The alternator is one of many of your BMW’s components that you don’t often have to think about. It has an average lifespan of eight years, and many drivers may never experience an alternator problem. The part can, however, fail and as your local dealer, we’d like you to know the signs you might need a BMW alternator repair.
Signs That You Need a BMW Alternator Repair at Your Dealer
Headlight Problems
The bulbs in your headlights can be a good warning sign of electrical problems. They require a constant and consistent supply of power. Your alternator is responsible for producing the electrical power your BMW’s systems need. If your alternator starts to fail, it will gradually produce less power. This problem can take time to be noticeable, as an alternator generates more power than your car requires.
When the level of power supplied by the alternator drops below your car’s electrical demands, problems will occur. Electrical power will need to be shifted by your computer between the various devices. When a device is switched on, for example, you turn on the radio, power has to be taken from another component. Your headlights will give warning signs this power shift is happening.
Blown Fuse
As an electrical component, your alternator has a fuse. Your BMW has numerous fuses, each of which is linked to a particular component. These fuses operate in the same way as any other fuse. To protect their component from damage, the fuse will automatically blow and switch off the component. If the alternator fuse blows, this has serious consequences for your car’s power supply.
The alternator will switch off due to the failed fuse. The battery will have to supply all of your car’s electrical needs, and it isn’t designed to do this. An average battery will completely drain within thirty minutes, and your BMW will come to a stop. Our technicians will test the fuse for your alternator, and we can quickly replace it if it failed.
Burning Smells
Burning rubber or burning insulation smells from the engine can be signs that you have an alternator problem. The alternator belt powers your alternator and a variety of other components. It runs through your engine across a series of pulleys. Due to its constant movement and high speed, the belt can slip out of position. If the belt slips, you’ll smell burning rubber from the friction it generates.
The smell of burning insulation means that the wiring in your engine is overheating. Electrical wires carry power from the alternator to each of your electrical devices. Although the wires are insulated, they can still get damaged. A damaged wire won’t transport electricity, but it will heat up as electricity passes into it. The heat generated by the electricity can cause the insulation to burn.
If you see the signs that you might need a BMW alternator repair, call our service department right away at BMW of Bloomfield Hills. Our BMW-trained technicians will find and fix the problem for you.
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