Can you jumpstart a car with a bad alternator

But before doing that, here are some tips you should know. Definitely, you can, the alternator does not actually play a role in the jumpstarting process. More so, you will have to remove the alternator while jump-starting the car. Already, the jumper cable ends to perform the same functions as alternators — passing electric current to a car battery.

That said, what are the steps to jumpstart a car with a bad alternator? The alternator powers everything in your car, including the lights, AC, radio, and so on. When you first start the engine, it has the additional duty of charging the battery back up to full power.

As a result, most alternators are designed to produce about Many Asian vehicles can produce much higher voltages, some even reaching 15 volts.

Although your car will likely shut off before any real damage can be done. Drive the car straight to a mechanic. A bad alternator will mean that you are not going to have lights unless the battery has a full charge to last a little while. Pamela Gardapee is a writer with more than seven years experience writing Web content. Being functional in finances, home projects and computers has allowed Gardapee to give her readers valuable information.

She studied accounting, computers and writing before offering her tax, computer and writing services to others. Step 1 Use another car with a good battery to jump-start your car. Step 2 Connect the positive red cable to the positive terminal on the car with the bad alternator.

If you ever hear growling or whining noises coming from under the hood, you could have alternator problems, which should be checked out by a professional ASAP. You may also hear this sound if the bearings that spin the rotor shaft are going bad. A foul odor of burning rubber or wires could indicate that parts of your alternator are starting to wear out.

Similarly, if your alternator is being overworked or if it has frayed or damaged wires, you may smell a burning odor comparable to an electrical fire. An overworked alternator tries to push too much electricity through its wires, causing them to heat up unsafely. Damaged wires also create resistance to the flow of electricity, causing the wires to heat up and emit a foul odor. However, the battery warning light indicates that there could be a problem within the wider electrical system of your car, including the alternator.

Alternators are designed to work at a specific voltage, typically between If your alternator is failing, its voltage may drop below capacity, causing the battery warning light to appear on your dash. Similarly, the battery light will also appear if the alternator is exceeding its voltage limit, depending on how much stress it is under. If your car's electrical system is giving you grief, it may be time to check the alternator.