Alternator Whine

ebouwman · 02-10-2009, 05:19 PM

My alternator has been whining, and now it seems like it's whining louder

I've been told that it's the bearings wearing down. Is that really the case? And what are my options, do i have to replace the whole thing, or can i cheap out and just replace the bearings, or oil them or something?

Thanks for your help.

328FTW · 02-10-2009, 05:41 PM

You are going to have to replace it. I had one with bad bearings and after 20 years the front pulley was stuck solid so I couldn't get into it to change out the bad bit without destroying it in the process, it can be done just more trouble than its worth. Keep the regulator out of the old one if you replace it so you can open it up and swap it over if you new one gives up because regulators fail often in these cars.

ebouwman · 02-10-2009, 05:49 PM

and revving the nuts out of it isn't a good idea if the bearings are giving up? lol

Don't you get money back when you return the core though? Or is that only for starters?

328FTW · 02-10-2009, 05:59 PM

^ You can rev its nuts off if you like, you just have to be careful the pulley doesn't seize. I was pulling 7k all day long with a bad alternator and water pump bearings

I'm not sure on the money back thing because normally copper is worth a lot and starters have a bit in them so they unwind them to get it. Alternators don't have as much and the price of copper bombed with the economy, you could ask and see what you can get.

masagsxr · 02-10-2009, 06:16 PM

Whats the whining sound like? Sometimes the belt tension is just not stiff enough or is loose.

ebouwman · 02-10-2009, 06:19 PM

ya, i thought that it was that whole thing where somebody buys up the cores and rebuilds them.

It's been whining for quite some time now though, so i guess i'll go in today and order a new one.

I kinda have a non functioning t-Vis (i'll fix that soon) so i kinda need to rev it right now to get any power. Even though it's only something like 5 ft-pounds of tourqe, and it doesn't idle right, pretty sure it's because of it.

^ its not a screech like a loose belt, now that i think of it i kinda did have to tension it pretty good to get it to stop.

It's kind of a whirring whine, if that makes any sense, i'll go take a recording on my phone and post it, if that works

masagsxr · 02-10-2009, 06:26 PM

hahhaa.... Well I guess thats it. You can always take the alternator out and take it to a local store/shop (kragen, auto zone etc....) Its free testing

328FTW · 02-10-2009, 06:26 PM

Also check the idler pulleys are not whining before a new alternator. They can cause that sound to.

ebouwman · 02-10-2009, 07:29 PM

Well i did kinda just order the alternator.... i hope i didn't jump the gun, but whatever, too late now lol

I get between 30 and 50 dollars back for the core.

A little later i'll pop off the fanbelt and turn on the engine quick to see if it is the alternator. Because the only thing it'll affect is the water pump and alternator, so the engine should still run for a bit. And i'll be able to pinpoint the problem.

328FTW · 02-10-2009, 07:34 PM

Oh well you at least get a new alternator out of it. One less thing you should have to worry about later.

ebouwman · 02-10-2009, 08:56 PM

To my relief (and my wallets) it's just the alternator. I popped the belt of like i said and then fired it up, and no more whine. And i turned it by hand, it seems to spin freely and only feels a tiny bit grindy, but that might be because there's not tension on it.

I'll take a better look when i pull it right out tomorrow.

muffinman · 02-11-2009, 10:45 AM

any suggestions for whiny wife?

ebouwman · 02-11-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffinman

any suggestions for whiny wife?

Earplugs

ebouwman · 02-11-2009, 08:43 PM

The alternator got overnighted here, and i put er in today, fixed, but the old alternator still spins relatively well ??

and i think the only reason that i get 40 bucks or whatever back is because the gov't charges an environmental fee if i don't. Or something. Anyone else know?

muffinman · 02-12-2009, 03:39 PM

^ the one you just got was someone elses core , basically they just rebuild them.

ebouwman · 02-12-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffinman

^ the one you just got was someone elses core , basically they just rebuild them.

I hope thats not the case.

