Why is this piece of hardware important to the safe operation of your car? Read more about the Alternator and how you can ensure the safe operation of your vehicle and this month's special - a Free Voltage Alternator Test (VAT)!

If you have been around Cars for a real long time you might have heard the term generator. What a generator did for the Old Cars an alternator now does.

Every car has an electrical system that carries power to essential things like headlights, the ignition coils, engine cooling fans. It also powers things that are not necessary to the operation of your vehicle such as the radio, air conditioning fans, and everything else that requires power in your car.

All of that power has to come from somewhere!! A lot of people might think that power comes from the battery, and that is true to some extent. But the real answer is that the power to run all of those electrical things comes from the ground? It is pumped out in the form of oil and processed into gasoline or diesel. Some of our more "green" clients may use biodiesel in which case the power comes from vegetable and cooking oil waste. But the point is that the source for all of that energy is the gas tank.

The alternator turns energy from the cycling engine and turns it into electrical power. It is connected to the "fan" belt, (it used to run the cooling fan as well) or Serpentine belt as it is called in most of the newer vintage cars, and as the engine cycles it turns the alternator and produces electrical power. So, the main function of the alternator is to convert power from the Gasoline tank that drives you along the road, to electrical energy to keep the battery in tip-top condition.

In the new hybrid vehicles, the alternator plays an especially important role. Hybrids have banks of batteries to recharge instead of just a single battery. While the traditional alternator used to be rated to output 30 Amps of power, modern alternators now offer upwards of 200 Amps of power to be able to charge all of those batteries, entertainment systems and accessories.

The alternator is very important for the safe operation of your vehicle. If the alternator was not working properly, you could not power your headlights at night and your battery would go dead very quickly. At Tuffy Tire and Auto, we have specialized technicians and equipment to help determine if there is a problem with your starting or charging system. This includes the battery, alternator and starter motor. Come in today for a free Voltage Alternator Test (VAT) vehicle with this month's coupon. Click here for the coupon.