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 minimum you’ve already had that apprehension. So when you listen to an alternator noise on Toyota Rav 4, you can already imagine yourself breaking down, stuck waiting for the tow truck. That’s why our team has decided to produce this content to help you locate the sources of alternator sounds. In this article, you will first see the role and operation of the alternator in your Toyota Rav 4 and then what the causes and solutions to alternator noise on Toyota Rav 4 may be.
Role and alternator operation Toyota Rav 4
Alternator role
Your alternator is an fundamental component of your Toyota Rav 4. Indeed, its goal is to give 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 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 concept of copper coil wound around a magnet . This coil while rotating makes electricity. It is the engine itself that will provide the energy required by the alternator to create the energy, via the accessory belt or alternator belt. When your Toyota Rav 4 engine stops, the battery takes over to provide the vehicle with energy.
What are the different alternator noises or sounds on my Toyota Rav 4 and what are the causes?
I hear a knocking noise caused by the alternator of my Toyota Rav 4
One of the typical noises of a tired alternator on Toyota Rav 4 is a knocking noise. This alternator sound on Toyota Rav 4 will generally happen when your engine is idling, it can be associated with voltage drops that could affect the normal operation of electrical elements such as headlights for example. In general, 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 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 Toyota Rav 4 is tired and you should think about swapping the bearing if it is the only cause otherwise the complete part.
I listen to a grinding noise coming from the alternator of my Toyota Rav 4
If you are in the situation where the alternator of your Toyota Rav 4 generates grinding sounds, in this case you will have to check it more seriously. This warning sign can testify as for the knocking sound of a tired bearing, however , usually, we often realise 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 suggest that you consult this document to find all the necessary information to solve an accessory belt noise on Toyota Rav 4.
I listen to a loud noise from the alternator of my Toyota Rav 4
Listening a loud noise from the alternator of your Toyota Rav 4 is quite normal, 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 take a look at this document to find other ways to solve problem of noises from front end on Toyota Rav 4.
