|
Home
MENU:
Betterthanokay.com Home
Automobile
Resources
Automobile
Articles
Recreational
Vehicles
Debt Reduction
Credit
Cards
Loans
Mortgages
Great Outdoors
3 Secret Tips Before You Buy A Used Car
A Review of Car Web Sites
Car Diagnosis Made Simple
Car Fraud A Growing Concern On Auction Sites Like Ebay
Does Running Your Car’s Air Conditioner Really Affect Gas Mileage
Don't Trade It In - Instead Sell Your Used Car
Is Your Car's Air Filter Clogged?
Learn how to choose the right fuel treatments for your car
|
Car and Truck Alternators
Has your vehicle's alternator failed? Are you absolutely certain that it isn't your battery or starter? Determining which part has failed is essential toward avoiding unnecessarily replacing something that hasn't failed, like your battery. Let's take a look at some steps you can take to determine that your alternator, in fact, has bit the dust.
If you own an alternator testing machine, you can test to see whether your car's alternator is charging correctly. For most people this isn't practical as few motorists own such an expensive piece of equipment. For everyone else, there is a practical way for you to easily check to see if your alternator is working properly:
Connect a volt meter to your car's battery
Start your car
Observe the voltage output on the volt meter so that you can make an accurate determination.
If there is an increase in voltage when you start your car, then your alternator is more than likely working just fine. Likely, you battery is the culprit; check the battery itself and the connections to make a final determination.
If there is no increase in voltage, you are likely looking at having to replace your alternator.
The next step, of course, is to determine whether you will replace the alternator yourself or have someone else do the job. Some things to keep in mind as you weigh your options include:
If you trust your vehicle to a mechanic, what will the total cost of the work be including the part and labor? Is there a guarantee?
If you decide to do the work yourself, do you have all the tools on hand to get the work done? Do you own a repair manual? Do you want to purchase a new alternator or will a remanufactured unit suffice?
Your choices today are much greater than they were ten years ago, before internet shopping became a strong factor in reigning in high auto parts prices. Several online wholesalers, including the Auto Parts Warehouse, are in business to sell auto parts directly to you. Costs are generally much lower than local retail establishments and parts are from well known manufacturers, names you can trust in the business.
Doing the work yourself can save you time and money as well as give to you a sense of accomplishment. With a trusty repair manual at your side you can replace your vehicle's alternator quickly and accurately.
****************************************************
You can replace an auto alternator yourself; at APW we sell premium Bosch alternators and Valeo alternators at heavily discounted prices.
About the Author
Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the Auto Parts Warehouse [APW] , an online wholesaler of high quality performance and replacement parts for passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans.
Written by: Matthew C. Keegan
|
Other Articles of Interest:
All-Weather Car Mats
Melting snow, road salt, sand, and mud are certainly items that you do not want sticking to your car's interior. But then, these items do enter the car with...read more
Auto Parts Accessory - Car Trucks SUV
Car Accessory, Auto Accessory, Billet Grille, Taillight, Headlight, Muffler, Exhaust tip, Gauge, Rear Spoiler Wing, Turn Signal Light, Bumper Light, M3 Mirror,...read more
Auto Parts Inner Offers Preventive Car Maintenance Tips and Quality Replacement Parts for Ford, BMW, Toyota, Honda Chevrolet and More
Believing that prevention is still better than cure, Auto Parts Inner offers preventive maintenance tips to a lot of car users in order to avoid common car...read more
Avoiding Expensive Car Repairs
Quite often, a visit to the car repair shop can be even more painful than a visit to your dentist. Perhaps physical pain it’s involved, but some car repairs...read more
Buying Car Parts – An Overview
Buying car parts can easy or it can be extremely difficult. It is probably easier to find parts for an older car than it is for a newer car. Car parts for...read more
Special Offers: Save on quality tires with these manufacturer's promotions available from The Tire Rack.
 |
News:
Reviewing the Toyota Prius C (May 18, 2012 22:23)
The Prius C is an attractive little car, all curves, flares and bulges. And at 53 m.p.g., it can han..
Lola, Builder of Racecars, Files for Bankruptcy (May 18, 2012 19:46)
The action ended months of speculation regarding the company's finances.
During Mille Miglia, a Rare Sighting of the Fiat Scion (May 18, 2012 17:30)
John Elkann, the fiercely private Fiat chairman, was spotted Friday at the helm of a 1952 Fiat 8V, d..
Acura Recalls 53,000 TL Sedans for Leaking Power-Steering Hoses (May 18, 2012 14:54)
The action, which applied to all 2008 models, resembled a recall from 2008 that affected 273,000 TLs..
Study Finds Lack of Uniform Signage Poses Obstacle to Public Charging Networks (May 18, 2012 10:00)
Managing the federally financed EV Project, the company issued a critical report from its first year..
|
