All of an automobile’s power comes from the chemical energy of the combustion of petroleum. While the obvious usage of the bulk of this power goes towards driving the motion of the car, what is less obvious is how the electricity is generated. The Nissan Altima’s alternator is the source of the electrical power.

Essentially, the alternator is a small generator powered off of a belt that is spun by the rotory motion of the engine. That electricity powers the windows, lights, computers, stereo, and all other electrical components.

If you install significant upgrades to your stereo, you may need to consider how that will affect your Nissan Altima’s alternator. The Altima, like all cars, is designed with fairly specific electrical expectations, and because of the significant weight and expense of batteries and alternators, extra capacity is not built into the system in any significant way. Running a high-powered stereo system can quickly overwhelm the generating capability of the alternator, which can cause your car to cease running. Even if you don’t wear it down immediately, the Nissan Altima’s alternator can wear out prematurely if it runs at a higher than expected capacity all the time. If you have upgraded your stereo, consider upgrading your electrical system as well. A failed alternator will leave you stranded, but a higher capacity Nissan Altima alternator will last far longer. The trade off is that it will draw more power off of the engine and may decrease your gas mileage. Also, electrical components are heavy, so you have added power robbing weight to your car. Rebuilt and new alternators are available from our online catalogue. Order one today and have it shipped directly to your door.Bear in mind that there may be a core charge, which will be refunded to you as soon as we receive your old alternator.