Scheduling alternator and starter service with us is straightforward. You can book online or by phone. Once your vehicle is in, we send your Digital Vehicle Inspection Report with photos and videos of our findings directly to you so you understand the diagnosis before any work begins. Most repairs can be completed the same day, with scheduling adjusted around parts availability and your calendar.
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.
Manufacturer-Quality Parts & Warranty Protection
We install manufacturer-quality parts on every alternator and starter service. Parts matched to your vehicle’s electrical system specifications can reduce the risk of repeat failure and help keep the rest of the charging system working as intended. Addressing an alternator problem promptly can also help protect your battery and other electronic components from secondary damage caused by an undercharging system.
Every repair is covered by the Nice difference.® warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles, honored at any Christian Brothers Automotive location nationwide. That’s coverage you can count on whether you’re driving around Lake County or across the country.
Signs Your Alternator or Starter May Be Failing
Knowing what to look for can help you act before a minor issue leaves you stranded. Because alternator and battery symptoms overlap significantly, accurate diagnosis with proper equipment is the right first step before replacing any component.
Common starter warning signs:
- A clicking noise when you turn the key
- Lights work normally but the engine won’t turn over
- The engine requires multiple attempts to crank
- Smoke coming from under the hood
Common alternator warning signs:
- A battery or charging warning light on the dashboard
- Dimming headlights or flickering interior lights
- A battery that keeps losing charge despite being relatively new
- The engine stalling shortly after starting
Our ASE-certified technicians diagnose starting problems across batteries, starters, and alternators to find the actual source before recommending any repair. You won’t pay to replace a part that isn’t causing the problem.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Call Christian Brothers Automotive Mount Dora at (352) 488-2914 or schedule your appointment online. We serve Mount Dora and drivers throughout Lake County.
How the Alternator, Starter & Battery Work Together
The alternator generates electricity while the engine runs, recharging the battery and powering components like headlights, the radio, air conditioning, and windshield wipers. When the alternator fails, the vehicle runs on battery power alone. The battery depletes, and the engine eventually stalls even if it started normally. A faulty alternator can also cause a healthy battery to repeatedly lose charge and may shorten the battery’s lifespan if left unaddressed.
The starter draws power from the battery to crank the engine. A weak battery can mimic starter failure exactly, which is why professional diagnosis with proper equipment matters before any parts are replaced. The alternator is mounted to the engine and secured by brackets, making it one of the more accessible components for a trained technician to inspect and service.
Your Local Christian Brothers Amenities
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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"I liked the customer service and going above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable while waiting in the store for my vehicle work to be done, specifically being offered a nice hot coffee with creamer."
- J.L.