Is my alternator going out?

[97-gst]

The past month everytime i go to start my car as soon as it fires up a belt squeaks real loud for 20+ seconds. So loud im pretty ashamed to start my car up for the first time each day. It only seems like it squeaks the first time each day not after i let it set for a few hours. Anyway i went to cut my lights on lastnight at a redlight and my cars idle dropped from like 1k to 200 rpms. I was like WTF So i revved it a little to keep it running let off of the gas and it idled fine. Now everytime i cut on my lights or go to roll the windows up and down my car almost dies. Is this the alternator or the battery?

 

[95gst16g]

I'm going to go with tighten the belt.See where that gets you...

 

[DSM1G90]

Ya, the ALT, under a load really puts the resistance in the rotor. Thus, if the belt aint tight enough (have a slight bit of flex when tightening..), it will squeal like a banshee.

Since the belt is the flat ribbed variety and not the old V-belt variety, they really need to be snugged up pretty tight or they will slip around pulleys quite easily.

-DSM

 

[akira235]

yeah, sounds like a loose belt, mine does that every once in a while, it'll get loose and I'll have those same symptoms, tighten it up and you should be okay

 

[luv2rallye]

Make sure you first check for harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley) separation:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...lace-your-crank-pulley-harmonic-balancer.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...y-harmonic-dampener-just-time-pics-video.html

 

[akira235]

well damn. now that I've read that, i think MY harmonic dampener is going out. what are the safe options as far as replacement? I know people say the unorthodox ones can cause problems and theres always a big debate so whats the safest/cheapest option at this point?

 

[Demon33]

For the past 9 months I have had the exact same problem you're having now. After removing the power steering pump, replacing the alternator belt, tightening and retightening the belt, replacing the crankshaft pulley and water pump pulley, I finally figured out what was causing the extremely loud squeaking. Turned out to be the belt slipping on the alternator pulley. This happed even with a new belt, which threw me for a loop. If I let it squeak for more than about 20 seconds, the alternator pulley would heat up so hot it would almost burn my finger when I touched it (engine OFF of course).

The problem was fixed when I removed the alternator and sanded the grooves of the pulley to roughen then up a bit and give them more bite on the belt. Afterwards, I reinstalled the alternator and belt and to my surprise, the squeak was COMPLETELY GONE and has not occurred even once since then. I just wish I had done this first before going through all the other "hoops".

Hope this helps someone out. Good luck.

 

[4g63meech]

yeah sounds like a loose belt. mine used to do that until i tightened it up. no problems now

 

[fatalreaction]

or another option could be the bushings in side the alt going out, typically their made of a brass or oilite and while they are self lubricating they do require a lil heat and movement to work right, Start with tightening the belt and if that don't work i'd try to turn the alt by hand, should move free without any catches, My 1g had the v-belts but the previous owner had tightened the belt tight enough he actually bent the shaft inside the alternator, knocking out the bushings and creating the same issue described by the OP

 

[97-gst]

Im not real sure what going on with it. I just went out there and the belt on the alternator is pretty tight and snug. I felt the my timing belt and it was super loose. idk i guess ill just start replacing it all

 

[fatalreaction]

try taking the alternator belt off and spinning the alternator pulley and watch the pulley as it spins, it should spin fairly freely and not catch or wobble

 

[TurboMR2]

it could be too tight too. i had that issue when i would start my car at cold it would screetch really loud. my alt was going bad, the voltage kept dropping at idle and go up when i start driving. when i swapped out the alt i noticed alot of belt rubber around it. put the belt on looser than it was and no problems. i also heat wrapped my downpipe to keep some heat off of it.

 

[fatalreaction]

yea i had pretty much the same issue with mine

 

[TurboMR2]

i think the heat is what killed mine since this is my 2nd one in 5 months

 

[joe_mopar]

sound like the bearings are going out in the alt.

 

[AndrewD5418]

A sign that the alternator is going you'll get the brake light, coolant light, and check engine light on all at the same time.

 

[97-gst]

yea ive been DD my car and still havent changed my alternator yet... done put about 3kmiles on it since this thread... but now where its really cold outside itll squeak for about 2 minutes when i first start it up and i have to keep patting the gas to keep it running... where im running dsmlink i got my stock boost gauge set as my voltage and everytime that it drops my cars belt squeaks... eventually ill have to replace it but im probably gonna run it like it is for awhile

 

[luv2rallye]

Have you tried a new alt belt? Also checked the harmonic balancer for separation as this will constantly make the alt belt loose no matter where you adjust it.

 

[nc_dsm]

I would also say if you are having this problem stay away from the rubber type belts, they make a belt that will cost you a little more but is a much better belt. It has a form of fiber in it, looks almost like a fabric and doesn't glaze like a rubber belt once it has spun. If a rubber type belt slips once it burns the belt and glazes it and will have to be replaced to get some grip back in it.

 

[pitt97gsx]

The bolt that tightens the belt might need changed. I had similar issues and it was the bolt

 

[D00kie]

Im gonna have to go with the belt tightening. My car was doing that for a while until I got fed up and tightened it while I was at work.

 

[mitsukid248]

try testing the alternator take the negative battery terminal off when the car is running if the car still runs the alternator is good if not theres your prob . you can also check the voltage it should be close to 14 volts .. goodluck

 

[luv2rallye]

Removing negative while running is a bad idea: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/211550-battery-alternator-question.html#post1763645

 

[johneclipse]

try testing the alternator take the negative battery terminal off when the car is running if the car still runs the alternator is good if not theres your prob . you can also check the voltage it should be close to 14 volts .. goodluck

doing this may end up making you replace the alt anyways...bad idea dont do it.

 

[DSM1G90]

Def a bad idea, for that blows the regulator out real quick.

Sure like to know how that practice came into being -taking off the battery cable while the car is running to check if the ALT is still good .....

Idea must have came out of a Cracker-Jack Box or in a fortune cookie out of a Taco Bell Burrito.

-DSM