Having a functioning alternator is crucial to your vehicle being able to get from one place to the next. The alternator allows your battery to stay charged through the day as well as power the other electrical components of your vehicle. If your alternator doesn’t work the way it should, the battery will in turn die, causing you to be stuck until something gets fixed. Of course, alternators are subject to stress and wear like everything else – so pay attention to potential warning signs and replace parts when necessary.