You have probably noticed a bunch of warning lights on your dash when you start your engine. They flash on to test the circuits and then go off if everything is okay. One of the warning lights looks like a car battery. Its job is to tell you if your battery is charging correctly or not.
You know that your battery stores electricity -- enough to start your engine and get you moving. But that is about it. You can only get a few miles on battery power alone. You need an alternator to generate enough electricity to run your engine and power your electrical accessories like the stereo, power seats, heater fan, on-board computers, and so on. On top of that, the alternator needs to recharge your battery. So, when your alternator isn't working properly, there is not enough electricity for all those things. When your alternator fails, you aren't going very far.
So why would your alternator not work? Usually they've simply worn out. Alternators are driven by your serpentine belt and spin 2 to 3 times faster than the engine - that is a lot of work. The bearings wear out, as do the cooper wire coils and magnets that generate the electricity.
There is no sense in hobbling along with an alternator that is not working properly. It will fail at some point and leave you stranded. Get a bad alternator replaced as soon as you can. Your service technician will install an alternator that meets your manufacturer's specification.
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Chickasaw Garage Inc