Did you ever had this trouble trying to start your car in the morning and it doesn’t work ? If it never happened to you , at least you’ve already had that apprehension. So when you discover an alternator noise on BMW 2 Series, you can already imagine yourself breaking down, stuck waiting for the tow truck. That’s why our team has decided to write this content to support you locate the origins of alternator sounds. In this article, you will first learn the role and functions of the alternator in your BMW 2 Series and then what the causes and solutions to alternator noise on BMW 2 Series may be.
Role and alternator operation BMW 2 Series
Alternator role
Your alternator is an important part of your BMW 2 Series. Indeed, its goal is to generate power to your entire electrical system: headlights, interior lighting, signalling, computer… It will have the goal of recharging the battery once the vehicle is in motion, to provide power to the vehicle in motion and to allow you to always have a enough energy source 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 concept of copper coil wound around a magnet . This coil while rotating makes electricity. It is the engine motor itself that will provide the energy needed by the alternator to produce the energy, via the accessory belt or alternator belt. When your BMW 2 Series engine stops, the battery takes over to provide the vehicle with energy.
What are the different alternator noises or sounds on my BMW 2 Series and what are the causes?
I hear a knocking noise coming from the alternator of my BMW 2 Series
One of the typical noises of a tired alternator on BMW 2 Series is a knocking noise. This alternator sound on BMW 2 Series will most of the time occur when your engine is idling, it can be connected to voltage drops that could disturb the normal operation of electrical components such as headlights for example. Most often, it is a of both bearings of the alternator that is malfunctioning, to examine it, use a multimeter on the terminals of your vehicle with the engine running and you must obtain 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 BMW 2 Series is tired and you should think about swapping the bearing if it is the only reason otherwise the whole part.
I discover a grinding noise coming from the alternator of my BMW 2 Series
If you are in the situation where the alternator of your BMW 2 Series produces grinding sounds, in this case you will have to look into it more seriously. This warning sign can testify as for the knocking sound of a tired bearing, but in general, we often realise by looking more closely that it is the accessory belt that is loosened or worn and is therefore the reason of it. In this case, we suggest that you consult this content to find all the necessary information to solve an accessory belt noise on BMW 2 Series.
I discover a loud noise from the alternator of my BMW 2 Series
Experiencing a loud noise from the alternator of your BMW 2 Series is quite regular, in fact, it emits an audible sound when producing the electrical pulses it generates. It is up to you to examine 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 suggest that you read this content to find other ways to solve problem of noises from front end on BMW 2 Series.
