Alternator Whine?

[click]

Today I was stopped and i heard a whine that kinda sounds like metal grinding. And it got worse as the day went on. I hear all the way into the interior of the car. It comes up through the shifter boot. I popped the hood and it sounds like its come from the alternator pulley or inside the alternator. Is this common? Would that be bad alternator bearing/seals?

 

[Methodical]

Today I was stopped and i heard a whine that kinda sounds like metal grinding. And it got worse as the day went on. I hear all the way into the interior of the car. It comes up through the shifter boot. I popped the hood and it sounds like its come from the alternator pulley or inside the alternator. Is this common? Would that be bad alternator bearing/seals?

The whine definitely is not the pulley. It would be something internal. As a quick diagnostic, I would take the belt off and see if there's lots of play/sloppiness. If so I'd get a new or rebuilt unit. Don't delay.

 

[click]

today i got under the car and the sound is comming from the harmonic balancer area. The balancer looks fine and the rubber doesnt look like its comming out. The only other thing i can think of is the crankshaft seal? It doesnt look liek the balancer is rubbing anything...

 

[HISSIN50]

If you can, grab a mechanic's stethoscope. For instance, I have a whine from my smog pump. It uses an eccentric plane of rotation and the vanes can hit the walls of the housing, causing noise.

Otherwise noise resonates through other components - even with a scope it can be hard to narrow noises down.

Good luck.

 

[CManT1914]

If you can, grab a mechanic's stethoscope. For instance, I have a whine from my smog pump. It uses an eccentric plane of rotation and the vanes can hit the walls of the housing, causing noise.

Otherwise noise resonates through other components - even with a scope it can be hard to narrow noises down.

Good luck.

Noises are VERY elusive, you think they're coming from the coil, and it's actually coming from the fuel pump!! or something crazy like that. Definitely get a steth.