Auto Electrical
Alternator repair & replacement near you
Alternator replacement or repair once a charging test confirms it, with a new or remanufactured unit fitted and the belt and battery checked too.
- Time at the shop
- 2 h
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 3
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
3 shops in Canada do this
Auto Electrical
What alternator repair & replacement is
The alternator is a generator turned by the engine’s drive belt. Once the engine is running it powers the ignition, lights, heater fan and everything else, and it recharges the battery. As it weakens, the battery slowly pays the difference. A common story is a vehicle that starts on a jump, then stalls again after a short drive, or one that runs with the battery light on and the headlights dimming until the battery is dead.
The technician measures charging voltage with the engine running under load, checks the belt, tensioner and cable connections, and tests the battery, since one that has been drained may need replacing too. If the alternator has failed, it is unbolted and lifted out, a new or remanufactured one is fitted, and the belt is refitted and the output tested again. Where the unit suits it, a repair with new bearings, brushes or a regulator costs less than a replacement.
- For cars, vans and trucks
- Takes about 2 h
- Can be done at your address
What does alternator repair & replacement cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
3 shops across Canada do alternator repair & replacement.
What to expect
Alternator repair & replacement, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Battery voltage measured at rest, while cranking and with the engine running under electrical load
- Charging output and AC ripple checked, which catches weak windings and failed diodes
- Charging-system fault codes read, since many alternators are controlled by the engine computer
- Drive belt, tensioner and pulleys inspected, since a slipping belt can pass for a weak alternator
- Battery cables, grounds and the main charge lead checked for corrosion and voltage drop
- Battery tested, and charged or replaced if it was drained, so the new alternator is not asked to revive it
- Battery disconnected and the alternator replaced with a new or remanufactured unit, or repaired where that suits
- Belt refitted or replaced with pulley alignment checked, then output verified under load on a road test
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Ask for the charging voltage reading before the alternator is condemned; a low reading with a good belt points to it
- 02Find out whether the estimate covers a new, remanufactured or repaired unit, and what warranty each carries
- 03Have the battery tested at the same visit; a new alternator will not restore a battery that has been drained completely
- 04Ask if the belt and tensioner should be replaced while they are out of the way, since the labour overlaps
- 05If the vehicle will not start, say so when booking; driving on a jump start can leave you stranded halfway
- 06Hybrid or mild hybrid? Ask first; many charge through a converter or starter-generator, not a standard alternator
Signs
When you need it
- A battery or charging warning light shows on the dash while you drive
- Headlights dim at idle and brighten when you rev the engine
- The battery goes dead again after a jump start, or after a brand-new battery is fitted
- A whine or grinding noise near the belt that changes pitch with engine speed
- A smell of hot rubber or hot wire near the drive belt
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get alternator repair & replacement done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Battery replacement & testing
Car battery replacement with the battery and charging system tested first, a matching battery fitted, registered if needed and the old one recycled.
Mechanical Repair
Drive belt replacement
Serpentine belt replacement, also called a drive belt, with the tensioner and pulleys checked, to stop squealing and keep the alternator turning.
Auto electrical repair
Auto electrical repair for blown fuses, dead circuits, warning lights and overnight battery drain, with the faulty wire, relay or connection traced and fixed.
Towing, Roadside & Transport
Roadside assistance & battery boost
Roadside assistance that comes to you: a battery boost, a flat changed to the spare, fuel delivered or a locked door opened, with a battery test.
Towing, Roadside & Transport
Towing
A towing service sends a tow truck for a vehicle that cannot be driven and delivers it to the shop, home or scrapyard you choose, by flatbed or wheel-lift.
Questions
Questions about alternator repair & replacement
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
What are the symptoms of a bad alternator?
The battery warning light is the most reliable sign. The others are headlights and dash lights that dim or flicker, a vehicle that starts on a jump but stalls again, whining or grinding near the drive belt, and a burning smell from a slipping belt. Any of these can also come from a weak battery, so the charging voltage should be measured before parts are ordered.
How long can I drive with a bad alternator?
Only as long as the battery lasts, which can be anywhere from a few minutes to around half an hour, and less at night in winter with the heater, defroster and lights on. When the battery is drained the engine stalls, and with electric power steering you lose assist. Turn off everything you do not need, stay off the highway and head straight to a shop, or arrange a tow.
Should I buy a new or remanufactured alternator?
Either works: a good remanufactured alternator performs like a new one for less money and is the usual choice at independent shops. It is a used core that has been stripped, had its worn parts replaced and been tested. Some shops prefer a new original-equipment unit for vehicles whose charging is controlled by the engine computer. Ask how long the warranty runs on whichever you choose.
How long does it take to replace an alternator?
One to three hours on most vehicles, so it is normally a same-day job when the part is in stock. An alternator on the front of a four-cylinder engine is the quick case. On a transverse V6 or in a crowded engine bay it may sit under the intake and take half a day, especially with a seized bolt or a corroded belt tensioner.
Can a bad alternator ruin a new battery?
Yes. An alternator that undercharges leaves the battery drained again and again, and every deep discharge shortens its life. One that overcharges, usually from a failed regulator, can boil the electrolyte and swell the case. That is why a shop should test the charging system whenever it fits a new battery, and why a battery that dies twice deserves a charging test before a third is bought.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
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