Lexus Alternators

How Can I Tell if My Lexus Alternator is Bad?

Imagine the battery in your Lexus IS 250 not charging when you start up. Imagine the electrical systems in your Lexus RX 350 -- the power windows, the instrumentation, your windshield wipers, electronics like the car radio, even the power steering -- not running. Install the wrong accessories, or even just jump-start wrong, and you might just run into these problems.

They're because of a failing alternator, usually, and you'll know you've got one by the signs -- battery and alternator warnings on the dash (if not a dead battery), for one, plus things like malfunctioning lighting, electronics behaving erratically, and a squeaking engine. Notice a burning smell around the battery or alternator (or, more obvious, alternator fluid leaks), and it's practically a certainty. But what makes an alternator so important?

Alternators 101

They're critical parts of vehicle charging systems. What they do is convert mechanical energy -- moving parts -- into electrical energy, electricity. In other words, they power pretty much everything about the drive.

They work with a lot of parts to make it happen, too -- the engine, which moves serpentine and drive belts; a pulley, which, run by the belts, turns a rotor shaft; and a set of magnetic coils, which the shaft rotates. The result: a magnetic field, one whose AC power a rectifier on the alternator captures and turns into DC current, managed by a voltage regulator.

So, when an alternator (or any other part, for that matter) is faulty or goes bad, it'll need to be replaced ASAP. Otherwise, with most Lexus vehicles, it should be changed every 80,000 to 150,000 miles, or about every 7 years -- whichever comes first. If you're not sure what to do, or how to do it, or when, check with a Lexus dealer; the pros at a certified Lexus service center will be happy to help out.

Shop OEM Alternators for Lexus from El Monte CA

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