List price was 312 CAD!! OUCH!! So it better be new, unless it was meticulously rebuilt by unicorns on the moon, or maybe by using melted down leprechaun teeth for the new ball bearings.

Also on the receipt there was the alternator, and right below it was "core charges for WSN" and the serial for the alternator. So that would work out to almost $350.

And on reciepts for oil and stuff like that there's always the environmental tax or W.H.Y. laid out in the same way.

I got a break and paid 234 plus core charge by running it through the account the company my mom works for uses.

02-10-2009, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Alternator Whine My alternator has been whining, and now it seems like it's whining louder I've been told that it's the bearings wearing down. Is that really the case? And what are my options, do i have to replace the whole thing, or can i cheap out and just replace the bearings, or oil them or something? Thanks for your help.

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02-10-2009, 05:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	You are going to have to replace it. I had one with bad bearings and after 20 years the front pulley was stuck solid so I couldn't get into it to change out the bad bit without destroying it in the process, it can be done just more trouble than its worth. Keep the regulator out of the old one if you replace it so you can open it up and swap it over if you new one gives up because regulators fail often in these cars.

02-10-2009, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	and revving the nuts out of it isn't a good idea if the bearings are giving up? lol Don't you get money back when you return the core though? Or is that only for starters?

02-10-2009, 05:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	^ You can rev its nuts off if you like, you just have to be careful the pulley doesn't seize. I was pulling 7k all day long with a bad alternator and water pump bearings I'm not sure on the money back thing because normally copper is worth a lot and starters have a bit in them so they unwind them to get it. Alternators don't have as much and the price of copper bombed with the economy, you could ask and see what you can get.

02-10-2009, 06:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,534 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 81 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Whats the whining sound like? Sometimes the belt tension is just not stiff enough or is loose.

02-10-2009, 06:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	ya, i thought that it was that whole thing where somebody buys up the cores and rebuilds them. It's been whining for quite some time now though, so i guess i'll go in today and order a new one. I kinda have a non functioning t-Vis (i'll fix that soon) so i kinda need to rev it right now to get any power. Even though it's only something like 5 ft-pounds of tourqe, and it doesn't idle right, pretty sure it's because of it. ^ its not a screech like a loose belt, now that i think of it i kinda did have to tension it pretty good to get it to stop. It's kind of a whirring whine, if that makes any sense, i'll go take a recording on my phone and post it, if that works

02-10-2009, 06:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,534 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 81 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	hahhaa.... Well I guess thats it. You can always take the alternator out and take it to a local store/shop (kragen, auto zone etc....) Its free testing

02-10-2009, 06:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Also check the idler pulleys are not whining before a new alternator. They can cause that sound to.

02-10-2009, 07:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well i did kinda just order the alternator.... i hope i didn't jump the gun, but whatever, too late now lol I get between 30 and 50 dollars back for the core. A little later i'll pop off the fanbelt and turn on the engine quick to see if it is the alternator. Because the only thing it'll affect is the water pump and alternator, so the engine should still run for a bit. And i'll be able to pinpoint the problem.

02-10-2009, 07:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Oh well you at least get a new alternator out of it. One less thing you should have to worry about later.

02-10-2009, 08:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	To my relief (and my wallets) it's just the alternator. I popped the belt of like i said and then fired it up, and no more whine. And i turned it by hand, it seems to spin freely and only feels a tiny bit grindy, but that might be because there's not tension on it. I'll take a better look when i pull it right out tomorrow.

02-11-2009, 10:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,878 Thanks: 53 Thanked 282 Times in 271 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	any suggestions for whiny wife?

02-11-2009, 08:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	The alternator got overnighted here, and i put er in today, fixed, but the old alternator still spins relatively well ?? and i think the only reason that i get 40 bucks or whatever back is because the gov't charges an environmental fee if i don't. Or something. Anyone else know?

02-12-2009, 03:39 PM	#15 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,878 Thanks: 53 Thanked 282 Times in 271 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	^ the one you just got was someone elses core , basically they just rebuild them.