Why does alternator whine

Why is my alternator making noise? What Does a messed up alternator sound like? What is the most common cause of alternator whine? Do alternators make a clicking noise? What are signs of a failing alternator? What does it mean when alternator clicks? What happens when the alternator fails? First, you can look for visible signs of wear on the backside of the belt. If the teeth on the gauge have room to move while inserted in the grooves of the belt, then the belt is ready to be replaced.

Sometimes the bolts that hold your alternator in place become loose with time thanks to all the vibration of the motor and from driving. This is pretty easy to remedy with a basic socket set. I also recommend taking a picture of your belt setup before removing it so that you have a reference to go by when you put the new one on. There are quite a few pulleys to go around and it can get confusing! Start by locating the tensioner pulley.

It will have a nut in the center that you can turn with a socket wrench. When you do, it will move the whole pulley and loosen the tension on the belt, allowing you to slip the belt off. Get it wrapped around all the pulleys in the proper direction except for the tensioner pulley. Pull the pulley out of the way using your socket wrench and slip the belt over it.

Make sure you disconnect the battery first. Then remove the serpentine belt by loosening the tensioner pulley with a socket wrench. Then remove all the bolts that hold the alternator in place.

You can now remove it and transport it to a bench. Insert a socket attached to an impact wrench into the pulley of the alternator and remove the large nut. On the backside of the alternator, remove the bolts and screws that hold the outer plate on. Then remove the housing bolts and any screws around the outside.

The bearing is pressed into the housing, so you may have a tough time removing the housing. You can hit the shaft from the front to remove the bearing assembly and gain access to the bearing.

Then you can remove the large bearings with a hammer. Once you replace the bearings, simply reassemble the alternator. Start by disconnecting the battery. Next, remove the serpentine belt. Use a socket wrench to move the tensioner pulley and loosen the belt for removal. Disconnect the wire harness from the backside of the alternator. Then remove the bolts holding it in place so you can remove it. Put the new alternator in place and insert the bolts.

Anyone know what could make an alternator whine besides the bearings? Insulation worn off wiring in one of the turns and arcing to the casing? I'd think that'd be more of a buzzing than a whine, but.. There's just not much there to go wrong, you got your magnets, you got your windings.

If it's not one of those.. Maybe the hamster inside is crying? Bad diodes. Just go ahead and replace it. It won't fix itself.

Or if you want to, see if you can find a rebuild kit and give it a try if you want. I've rebuilt some of mine before. But they were older simpler designs. You will need at least a watt soldering iron though. Those little cheap pencil type 30 watt jobs just don't do the job.

How old is it? If the bearings are in good working order, the belt should not move. There are many different parts that spin inside your vehicle's alternator to produce electrical current. If one of these parts becomes worn or breaks, this could cause a grinding or whining noise.

Specifically, worn out bearings inside the alternator have been known to cause this type of noise. Test the alternator for magnetism. Use a metal screwdriver and place the metal end very near the bolt on the alternator pulley. It's on the front of the alternator and the alternator belt goes round the pulley.

The end of the screwdriver is not drawn towards the bolt as there isn't any electrical magnetism. Theoretically, on an older car , you can drive forever once the engine is running , you'll just be without any electrical amenities in the vehicle. Essentially though if your alternator gives out, I'd say you have anywhere between 30mins before you're stranded with a petrol engine. In the daytime, you can probably drive for twelve hours or so. The only battery drain is the ignition system and your stoplights.

A whining noise from the engine could be due to problems with the transmission. Over time, like anything else, the gears of your car wear away with constant use. The transmission fluid may also run low and cause the whining noise from the engine. If the whining noise while accelerating is loudest while taking a turn, the problem may lie in the power steering assembly. The main reason for the whining might be a loose belt, that runs over the power steering pump's pulley.

Getting the belt tightened and the whole assembly realigned, might solve your problem. Potential causes There are bearings in the components being driven by the fan belts. One or more of these could be the source of the noise.