What are the symptoms of a faulty rectifier?
2 Answers
When the rectifier is faulty, the main symptoms in the vehicle include unstable voltage, difficulty starting the vehicle, and dimming headlights. Here is the relevant information: 1. Unstable voltage: There are many symptoms of unstable voltage, such as the voltage increasing when the vehicle accelerates and the RPM rises, the voltage exceeding 18V after removing the positive terminal of the battery after starting the vehicle, or the vehicle stalling after removing the positive terminal of the battery. 2. Difficulty starting the vehicle and dimming headlights: Regardless of the environment, the vehicle fails to start normally. When the lights are turned on, they appear dim or their brightness decreases.
Last year, my car had a similar issue, and the symptoms of a bad voltage regulator were quite obvious. First, the battery charging light stayed on constantly, that little red warning light on the dashboard seemed to be signaling something. While driving, the headlights gradually dimmed, especially at night—they flickered between bright and dim, which scared me into pulling over immediately. Even worse, sometimes starting the engine became difficult, requiring multiple turns of the key before it would fire up. Over time, I also noticed a buzzing noise coming from the alternator area, and it felt warm to the touch. If ignored, the battery would drain rapidly, potentially leading to a breakdown on the road and compromising driving safety. I later learned these symptoms stemmed from the voltage regulator failing to convert the alternator's AC output into stable DC power, throwing the whole system into chaos. Getting it checked at a repair shop promptly is crucial—don’t wait for a minor issue to escalate, as delaying repairs often leads to higher costs.
