The battery drains and you are stuck with a vehicle that goes nowhere. The ones that fail completely are easy to diagnose. Some alternators go bad right away, and some slowly lose their ability to charge under heavy loads. Heated seats, the blower motor, power windows, and even the radio will work erratically or not work at all when the alternator is bad. Many accessories in a vehicle require quite a bit of voltage. As your Escape begins to eat through the voltage stored in the battery, the headlights will begin to fade. Dim headlights indicate that the alternator can’t keep up with the energy request for the lights. If the serpentine belt has gone bad, it can make some noises too, but it won’t sound metallic like the bearings going bad would.ĭimming headlights are one of the most common signs of a bad alternator in the Ford Escape. If your Escape’s alternator starts to have bearings that fail, it’ll begin to make some very obnoxious noises. That will allow all of the limited voltage in the battery to go to the ignition system. Kill the radio, daytime running lights, air conditioning, heated seats, EVERYTHING. If you find yourself in a position where you suspect that your voltage is dropping, but you need to safely get off the highway, turn off everything that you possibly can. As the ignition system is no longer able to produce a full powered spark, the engine will begin to sputter and stall. When the battery gets so dead it will no longer be able to power your Escape’s ignition system. The process can sometimes take an hour or so, but it’s worth it to know before throwing money into a battery that you do not need.Īs described above, a bad alternator will drain your Escape’s battery fast. Nearly any auto parts store will test your battery for free to see if it holds a charge. That’s why it’s important to test the battery before you just replace it. Often, the battery light will come on, the alternator gets replaced, and then a few days later the vehicle dies. Once this battery reserve hits a certain level, the vehicle will begin to run erratically and will no longer start when the key is turned. As the alternator can no longer supply your Escape with an adequate power supply, it will begin to feed off of the reserve in the battery. Outside of the battery warning light, a dead battery is the most common symptom of a bad alternator. Also, some vehicles have an “alt” light that specifically tells you there is a problem with the charging system, and not the battery itself. In rare occasions the service engine soon light may light up. The battery light is designed to tell you that there is not enough voltage to properly charge the battery, or that the battery itself is not holding the proper voltage. Here are the most common symptoms of a bad alternator in a Ford Escape: A typical alternator Battery Light It’s the labor that makes the job expensive. Most of the time, when replacing an alternator, the alternator itself is relatively affordable. Symptoms of a Bad Alternator: Ford Escape You’ll have probably heard it squeal when you start the engine. If it’s been slipping a lot it’ll have a glossy shine to it. It’s worth noting that a bad serpentine belt can cause the alternator to stop charging effectively. The battery stores enough voltage to be able to start the engine without the assistance of an alternator. The alternator’s job in your Escape is to provide electricity as it is running. We’ll cover the symptoms of when an alternator goes bad, and how to diagnose a bad one (which is really pretty easy). Alternators don’t always go bad in the exact same way. A bad alternator can leave your Ford Escape without power and unable to move.
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