What to Expect With a Alternator and Starter Service
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.
Did You Know: It takes up to three football fields to safely brake in the rain?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know it is the alternator, not the battery?
The best way to know is through proper testing. We check battery health, alternator output, and wiring before recommending any repair. Dim lights, warning lights, and repeated dead batteries often point to the alternator, but we confirm with diagnostic equipment so you are not replacing parts unnecessarily.
How long does an alternator or starter replacement usually take?
Many alternator or starter repairs can be completed within the same business day, depending on your vehicle and parts availability. When you bring your car in, we provide an estimated timeline after diagnosis. Our team keeps you updated, and our shuttle service can help while your vehicle is in the shop.
Will you call me with the price before doing any work?
Yes, we always review pricing and get your approval before starting repairs. After testing your charging and starting systems, we explain what we found, outline your options, and provide a written estimate. No work proceeds until you understand the plan and say yes.
What kind of warranty do you offer on these repairs?
We back our alternator and starter repairs with an industry-leading warranty on parts and labor. This warranty reflects our confidence in the quality of our work and gives you added peace of mind. When your repair is complete, we review the specific warranty details for your vehicle.
Can you help if my car will not start at all?
Yes, we regularly help drivers whose vehicles will not start. Once your car is at our shop, we test the battery, starter, and alternator to find the cause. Our team explains what we find, recommends a repair plan, and can provide shuttle service while your vehicle is being fixed.
Book your professional charging system service online or call (531) 625-2231.
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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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"Today I took my BMW X1 to Christian brothers I must admit I was a little apprehensive because they weren’t an exclusive BMW repair They were very knowledgeable and they replaced my battery and registered it to the car as per the Bmw requirements Also"
- Keith Johnson