Squeal when Headlights On

[jongreenway]

This seems like a familiar problem with the DSMs.

1997 Eclipse GST

What Happens: Mostly at night, when I turn on the headlights, I get a whining noise. When I turn off the headlights, it goes away. It usually happens when there is a load of load on the battery/alternator, i.e. the radio, air, headlights, etc. At first I thought, if it's the headlights, then it's probably the alternator bearing. I repalced the alternator, well, that didn't work. Noise still there.

Seems similar to this problem in this thread, but no answer yet: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247303

What else is connected to the headlights that may cause this problem? We tightened the belts, screws, bolts, when we replaced the alternator. Battery is new. Belts are in good condition. New engine mounts, new timing belt. Mechanic checked harmonic pulley, it's not loose. Maybe it could be the harmonic pulley bearing?

It's so frustrating, and I want to figure this out. Any ideas?

 

[wicketdreams]

A few of us are covering this prob now, the balancer had been the most likely culprit in the past but im starting to suspect that the altenator mounts might also be a part of it. This my first DSM but it seems that most of the probs are related to the altenator and no matter how tight the belts are the squeal comes back, its cold and snowing where i live, but I am going to check how the altenator bracket is mounted to the motor and see if that maybe the problem.

 

[jongreenway]

Good call. It's not the alternator itself, since I replaced it, but I didn't think to check the bracket.

 

[drivemusicnow]

Does it sound like a belt squeal, or does it sound like you can hear the RPM of the engine with a whining noise, that might be coming from the speakers?

I ask this because sometimes alternators will create a "alternator whine" that can be heard through the speakers of the car. This is a direct result of a poor/inadaquate ground, or speaker/amplifer power wires running next to signal wires. This can be solved by upgrading the wires by making them thicker, (larger gauge) or by running extra wires from the alt to battery, battery to chassis, and alt to chassis. (sometimes called the magic 3, or some other BS name)

 

[jongreenway]

It's definitely not through the speakers. I just got a new sound system that always sounds fine. It's from the left side of the car... thought from close to the alternator. I do have wiring for subs that isn't connected to anything, but it's not that.

 

[Wildman95GS-T]

I have a simular problem that has started since it has gotten cold, when i start up in the morning and make a left turn, i get a belt squeel, the belts are new and tight, new alternator and c/s pulley. I dont want to tighten the belts too much and burn up the bearings in my alternator or a/c compressor or i have heard it could cause the c/s dampner to fail.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

I'll vote for the crank pulley. Check to see if the rubber has started to crack or allow the inner and outer ring to separate.

Does it also squeal when first started?

 

[jongreenway]

I'll vote for the crank pulley. Check to see if the rubber has started to crack or allow the inner and outer ring to separate.

Does it also squeal when first started?

Yeah when first started...

 

[Wildman95GS-T]

I had to replace mine because the two pieces seperated, sounded like two pieces of rusty metal rubbing togather when i started up. I decovered mine by shining a flashlight directly down on the c/s pulley at night and gave the throttle a quick blip, i could see the c/s pulley twist.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

When the crank pulley (damper) starts to go/have gone, it also has a lot of weird symptoms.......belts squeal at startup, under a heavier electrical load, battery won't stay charged, sling belts (especially alt belts), etc.

Easy enough to check...........

 

[jongreenway]

How do I check?

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Here you go.......
http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169254&highlight=crank+pulley


And since winter time seems to be the time a lot of these come apart......a suggestion brought up by someone else.....................take a marker or piece of chalk and mark the inner and outer portion in a straight line from the center - out. Run the car a bit and see if the marks are still aligned. If they're not, it's separating.