Your car’s alternator is responsible for powering most of the car’s electronic components while you drive. But how long can you drive with a broken alternator? We have researched this question and this is what we found.
You should only drive 25 miles or around 30 minutes with a bad alternator if you have a fully charged and properly working battery. If your battery is low, you may need to be towed.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about your alternator, such as how to check it, how much it costs to fix, where you can have it repaired, and more. So stick around to learn all about it!
How far can I drive my car with a bad alternator?
You won’t get far driving with a bad alternator. As suggested by the figures above, you can only drive just enough distance to get some help. This is because the alternator is the main source of power for your electrical components.
Your car’s battery powers your headlights, windshield wipers, heated seats, dashboard instruments, and more. But your alternator is what keeps your battery charged.
A bad alternator can lead to a plethora of problems. Some of these include difficulty in starting your vehicle and some electronic functions becoming unusable.
A car can run with a bad alternator, but that doesn’t mean that you should put off repairs. When your alternator fails, your car’s battery will be the one to catch the responsibility of running the electrical requirements of your vehicle.
Since the battery will be using up all of its power without the alternator recharging it, you’ll only have a little time before your vehicle shuts down.
Will bad alternator damage your car’s battery?
Your car battery and alternator are closely linked with one another. That is why it is common to assume that if one breaks down, it will affect the other as well. Although this is true to an extent, it’s not as dramatic as it may seem.
A faulty alternator does not necessarily mean that your battery is already damaged, especially for newer vehicles. However, there are some circumstances that may lead to the alternator damaging even a new battery.
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