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Why is my alternator smoking?

Help! Smoke is coming out from under the hood. When I checked it was coming from the alternator. That can’t be good. Why is my alternator smoking?

avatar
Nick Kunze · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Your alternator may be smoking due to failure or a blown fuse.
First off, get your alternator fixed as soon as possible. Smoke coming from under the hood should always be taken seriously.
The bearing within the alternator can smoke due to excess friction when the alternator is dying. You’ll need to get it replaced.
Alternatively, the smoke may be due to a blown fuse on the alternator. This is good news, because the alternator is likely still usable. You should still get your car looked at to ensure everything is alright.
While maintenance isn’t usually covered, your
car insurance
 policy may pay for the repairs if your alternator was damaged in an accident. If you want to upgrade your insurance, you need to download Jerry.
Jerry
 is a licensed insurance broker specifically designed to simplify your insurance shopping. A quick, free sign-up gives you access to a long list of competitive car insurance quotes. This will be enough for you to find a great policy at a low price!
MORE:
How to get smoke and cigarette smell out of a car
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