Style
It isn’t possible to choose a low-cost alternator intended for a different car since it needs to fit perfectly. It isn’t going to work.
The Types of Electrical Connections
Older cars that are considered 1-wire alternators are often cheaper than 3-wire alternators.
The New Part’s Warranty
It’s expected that choosing a new part with a year of warranty will cost you more money than a similar part with a lifetime warranty.
The Role of the Alternator
Today’s cars require a lot of power. There are obvious systems that need power, such as the radio, power windows, door locks, and heated seats, but there are also modules and sensors around as well.
The anti-lock brakes often have a wheel speed sensor at every wheel, an anti-lock brake control module, and other related parts that need constant access to power.
To maintain your car’s electrical needs while the engine is running, the alternator takes power from the battery and combines it with an electromagnet to provide enough electricity to maintain operations.
It can top up its charge by generating enough power to bring some back to the battery.
Direct current (DC) is the type of electricity that your car’s devices need to operate and is created by the alternator’s magnetic rotor and copper windings.
Damage from overcharging as well as issues with too little power can be prevented by the regulation of the voltage output.
The wrong type of current is finding its way through the alternator and it needs to be replaced if it isn’t producing between 13.5 and 14.5.
Signs You May Need a New Alternator
Sometimes repair costs are unavoidable. It becomes a question of whether you can avoid extra costs from related repairs if there are symptoms of a bad alternator.
If you have more than one of the symptoms, it’s time to change the alternator.
Dead Battery:
When you crank the engine over, the battery will send a huge electrical current to the starter. If you have a dead battery, this can be a sign that the starter isn’t getting the power it needs.
Illuminated Battery Light:
There is a warning of a charging problem. Two conditions can be caused by a fault alternator, undercharging or undercharging.
Burning Smells:
A burning rubber smell may be a belt slipping along the alternator pulley if it is starting to seize, and a burning electrical smell may be a fault inside the alternator.
Lighting Issues:
Your interior and exterior lights may be dimmer than normal. It’s possible that there could be flickering as well. This may be from the Alternator.
Unusual Electrical Issues:
It is a possibility that your car may have odd occurrences, but they are not related to the alternator.
Slow power window motors, crackling or fading out from the radio, low fan speed, and a host of other electrical problems can be caused by a low voltage.
Availability of Cores to Rebuild.
The majority of the aftermarket is either a new or remanufactured one. Fewer cores are coming back to rebuild when there is a rarer vehicle or option.
Whirring Under the Hood:
If there is a noise under the hood, it can be a disaster for the alternator. A seize-up may be imminent due to worn or corroded bearings.
Is It Possible To Drive with an Alternator Problem?
When the alternator isn’t charging enough, a short drive is fine most of the time. If you drive a few blocks to the repair shop, the reserved power of the battery can substitute for electricity.
The computer modules, the battery, and other electronics could be damaged if your alternator is overcharging.
If you don’t know if it’s safe to drive, you can arrange a tow truck to take it to your destination.
How Often Do I Need to Replace an Alternator?
It’s hard to gauge how long an alternator will last, unlike your brake pads, tires, or even the serpentine belt.
For some cars, it will last for the lifetime of the car, while for others, it will need a replacement more than once.
The range of 7 and 10 years is how long an alternator should last. It may be between 100,000 and 150,000 miles.
Truck driver by profession, automotive lover by heart. Ricky is the main publisher and editor at Truckile.com sharing his life-long knowledge and experience in the auto industry and truck driving!