From Scheduling to Repair: Our Alternator & Starter Process
When you contact us, describe what you’re experiencing so we can plan your visit before you arrive.
- Schedule Your Appointment: Book online or by phone. Describing your symptoms upfront helps us prepare for an efficient visit.
- Diagnostics and Inspections: Our technicians run charging and starting system diagnostics using manufacturer-quality equipment to determine whether the alternator, starter, or battery is the source of the problem.
- Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate: You receive a Digital Vehicle Inspection with photos and video documentation of exactly what was found, along with a clear estimate, before any repair work begins. You see the problem before you approve the repair.
- Review and Approval: We walk you through the findings in plain language. Approval happens with your sign-off.
- Work Performed or Scheduled: Most alternator and starter repairs are completed the same day. When parts availability requires it, we’ll schedule accordingly and keep you informed.
1. Schedule Your Appointment
Whether scheduling online or over the phone be sure and let us know what you're experiencing so we can provide fast and accurate service advice.
2. Diagnostics and Inspections
Drop off your vehicle and the shop will get to work with inspections and diagnostics using the same equipment as the manufacturers to determine issues and next steps.
3. Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate
Following the diagnosis we will text you a digital vehicle inspection report, containing pictures and videos of our findings and recommendations.
4. Review and Approval
A service advisor will reach out to walk you through the findings and recommendations to determine how you would like to proceed, or you can approve work directly in your DVI.
5. Work Performed or Scheduled
Most work can be completed immediately, or scheduled based on parts and customer availability.
Is It the Alternator or the Battery?
A failing alternator can look a lot like a dead battery. The engine may start, run briefly, and then die again once the alternator stops maintaining a charge. If your battery keeps dying after a replacement or jump-start, the alternator is a likely cause. Our diagnostics confirm which component is at fault before any parts are replaced.
What the Alternator & Starter Each Do
These two components are often mentioned together, but they serve very different roles in your vehicle’s electrical system. Understanding what each one does makes it easier to recognize when something is wrong.
The starter is a motor that cranks the engine to get it running. It operates during startup. When it fails, the cause is typically electrical or mechanical: a worn solenoid, damaged contacts, or a faulty motor. Once the engine is running, the starter’s job is done.
The alternator takes over from there. Mounted near the front of the engine and driven by the serpentine belt, it recharges the battery while the engine runs and powers electrical components including headlights and wipers. Without a functioning alternator, the battery can drain while you’re driving.
Schedule Alternator & Starter Service in Alpharetta
If you’re noticing any of these symptoms, our team is ready to diagnose the problem and walk you through what we find. We offer complimentary shuttle service so you can go about your day while your vehicle is being serviced. Schedule your appointment online or call us at (678) 931-8672.
Alternator Replacement: What the Repair Involves
Before the alternator can be removed, the battery cables must be disconnected and the serpentine belt must come off. Because the belt is already off at that point, technicians often inspect it closely and may recommend replacing it if it shows wear. This helps avoid a second labor visit later.
The alternator is typically secured by mounting brackets, including an adjustable bracket that controls belt tension. On many modern vehicles, it sits in a tight area of the engine bay, and accessing it may require removing nearby components such as air intake ducting or other accessories. That additional access work can affect how long the repair takes, which is why vehicle layout factors into scheduling.
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FAQs
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Q. "Why is the alternator important?"The alternator helps the battery maintain power. As the car is driving, it’s gaining power from the engine. During this time, the alternator is charging the battery. When the car stops running, the charge from the alternator allows the battery to continue providing power to the car.
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Q. "What does the alternator do?"As an alternate source of power, the alternator helps many features in the car run. It helps your air conditioning maintain proper airflow, powers the radio, and turns on the headlights, among other things. It can also add power to the engine.
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Q. "Where is the alternator located?"You’ll typically find the alternator near the front of the engine, bolted in with two brackets. One is adjustable (to allow for drive belt-tightening) while the other is fixed.
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Q. "What are some signs that my starter is going bad?"Some common symptoms that your starter is going bad or is dead include: clicking or other odd noises, lights working in your car but the engine won't turn, taking more than one attempt to start, or smoke coming from the hood.
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Q. "Do you offer a warranty?"As part of our Nice difference.® commitment to providing our customers the best auto service experience possible, we also offer a3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all the work that we do. We offer this warranty at every Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, and it will be honored at any location, regardless of which branch did the initial work.
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Q. "What is a Digital Vehicle Inspection?"With a complimentary Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI) on every visit, you’ll see firsthand photos of your vehicle from under the hood. We’ll let you know if everything is functioning properly or if there are any areas of concern. You can even approve or deny our service recommendations, all straight from your smartphone, or you can, of course, give us a call and we’ll explain our findings in further detail.
Have more Questions?
Our friendly auto service experts have the answers.
Call your local Christian Brothers Automotive car shop today
Hear What Our Customers Had to Say About Us
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"This is our new go to automotive repair shop. Ben has been very helpful and is very knowledgeable. Very friendly as well."
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