Driving down the highway, did you notice a strange flickering of the headlights? By the time you get to absorb the matter, there you’re with a stalled engine.
What made your vehicle come at this destructive point? Wait a while. Did you check your alternator? But what is a car alternator?
An alternator is a crucial part of a car. It keeps on the charge supply to the battery with continuity. Thus, your car achieves the power to run itself.
Moreover, all the electrical connections and devices of your vehicle wait for the functioning of the alternator. Why keep it in check? It’s because if your alternator is busted, your car’s battery starts to drain faster.
Well, you’ve assumed correct. A faulty piece of the alternator was the reason that brought all the signs of bad luck to your trip.
Now, what’s your thought? Can a car run without an alternator? Keep yourself free of strain. We’re right here to steer you to the right steps to make your car run with a faulty alternator saving you from the max loss!
Let’s carry on!
Table of Contents
Can A Car Run Without an Alternator?
If you find out that you’ve got a broken or faulty alternator, mark that your car won’t be able to make a long way anyhow. So, the detailed reply to your alternator issue depends on a few certain factors. Don’t you know?
Let us glance at those decisive aspects!
Battery Life
The prime task of the alternator is to boost your vehicle’s battery charge. If you run low on charge, you’ll have to opt for a jumpstart. Failed to do so?
Then your automobile won’t start, and you would have to lug it to the most adjacent technician. But this circumstance will arise in case your motor vehicle lacks sufficient battery charge. Hence, how long will a car run without alternator?
Here you’ll face two major cases:
1. Not fully charged battery
Are you in a plight with not full charge in your car’s battery? Stuck up in a dilemma if you should drive any further or not?
Let’s clear your blurred steps! You would get a minimum of 5 minutes of driving at such an event, even if your alternator is in an evil state. We know your next query.
What’s the maximum drive time limit? Well, not more than half an hour. In the way, your drained-out battery won’t have to go through any extra burden.
2. Fully charged battery
The capacity of your car’s battery makes a call for the time your car can run even with a busted alternator. Have a 100% charge? Amazing!
Now you can make your run time elongated more than 30 minutes. However, the drive time could be about an hour as well. But this max time limit relies on the next considering point too.
Why not move to that!
Model of Your Car
How long can your drive with a bad alternator? An alternator can make its way up to 90,000 to 150,000 miles on average in terms of miles. But is the stated lifespan the same for the car alternators of all companies?
Well, an honest answer is hiding behind the services your car’s model claims to provide. Let’s check out three different models’ survival with a poor alternator!
1. Gasoline-run car (Old model)
When you’re driving a gasoline-run car in the daytime, there are chances to have a little less consumption of battery energy. It’s because you won’t be using the headlights.
Have a car of 1960s or so with a faulty alternator? No worries. A full charge battery drives up to 65 miles for 5-60 minutes.
2. Diesel car (Old model)
Compared to gasoline car, diesel cars don’t come with spark plugs. That’s why they are sure to save you ample charge.
Hence with your old-time car, you’ve higher chances to run to a long destination for a couple of hours. Your only stoppage comes after running out of oil.
3. Latest Model
A brand-new car of the latest model adds a lot of complex parts and functions. Such as electronic displays, sensors, computing actions, and so on. Extra functions cost extra energy, meaning extra battery charge use.
That’s why it’s risky to run even a shorter distance with a failed car alternator. A short runtime may consume the battery faster than usual cases or older models. Be careful!
Additional Facets to Check
Can a car run with a bad alternator? For your safety purpose, we’ve added a few more points to settle:
1. Quantity of electrical devices: If less number of devices powers up with an alternator’s aid, it takes care of the battery use. Hence, you can get a longer drive span with a rusty piece of the alternator.
2. Quality state of car elements: No compromise to quality is bearable to have a safe drive in such an ironic state.
3. Maintenance and repair: Any slackness in the car’s care may cost you weak or dead alternator issues.
4. Time of use of each gear: Make sure to subdue your use of an electric device like the stereo, air cooler, radio, lights, etc. to save battery life.
Signs that You are Driving with a Bad Alternator
How can you be sure that you are on a bad day drive with a busted alternator? Surely some warning hints can help you confirm that your car’s alternator is going to die. These are:
- You’ll see the headlights flashing, seldom dim or faded.
- A busted alternator gives you the sad news with a burning smell.
- A grinding noise from the alternator’s internal bearings or gears tells that it’s going to crack soon.
- A stalled engine is a common sign that you have got a fault in the alternator.
- You’re sure to have a slow down electric device work turning to zero tasks in no time.
- The alternator gives huge support to run the car when the battery’s over. So zero battery means a soon damage of alternator.
Bottom Line
“Can a car run without an alternator?” Now we’ve enlightened you with a concrete answer for all the cases related to it in terms of time and miles. As you move on with your verdict, you better give a decent check to the status of your car’s alternator.
Remember that the alternator is both the show starter and stopper for a car drive. Any negligence in its maintenance will add worries and costs only. Why go otherwise when prevention is better than cure?
So before heading to your next drive, promise not to drain your battery for useless causes to add more life to your alternator. Follow our steps and get ready to enjoy a car drive with no alternator issues!