Noisey Alternator

M

miksax

New Member

Jul 5, 2005

48

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0

Jan 25, 2006

#1

• Jan 25, 2006

• #1

Hey Guys-
Quick question: I turn my car on and I hear a knocking/rattling noise from the front of the engine bay. I am pretty sure it is coming from the alternator (its not a knocking from the actual engine), and I don't think it is any of the other accessories. The noise seems to start up after the car has been on for about 10-20 seconds. The car starts, runs, and performs as it always has. A person I called said it could be a broken ball bearing in the alternator. It is also the original alternator, if that helps. Any advice? Thanks.

Mike

 

stangjunkie

New Member

Nov 15, 2004

381

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0

Jan 25, 2006

#2

• Jan 25, 2006

• #2

probably a bad bearing

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jan 25, 2006

#3

• Jan 25, 2006

• #3

A mechanic's stethoscope can be helpful (be careful of moving parts while listening to noises).

A smog pump with vanes hitting the walls can make a nice racquet.

Good luck.

 

P

PRO50SC

New Member

Dec 28, 2003

1,012

1

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Olney, Maryland

Jan 25, 2006

#4

• Jan 25, 2006

• #4

HISSIN50 said:

A mechanic's stethoscope can be helpful (be careful of moving parts while listening to noises).

A smog pump with vanes hitting the walls can make a nice racquet.

Good luck.

Click to expand...

Or remove the belt and start the car. If there is no noise, it's one of the accesories. Spin each one by hand and listen/feel for roughness.


Good luck!

 

T

TheUser

Active Member

Jul 25, 2003

1,859

1

36

Springfield, MO

Jan 25, 2006

#5

• Jan 25, 2006

• #5

I bought one of those mechanics stethascopes a couple weeks ago. It might be helpful in certain situations I guess, but I couldn't really pinpoint where the vibrations where at specifically. Who knows, maybe it was just me or my situation.

Either way, they are cheap, so you might consider purchasing some. A friend said his dad used a screwdriver (plastic side to ear, metal side to component).

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jan 25, 2006

#6

• Jan 25, 2006

• #6

James, it might have been something endemic with the noise you were lookin for. I have used one for years and for ticking and scraping noises (I have a bad smog pump, for instance) it really helps narrow it down (for me).

I might have a really sensitive stethoscope because every time I accidentally tap the probe into something, I almost pee my pants (it sounds like someone hit my brain with a cold chisel).

You very well might not like the scope, but I at least wanted to say that it might be useful for a different kind of noise in the future.

 

Swarzkopf

Member

Sep 23, 2004

973

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16

Pittsburgh

May 11, 2006

#7

• May 11, 2006

• #7

Well, miksax, any word on what it was?

I seem to be getting the same noise...when I first heard it, I about crapped myself as I thought I'd spun a bearing.

But now I'm 99% sure that it's coming from the alternator as well.

 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet

Sep 17, 2005

2,867

2

58

Port Elgin, Ontario

May 11, 2006

#8

• May 11, 2006

• #8

My truck was doing the exact same thing and I put my hand on the alt and it was shaking like a bitch.