Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

Can An Alternator Go Bad Just From Sitting Around Too Long?

I had my car in storage for a few years. It was in fine shape when I stored it, but now it won’t start. I’m not sure why. Someone mentioned that the alternator may have gone bad from sitting so long. Can that really happen?

avatar
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Technically, yes—it is possible for an alternator to go bad just from sitting too long. The slip ring could corrode with time—which would cause the alternator to go bad. But that would take quite a long time—if it even happened at all, which it very well might not.
In reality, the issue you’re having is far more likely to be caused by a dead and/or bad battery.
When you’re able to get the old car up and running again, don’t forget to find good insurance for it before you hit the road! The fastest and easiest way to find affordable car insurance is by using
Jerry
.
Jerry is a
fully-licensed insurance broker
and policy shopping super app! It’s designed to save drivers like you time and money when they’re shopping for car insurance. It’s so good at this task that users are typically able to finish the entire process in just a few minutes—and they save an average of $800+ a year!
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings