How To Tell The Difference Between Bad Battery And Alternator. Similarly if the battery is dead a fully operating alternator is useless. There are a few ways to test this to verify a problem.
Another simple test is to check your interior lights. If it wont charge up then the battery is bad. An alternator charges your battery when the car is running.
If your car wont start or your battery keeps dying on you that doesnt necessarily mean theres necessarily a problem with EITHER your alternator OR your battery although that is the common logic used by a lot of folks.
If there are problems with the alternator it will not convert the energy in the crankshaft into electricity. This video will briefly explain how to tell if you have a bad auto battery or bad alternatorDetailed info about bad batteries. A squealing sound coming from the engine that gets louder when drains like the heater or sound system are on may be your alternator bearings. Turn your car on and let it run.
