Solana Beach Auto Repair

If your car is running, you’ve got your alternator to thank. While it often goes unnoticed, the alternator is a critical component in your vehicle's electrical system. Its job? To keep your car’s battery charged and power all the electrical components while the engine is running. But how exactly does this part work, and what happens if it starts to fail? The Role of an Alternator The alternator acts as your car's personal power plant. Once the engine is running, the alternator takes over from the battery, supplying the electricity needed to keep everything working—from your headlights and radio to the engine control systems. It also recharges the battery so that it’s ready to start the car the next time you turn the key. How does it do this? The alternator uses a belt connected to the engine to generate energy. Inside the alternator, a magnetic rotor spins within a coil of wire, creating an electric current. This current is then conve ... read more