Alternators

Your alternator is one of the most essential parts in your GM vehicle's charging system. It provides the electricity that powers your battery, accessories, and many parts and systems.

How Your Alternator Works

What the alternator does is simple. It takes the mechanical energy produced by the engine and converts it into electricity. How it does that is more complex.

The vertical motion of the pumping pistons is transformed into rotary motion that moves a drive belt that's attached to a pulley on the rotor shaft. There are coils inside the rotor that generate a magnetic field, which is captured by a rectifier as AC power. The rectifier then turns that into the DC power that the battery, entertainment system, windshield wipers, power windows, and more run on.

How to Tell When Your Alternator is Going Bad

Alternators don’t always last forever, unfortunately. If yours starts to fail, you'll want to address the problem as soon as possible to avoid serious issues. Signs of trouble include:

• Headlights that dim or flicker
• Power windows that stop operating
• A sound system that acts up
• Whining noises coming from the engine
• A battery that repeatedly dies
• A dashboard warning light alerts

Genuine OEM Alternators Are Best

Once easy and affordable way to check your alternator is to test your battery's voltage. If it reads low, give it a charge. If it still reads low following that, your alternator is likely failing. Choosing one made by your manufacturer is the smart way to go, since they make alternators specifically to fit your vehicle. Find yours, along with any hardware you may need, right here in our online auto parts catalog. Buy now and we'll ship your order right to your front door!