Back to all

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Automotive Tips: Alternator

December 17, 2025

Your alternator makes electricity to start and run your engine and all of the vital electrical systems in your vehicle. That’s everything from the on-board computers to the turn signals. And of course there is the entertainment system, seat heaters, power windows and everything you plug into the power outlets. After your alternator makes enough electricity to do all that, it recharges your battery with what’s left over.

When Palm Bay drivers constantly have a low or dead battery, the alternator is usually a prime suspect. However, the alternator is just one vital component of the starting/charging system, and a problem with any of the other components could be the actual cause.

In addition to the alternator, the charging/starting system includes the battery, starter, serpentine belt system and all of the electrical cables that connect them. Your Tuffy Tire & Auto Service service advisor has a systematic process of testing components and connections to get to the source of your trouble. The initial symptoms determine where to begin the diagnostic process, and he follows the procedure until he tracks down the culprit.

For example, diagnostic tests at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service could reveal that the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the battery charged. Is the alternator bad? Not necessarily. A worn serpentine belt tensioner could be allowing the belt that spins the alternator to slip. So the perfectly good alternator is not spinning at the proper speed. The solution for Palm Bay drivers is to replace the serpentine belt system – not the alternator.

The good news for Palm Bay drivers is that our highly-trained technicians at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service can properly diagnose all your vehicle troubles and make the necessary repairs to get you back on the road in Palm Bay.

Give us a call.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service
4620 Babcock Street Northeast
Palm Bay, FL 32905
3218024044
http://tuffypalmbay.com



More articles from Tuffy Palm Bay

Follow the Bouncing Vehicle (Bad Struts and Shocks)

January 11, 2026

If you hit a bump in the road and your vehicle just keeps bouncing up and down for a lot longer time than it used to, you may have bad struts and shocks. They're the things that help to keep your vehicle's wheels and tires planted to the road surface. But they don't last forever. With care and ... More

Alleviate the Creaks and Squeaks (Chassis Lubrication)

January 4, 2026

If your vehicle creaks and squeaks when you drive down the road, it may mean that some of the metal parts are rubbing against each other and need to be lubricated. Those could be parts of the suspension, steering system and the drivetrain. Years ago, most vehicles had to have their chassis (wha... More

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Service Tip: Why Synthetic Oil Is Good For Your Vehicles

December 28, 2025

Hello FL! Today's vehicle care topic is: Synthetic Oil vs. Petroleum Based Oil. Synthetic motor oil is a substitute for petroleum based oil. If you aren't currently using it, why not? Synthetic motor oil maximizes engine power and fuel economy. To see why, we'd need a microscope, so we'll have t... More