Alternator on the way out????
Thread Starter
RIP April 14, 2008
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,603
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From: the land where cars repeatedly hit my bumper when I'm in the store...
Alternator on the way out???? Hey guys,
How does onee tell when their alternator is going out? I m looking to possibly that as being the source of all the loud noise in my enginee bay. As of now, like I've said before, I have changed the tensioner, the tensioner pulley, the idler puller, the belts, checked all fluid levels etc etc etc. but this stupid hiss noise wont go away. in fact its getting louder, (REAL loud, almost over my magnaflow) and I could swear the car is getting slower. I dunno what to do at this point.....
so.... could it be my alternator, combined with possibly a psychological power-draining effect?
How does onee tell when their alternator is going out? I m looking to possibly that as being the source of all the loud noise in my enginee bay. As of now, like I've said before, I have changed the tensioner, the tensioner pulley, the idler puller, the belts, checked all fluid levels etc etc etc. but this stupid hiss noise wont go away. in fact its getting louder, (REAL loud, almost over my magnaflow) and I could swear the car is getting slower. I dunno what to do at this point.....
so.... could it be my alternator, combined with possibly a psychological power-draining effect?
Thread Starter
RIP April 14, 2008
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: the land where cars repeatedly hit my bumper when I'm in the store...
its a real loud hiss, sounds like smooth metal sliding against smooth metal. REAL LOUD. when i accellerate, it now rises in pitch with the rpms, whereas it did not do that before. I dunno, but its making me nervous cause its getting worse, and I dont know what the heck it is. 
The whirring sound is the diodes in the alternator going out. One of the easier ways although not 100% foolproof would be to take a short length of rod either aluminum metal or wood and carefully put it up to the alternator with the engine running. Listen to the front and rear bearing and see if you can detect any roughness. It is a PITA to get to though. goodluck.
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To check my alternator, I usually disconnect the battery ground (-) lead while the car is running. If it dies, well ... read on. Your interwinding will arc from deterioration/cracking of the insulation before the bearings go, usually. It makes a similar noise as you are describing. Even if it does not solve the mystery, at least you know it needs to be replaced/rebuilt/reconditioned, anyway.