Did you ever had this trouble trying to start your car in the morning and it doesn’t work ? If that didn’t happen to you, certainly you’ve already had that apprehension. So when you notice an alternator noise on GMC Terrain, you can already imagine yourself breaking down, stuck waiting for the tow truck. That’s why our team has decided to produce this article to support you locate the sources of alternator sounds. In this article, you will first learn the role and functions of the alternator in your GMC Terrain and then what the causes and solutions to alternator noise on GMC Terrain may be.
Role and alternator operation GMC Terrain
Alternator role
Your alternator is an essential component of your GMC Terrain. Indeed, its task is to provide power to your entire electrical system: headlights, interior lighting, signalling, computer… It will have the goal of recharging the battery once the automobile is in motion, to provide power to the automobile in motion and to allow you to always have a enough energy reserve to be able to restart the next time.
Alternator functioning
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The alternator works on an electrical principle that has been used for decades, the principle of copper coil wound around a magnet . This coil while rotating creates electricity. It is the engine itself that will give the energy needed by the alternator to create the energy, via the accessory belt or alternator belt. When your GMC Terrain engine stops, the battery takes over to give the automobile with energy.
What are the different alternator noises or sounds on my GMC Terrain and what are the causes?
I hear a knocking noise from the alternator of my GMC Terrain
One of the typical noises of a tired alternator on GMC Terrain is a knocking noise. This alternator sound on GMC Terrain will generally occur when your engine is idling, it can be linked to voltage drops that could disturb the normal operation of electrical elements such as headlights for example. Often, it is a of both bearings of the alternator that is malfunctioning, to verify it, use a multimeter on the terminals of your automobile with the engine running and you must get a value between 12 and 14.7 volts, which means that your alternator is recharging your battery well. If the value is lower, the alternator of your GMC Terrain is tired and you should consider replacing the bearing if it is the only cause otherwise the whole part.
I notice a grinding noise coming from the alternator of my GMC Terrain
If you are in the case where the alternator of your GMC Terrain generates grinding sounds, in this case you will have to look into it more seriously. This indicator can testify as for the knocking sound of a tired bearing, but generally, we often notice by looking more closely that it is the accessory belt that is loosened or worn and is therefore the cause of it. In this case, we encourage that you consult this article to find all the necessary details to solve an accessory belt noise on GMC Terrain.
I notice a loud noise from the alternator of my GMC Terrain
Experiencing a loud noise from the alternator of your GMC Terrain is quite regular, in fact, it produces an audible sound when creating the electrical pulses it generates. It is up to you to verify that the battery indicator light on your dashboard does not show up, and that you do not have a voltage drop when your engine is running (headlight or dashboard light that jumps for example. If this noise is too loud, we encourage that you have a look this article to find other ways to solve problem of noises from front end on GMC Terrain.
