Who hasn’t found himself in the situation where his car doesn’t start one morning on the way to work? If that didn’t happen to you, certainly you’ve already had that fear. So when you hear an alternator noise on GMC Sierra, you can already see yourself breaking down, stuck waiting for the tow truck. That’s why our team has decided to produce this article to support you find the sources of alternator sounds. In this article, you will first learn the role and functions of the alternator in your GMC Sierra and then what the causes and solutions to alternator noise on GMC Sierra may be.
Role and alternator operation GMC Sierra
Alternator role
Your alternator is an essential part of your GMC Sierra. In fact, its objective 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 automobile is in motion, to provide power to the automobile in motion and to allow you to always have a sufficient energy reserve to be able to restart the next time.
Alternator functioning
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The alternator functions on an electrical principle that has been used for decades, the principle of copper coil wound around a magnet . This coil while spinning makes electricity. It is the engine itself that will furnish the energy needed by the alternator to create the energy, via the accessory belt or alternator belt. When your GMC Sierra engine stops, the battery takes over to furnish the automobile with energy.
What are the distinctive alternator noises or sounds on my GMC Sierra and what are the causes?
I listen to a knocking noise coming from the alternator of my GMC Sierra
One of the characteristic noises of a tired alternator on GMC Sierra is a knocking noise. This alternator sound on GMC Sierra will most of the time appear when your engine is idling, it can be associated with voltage drops that could disrupt the normal operation of electrical elements such as headlights for example. In most cases, it is a of both bearings of the alternator that is malfunctioning, to check it, use a multimeter on the terminals of your automobile with the engine running and you must look for 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 Sierra is tired and you should think about replacing the bearing if it is the only cause otherwise the complete part.
I hear a grinding noise coming from the alternator of my GMC Sierra
If you are in the case where the alternator of your GMC Sierra causes grinding sounds, in this case you will have to look at it more seriously. This warning sign can testify as for the knocking sound of a tired bearing, but in general, we often realize 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 advise that you consult this content to find all the necessary details to solve an accessory belt noise on GMC Sierra.
I hear a loud noise from the alternator of my GMC Sierra
Experiencing a loud noise from the alternator of your GMC Sierra is quite typical, in fact, it produces an audible sound when producing the electrical pulses it generates. It is up to you to check 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 advise that you read this content to find other ways to solve problem of noises from front end on GMC Sierra.
