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 , certainly you’ve already had that apprehension. So when you perceive an alternator noise on Volkswagen Atlas, you can already see yourself breaking down, stuck waiting for the tow truck. That’s why our team has decided to write this content to help you locate the sources of alternator sounds. In this article, you will first discover the role and operation of the alternator in your Volkswagen Atlas and then what the causes and solutions to alternator noise on Volkswagen Atlas may be.
Role and alternator operation Volkswagen Atlas
Alternator role
Your alternator is an fundamental component of your Volkswagen Atlas. Indeed, its objective is to provide power to your entire electrical system: headlights, interior lighting, signalling, computer… It will have the goal of charging 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 works on an electrical principle that has been used for decades, the principle of copper coil wound around a magnet . This coil while rotating makes electricity. It is the engine motor itself that will furnish the energy requested by the alternator to create the energy, via the accessory belt or alternator belt. When your Volkswagen Atlas engine stops, the battery takes over to furnish the automobile with energy.
What are the several alternator noises or sounds on my Volkswagen Atlas and what are the causes?
I notice a knocking noise caused by the alternator of my Volkswagen Atlas
One of the typical noises of a tired alternator on Volkswagen Atlas is a knocking noise. This alternator sound on Volkswagen Atlas will generally show up when your engine is idling, it can be associated with 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 defective, to check it, use a multimeter on the terminals of your automobile with the engine running and you must obtain a value between 12 and 14.7 volts, which means that your alternator is charging your battery well. If the value is lower, the alternator of your Volkswagen Atlas is tired and you should consider changing the bearing if it is the only cause otherwise the whole part.
I perceive a grinding noise coming from the alternator of my Volkswagen Atlas
If you are in the case where the alternator of your Volkswagen Atlas generates 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, however , in most cases, we often realise by looking more carefully that it is the accessory belt that is loosened or worn and is therefore the cause of it. In this case, we recommend that you consult this document to find all the necessary details to solve an accessory belt noise on Volkswagen Atlas.
I perceive a loud noise from the alternator of my Volkswagen Atlas
Finding out a loud noise from the alternator of your Volkswagen Atlas is quite normal, 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 recommend that you check out this document to find other ways to solve problem of noises from front end on Volkswagen Atlas.
