An alternator is a generator that produces the electricity stored in a vehicle’s 12-volt battery and powers the starter motor for the engine and the various computers, lights, power windows and locks, ...

The battery is often the first thing that comes to mind when people think about what powers a car's electrical system. After all, batteries are what supply power to most of our devices. However, ...

The alternator is not a complex piece of machinery, yet it’s an integral part of conventionally fueled vehicles’ electrical systems, and like all car parts, it will ultimately break down. Here are the ...

The short answer here is that yes — in most cases — you should replace your car's serpentine belt when replacing the alternator. The issue isn't so much that the two components are part of the same ...

A vehicle’s alternator generates the power that charges the battery, and when that power flow slows to a trickle or stops, you will be unable to use its electrical accessories, or the car will just ...

The alternator is responsible for charging the car battery and powering all the car's onboard network consumers. If it fails or is unstable, the battery will either not be charged or start discharging ...

Replacing a car's alternator can cost about $350 to $1,500 or more, depending on the type of car and the alternator's location within the engine bay and how easy it is to access. If your alternator is ...

I’m a former mechanic and I have a question for you. Some of your answers refer to alternators that have “died.” But as far as I know, you have never written about why they die. I know about bearings ...

It seems that the biggest growing segment of add-on performance parts for early muscle cars is electrical components. Electric fuel pumps, alternators, fans, megawatt stereos, and other amenities all ...

One of the critical components of a vehicle's electrical system is the alternator. In a car, for instance, the energy that powers things like the audio system, climate control system, and headlights ...

Cars waste tremendous amounts of heat--which is, after all, a form of energy. Now a professor at Cardiff University has suggested a way to repurpose it so as to reduce emissions. Thermocouples, which ...