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BMW X5 Electrical Problems? How Do You Know If It's Battery Or Alternator?

Well, it's a little difficult to figure out which one between the battery and the alternator is the culprit and causing electrical issues in your BMW X5.

But, don't worry… In this article, we will have a detailed conversation about the signs and causes of battery and alternator failure, so that you can figure out which one of them is faulty. To begin with, let's have a brief chat about the basics of the automotive electrical system.

Car electrical system- How does it work?

Your car's electrical system has two functions- the generation and storage of electric current. For electricity generation, all vehicles come fitted with an alternator- which is an electro-mechanical device designed to produce electricity from changing magnetic field. And, for the storage of electricity produced by the alternator, all automobiles come equipped with a rechargeable battery- which is also known as an SLI battery. Here SLI stands for starting, lighting, and ignition.

As you can see, the battery and alternator are two main components of a car's electrical system. And, if anything goes wrong with any of these two parts, your car will battle a host of electrical drama. The below discussion will help you to determine if you are dealing with a faulty alternator of a dying battery.

Signs your BMW X5 battery is faulty

Engine slow to crank

Is your car engine slow to crank? Because, if so, the first and foremost thing you should do is to check its battery. The battery powers your car's ignition system, fuel processing unit, and other crucial components. If it wears out due to some reason, the electricity supply to those parts will get interrupted; causing the engine to crank too long before starting.

Misshaped battery

Another sign that your BMW X5 battery is faulty is if it is not in its normal size. A swollen battery is usually a sign of overcharging. Besides, extreme environmental temperatures can result in a wrapped battery in a car. It is not safe to drive a car with a swollen battery- as it may explode and cause damage to the engine and other drivetrain components. So, check the condition of your car battery regularly and if it is swollen, just replace it.

Flickering dash and headlights

The battery powers the headlights, taillights, and instrument panel lights of your car. If it goes bad, those lights will flicker due to power fluctuations. Also, if there is something wrong with the battery, your car's radio and other electrical accessories will not work properly.

Signs your BMW X5 alternator is faulty

Persistent whining noise

If a high-pitched whining or grinding noise is coming from your car’s engine bay region, there is a good chance that your alternator is defective and needs to be replaced. This usually happens due to worn bearings and bushes. Also, a cracked or loose accessory belt can result in the emergence of a strange whining or squealing noise.

Burning odor

In addition to a strange whining noise, you may notice the emergence of a distinctive rubber-burning odor when you have alternator problems. As you would have read earlier, the alternator is an electro-mechanical device that is tasked with the job of electric power generation from changing magnetic fields. And, to do so, it is indirectly connected with the engine's crankshaft pulley via a drive belt. If the drive belt is not properly aligned with the alternator pulley, the increased friction will result in a burning smell of rubber.

The battery keeps dying

If your car battery keeps dying, most of the time, it signifies an alternator problem. As discussed earlier, the job of an alternator is to charge the car battery. However, a faulty alternator won't be able to keep up with the electricity demand of your battery, as a result of which you will battle different types of electrical drama while driving. That is why if your car battery is dying frequently, have someone check on the alternator.

Wrapping up

You can think of the battery as the heart and alternator as the soul of your car’s electrical system. Issues with either of them can result in all sorts of electrical problems in your car. That’s why if you have a feeling that your BMW X5 has an electrical problem, get your alternator and battery checked out by a certified professional.