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 alternator is a device that keeps your car's electrical system running once the engine is on. It's essentially a small generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity, bolted to the ...

The alternator is responsible for charging the car battery and powering all the car's onboard network consumers. If it fails or is unstable, the battery will either not be charged or start discharging ...

Over the past few years, we have run across some teams who, for the goal of attaining maximum power, chose to run without an alternator. We started thinking about that and decided to see if there were ...

It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the deep chill of winter or the heat of summer, on a work truck, emergency vehicle, or personal rig—the last thing a driver wants to see or hear are dim headlights ...

This video measures how much voltage an automotive alternator can generate when it’s spun by a waterjet — a hands-on science ...

Your car won't start for the second day in a row. You ask your neighbor for a jump (again) and head off to work — late, of course. You come to the conclusion that it has to be the battery or the ...

A common problem exists when driving automotive alternators via motors. In the process of attempting to regulate the charging voltage of a low battery, the alternator shaft torque usually exceeds the ...

You just finished installing a dual, 12-inch electric fan package in your Chevelle and life is good. With both fans spinning, it keeps the engine between 180 and 190 ...