Alternatory Badness... (The sequel to Alternatory Goodness)

[Multiphonikks]

So, on my way to work this morning Hebe's engine was making such strange and horrid noises that I pulled over.

As luck would have it, PyoorKate then went past within about 30 seconds of me stopping (on her way home from a night shift and she still stopped!) and then Guy happened to be heading past about 20 seconds after that! Good luck eh? And a little minor style meeting on a quiet Wiltshire road at 6:50 am...

Anyway.... (Cheers for stopping, guys)

On reving the engine we discovered a rather nasty rattling sound eminating from the Alternator side of the engine block. It seems to be coming from the Alternator. As it's only coming up to 10 months old I wonder if it's possible for bearings to have gone so quickly? I've done about.. oh... 10,000 miles sine I put it in. As a prince of darkness model though I'm not going to be surprised if it is on its way out.

I'll have a play either tonight, tomorrow, or Saturday with the Alternator to see if it is indeed poorly, but for those who remember when I pulled the entire radiatior and cooling system to pieces thinking it was the water pump, you'll know that the alternator was making horrid noises of a squealing variety then.

Oh, and just in case anyone is wondering: The charge is still about 14 volts, the belt is the right tension and the sound sounds like something metalic catching on something else as it rotates. So it's the bearings???

[Cam]

Take it off, spin it by hand and check for lateral movement (should be none). That should give you an indication.

[Stig]

Oh, and just in case anyone is wondering: The charge is still about 14 volts, the belt is the right tension and the sound sounds like something metalic catching on something else as it rotates. So it's the bearings???

Is the little metal fan on the alternator loose? I thinks it has a slot to go on the woodruf key, maybe it's not located properly?

[Alec]

Hello Nikki,
I'd second Stig's guess, as it is difficult to really tighten the pulley nut as the whole thing just spins.
Good luck,

Alec