Alternators & Starters

Starting problems? Your car’s starting and charging systems, consisting of three basic components, the alternator, starter, and battery help ensure a dependable vehicle whenever you drive your car and in all sorts of driving conditions. It’s important to have these two systems checked regularly by a qualified auto mechanic so you don’t find yourself stranded by the side of the road with a dead battery.

Here is a simple description of these three components:

Alternator – This is an old term for an electric generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy producing alternating current. Alternators are mainly used for recharging batteries and to power electrical loads of vehicles.

Battery – The battery stores electrical energy.

Starter – The starter converts the energy stored in the battery into mechanical force to turn the engine for starting.