As the owner of a vehicle as reliable and powerful as a BMW, ensuring this performance should be your number one priority. With this in mind, keeping all your parts up to date and keeping your vehicle properly maintained should be at the top of your to-do list. There are a number of issues that may arise which can turn into more serious issues down the line if not attended to, so tackling them the minute they appear is your best bet.
To that end, there are certain parts you should focus on fixing right away so that they don’t devolve into more serious problems. Doing so can help you maintain your car’s longevity and ensure that no additional problems develop.
One such issue that should be fixed right away is an alternator bracket seal being broken. To understand why this is an issue that needs to be fixed, we first need to look at what exactly the alternator seal bracket does.
What does the alternator seal bracket do?
The alternator seal bracket is a crucial component of your vehicle that keeps your alternator protected from leaks. As an overview, the alternator is the piece of machinery that allows the electricity to run throughout your car and power many components. With this in mind, you may be thinking that this is the battery’s function but it is the alternator.
Due to this function, the alternator is an extremely important part of your vehicle, and it would be damaged if oil were to leak into it. This is the exact function the alternator bracket seal serves. By stopping oil from leaking into the alternator, it prevents damage and allows the alternator to function as it normally would.
However, this seal doesn’t just stop oil from leaking into the alternator, but rather the engine as a whole. Oil is meant to be a lubricant for the engine and is not meant to be leaking outside of where it is supposed to be. Therefore, the oil running through your car should only be lubricating the engine and clearing it of debris, not dripping onto the floor.
With the above information in mind, take your vehicle into the shop immediately after noticing that something has gone wrong with the alternator seal bracket in your vehicle. Not doing so can leave your car vulnerable to extra damage and may prevent some parts from working as they should.
Signs of a Broken Alternator Seal Bracket
Spotting the signs that indicated when this important seal is broken is one of the most important things for any vehicle owner to do. Fortunately, there are a number of signs you can keep an eye out for that will tell you exactly when this occurs. Should you notice these signs, waste no time in heading to a repair shop.
- You See Oil: Naturally, the best way to identify an oil leak is to see it with your own eyes. Check under the hood of your car if you suspect your vehicle is leaking oil and see if your suspicions are confirmed by a pool of dark liquid sitting on the ground.
- Your Engine Loses Oil: The oil levels in your vehicle are very specific and are the reason you need to get your oil changed every so often. If you notice that your engine is losing oil far faster than normal, consider the possibility that your engine has a leak in the alternator seal bracket or somewhere else under the hood.
- Oil-Pressure Light Activates: Similar to the check engine light, some BMWs have an oil-pressure light that can alert drivers when something goes wrong with the oil under the hood. It’s best not to ignore this light when it turns on and to take your car in right away so that you don’t lose more oil.
Turning Wrenches For Your BMW Needs
At Turning Wrenches, your satisfaction is our 
guarantee. We have experienced technicians who are used to working on BMWs and can have you back out on the road in no time at all. We’ve seen a broken alternator bracket seal before and can promise to be the solution you’re looking for. We work with clients around Louisville, KY, and would love to have the opportunity to help solve any problem you present to us.
Please give us a call or come on down and visit us to see why we are the best in the business. We sincerely look forward to earning your trust and patronage.