Alternator Service – Metairie, LA

Your car’s alternator is crucial for keeping your Toyota’s battery functioning properly. Our Metairie Toyota dealership near you wants to make sure your vehicle is free of any alternator or battery issues you may have. We invite our neighbors in Metairie, New Orleans, Kenner, LaPlace and Slidell to visit Lakeside Toyota’s Service Center for all your maintenance needs from our experienced service technicians.

How Does an Alternator Work?

An alternator is a generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity for your Toyota car or SUV to use in order to continually recharge your battery. The alternator provides power while you’re driving or idling to electrical components like your lights, power windows, radio, dashboard, and windshield wipers while also helping keep your battery charged. In the absence of this power supply, your car battery’s power reserve would be insufficient to maintain your Toyota’s electrical system while traveling.

Although an alternator should last most of your car’s life, regular wear and tear, weather damage, overuse, and parts issues can cause stress on your alternator. Knowing what to look for when it comes to a malfunctioning alternator can help prevent further complications down the road.

Warning Signs That Your Alternator Needs to be Serviced:

• Malfunctioning or Non-Working Accessories – A failing alternator will not provide enough voltage to keep accessories working smoothly so if you notice that your windshield wipers are moving slowly or unusually or your windows are taking a while to go up or down, it could be an alternator issue.
• Dim or Overly Bright Lights – If your alternator is not providing sufficient power to your electronic components you may see lights that are too dim, too bright, or flickering.
• Burning Smell or Odd Sounds – The belt system that works with the alternator runs constantly and if it’s misaligned or malfunctioning it may be causing an unpleasant burning odor. If your belt is misaligned you may also notice a strange growling sound.
• Difficulty Starting Car, Stalling, or Dead Battery – a bad alternator won’t charge your battery while the car is running. If you find that your battery dies often even after a jumpstart, your alternator may be malfunctioning.

If you have noticed any of these warning signs, the team at Lakeside Toyota are here to help our Metairie, New Orleans, Kenner, LaPlace and Slidell customers! Schedule your alternator evaluation at the local service center near you in Metairie, LA. Come by and visit our team at 3701 North Causeway Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002 or call us at  504-837-5623 with your service questions. You can also head over to our service coupons page to discover the service offers currently available at our Toyota service department.