The alternator is not a complex piece of machinery, yet it’s an integral part of conventionally fueled vehicles’ electrical systems, and like all car parts, it will ultimately break down. Here are the ...

An alternator is a generator that produces the electricity stored in a vehicle’s 12-volt battery and powers the starter motor for the engine and the various computers, lights, power windows and locks, ...

Owning a car might be the biggest, and worst, waiting game on the planet. Every single day that you step into the driver’s seat and wonder, “What might go wrong?” We’re not just talking rust buckets, ...

The alternator in your vehicle is not a disposable item like the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid (ATF), or radiator coolant. The average lifespan of an alternator is around 80,000 to 150,000 ...

What should you do if your car battery dies? Is it okay to jump the car and drive off, or is it better to use a battery ...

As part of his quest to find the best affordable generator for his DIY hydroelectric power system, [FarmCraft101] is trying out a range of off-the-shelf and DIY solutions, with in his most recent ...

Zak is new to the CarBuzz team, working as a freelance content writer. When Zak isn't writing How To articles for CarBuzz he's working as a high school automotive technology instructor. Before ...

The battery is often the first thing that comes to mind when people think about what powers a car's electrical system. After all, batteries are what supply power to most of our devices. However, ...

Last week, I talked about how the alternator in my daily driver 2003 BMW E39 530i died while my wife and I were in southern New Hampshire, and how we successfully made the 45-minute trip home just as ...

People may think that the battery powers the electrics in your car, but that’s not the case. The battery provides electricity needed for the electric starter motor to start the car. When the car is ...

Your alternator is arguably one of the most important parts of your engine. Usually found attached to the front of the block, it’s responsible for keeping your battery charged as you drive down the ...

In the early muscle-car days, an alternator capable of 60 amps was considered more than enough to handle the meager electrical demands of a point-triggered ignition system, a 20-amp defroster fan, and ...