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 fear. So when you perceive an alternator noise on Tesla Model S, you can already see yourself breaking down, stuck awaiting the tow truck. That’s why our team has decided to write 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 Tesla Model S and then what the causes and solutions to alternator noise on Tesla Model S may be.
Role and alternator operation Tesla Model S
Alternator role
Your alternator is an vital component of your Tesla Model S. Indeed, its task is to generate power to your entire electrical system: headlights, interior lighting, signalling, computer… It will have the mission 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 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 creates electricity. It is the engine motor itself that will furnish the energy required by the alternator to produce the energy, via the accessory belt or alternator belt. When your Tesla Model S engine stops, the battery takes over to furnish the vehicle with energy.
What are the different alternator noises or sounds on my Tesla Model S and what are the causes?
I perceive a knocking noise from the alternator of my Tesla Model S
One of the characteristic noises of a tired alternator on Tesla Model S is a knocking noise. This alternator sound on Tesla Model S will generally show up when your engine is idling, it can be linked to voltage drops that could disturb the normal operation of electrical parts such as headlights for example. In general, it is a of both bearings of the alternator that is faulty, to verify it, use a multimeter on the terminals of your vehicle 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 Tesla Model S is tired and you should think about changing the bearing if it is the only cause otherwise the whole part.
I perceive a grinding noise coming from the alternator of my Tesla Model S
If you are in the case where the alternator of your Tesla Model S causes grinding sounds, in this circumstance you will have to look at it more seriously. This indicator can testify as for the knocking sound of a tired bearing, but usually, we generally realise by looking more meticulously that it is the accessory belt that is loosened or worn and is therefore the cause of it. In this circumstance, we recommend that you consult this document to find all the necessary information to solve an accessory belt noise on Tesla Model S.
I perceive a loud noise from the alternator of my Tesla Model S
Hearing a loud noise from the alternator of your Tesla Model S is quite typical, in fact, it produces an audible sound when producing 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 recommend that you read this document to find other ways to solve problem of noises from front end on Tesla Model S.
