Alternators / Generators, Solenoids and Starters
If you have been around cars for a while, you might have heard the term generator. Well, those were the old days and the good old generator is history. What a generator did for the old cars, an alternator now does. Your car has an electrical system that carries power to such essential things as headlights, the ignition coils, engine cooling fans and non-essential things such as the radio, air conditioning fans, and all of those other things upon to which we have become accustomed. All of that power has to come from somewhere!! A lot of people might think that power comes from the battery, and that is true to some extent. But the real answer is that the power to run all of those electrical things comes from mechanical power, generated from the crankshaft, which transmits it via a "fan" belt (it used to run the cooling fan, as well) or serpentine belt as it is called in most of the newer vintage cars. This then turns the alternator, so the main function of the alternator is to convert power from the gasoline engine that drives you along the road into electrical energy that keeps the battery fully charged and in tip-top condition.
So, what happens when an alternator goes bad? Well, at first, nothing. That is because the battery has some reserve power in it, enough to keep the engine running for quite some time, many miles in fact. So a bad alternator doesn't necessarily mean a tow truck should be called right away. As long as energy is conserved elsewhere, like turning off the blower motor, the rear window de-fogger, the stereo and the headlights (if possible), you could make it for some distance on just the battery reserve alone. If you suspect your alternator is not functioning properly, call or visit us today at Findlay Auto Parts Inc and get a replacement alternator.
An automobile self-starter (commonly starter motor or simply starter) is an electric motor that initiates piston motion in a car's internal combustion engine before it can power itself.
Starter solenoid is a part of an automobile ignition system. Also called a starter relay, the starter solenoid receives a large electrical current from the car battery and a small electrical current from the ignition switch. When the ignition switch is turned on (when the key is turned to start the car), the small electrical current tells the starter solenoid to relay the large electrical current to the starter motor.
If you try to start your vehicle and the engine turns too slowly or not at all, the starter or starter solenoid may need to be replaced. Before you go through the steps of replacing parts always do a few troubleshooting techniques to identify the starter or the solenoid as the problem. Because the starter and the solenoid work together, it's always best to replace them together.
- Check the battery cables and terminals for corrosion.
- Clean the corrosion and replace the battery or cables, if needed.
- Check the wires to the starter and the solenoid for cracks, corrosion or breakage.
- Make sure your battery is charged enough to perform starting functions. Note: your instrument lights and dome lights may come on but your battery may still not have enough power to start the car.
- Remember electrical parts fail mostly due to time and usage, not because of wear and tear like mechanical parts. Plus, the damage is mostly in the internal electrical wiring, so some failures cannot be noticed from an outside inspection. If you have done the tests listed above and are still having problems starting your vehicle, then it may be time to contact Findlay Auto Parts Inc to replace that starter or solenoid.
Findlay Auto Parts Inc
3333 C R 140
Findlay OH, 45840
419-299-3336
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