Your car’s alternator converts mechanical energy from your engine into electricity, powering your electronics and charging your battery. But when your alternator starts to fail, what can you expect in ...

A faulty alternator not only makes the safe operation of a car impossible but can significantly damage the entire vehicle. For instance, faults in the electrical part of the alternator lead to severe ...

The alternator in your vehicle is not a disposable item like the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid (ATF), or radiator coolant. The average lifespan of an alternator is around 80,000 to 150,000 ...

Alternator trouble is a very common occurrence, and unless you live with a silver spoon in your mouth and have a dedicated person to do your dirty work, alternator trouble is in your future. When it ...

It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the deep chill of winter or the heat of summer, on a work truck, emergency vehicle, or personal rig—the last thing a driver wants to see or hear are dim headlights ...

Mustangs have had alternator charging systems since August 1964, when all Fords and Mercurys became so equipped. Alternators are clearly better than generators in that they maintain a steady charge at ...

We earn commissions from purchases you make using links in our articles. Learn more. The alternator is a device that keeps your car’s electrical system running once the engine is on. It’s essentially ...

Back in the day, you had to hand-crank your engine to start it. Thankfully, Charles Kettering and Cadillac gave us the electric starter motor in 1912, and we’ve started our engines from the comfort of ...

It was a red Lamborghini Countach, parked with its scissor doors open to let the sunlight in, what most probably sparked Alex's love for cars. Even though he was less than three years old when he saw ...

The charging system provides the electricity that powers the starter motor and runs electrical accessories, such as lights, audio system, air conditioner, window defroster and other components. Its ...

When assessing your street rod's charging system, it's important to understand how an alternator works and what other factors may affect its performance. Simply put, alternators are converters. They ...

Your car won't start for the second day in a row. You ask your neighbor for a jump (again) and head off to work — late, of course. You come to the conclusion that it has to be the battery or the ...