alternator sounding bit strange....

  1. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #1
    aright peeps was driving up to mates other night, and noticed that my alternator was making a kind of whining/whistling sound but was quiet couldnt really hear it, it has done it before and sound goes away.
    but tonight went round shop and it was same sound again but alot louder to point can hear it in the car now, so when i got back on to the drive got out and had a listen and it started to make a scrapping sound like metal on metal so turned the engine off as dont want to do any more damage to it what you think it could be....

    also would a alternator fit off a R reg VTR as is one in scrappy by me?
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2007 Guantanamo Bay Posts: 28700 oyster card
    #2
    Assuming you have a 1998 saxo VTR then yes an R reg VTR one will work.

    100% sure its the alternator?
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  3. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by db_sax View Post
    Assuming you have a 1998 saxo VTR then yes an R reg VTR one will work.

    100% sure its the alternator?
    yeah soz it is a 1998 vtr
    and yup 100% sound if defo coming from it and sound gets louder with revs as would expect
  4. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 Chester Posts: 2850 1275 mini
    #4
    make sure its your alternator, i would take off the alternator belt and start it up again, if it still makes the noise then it obviously isnt your alternator and will likely be cambelt related.

    if the noise has stopped then will probably be the alternator gone

    garry
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  5. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Rednal Posts: 1943 Vauxhall Vectra VW Golf Mk4 Honda Prelude
    #5
    Not worth rebuilding it?
  6. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Matt-T View Post
    Not worth rebuilding it?
    lol tell ya what ill replace it and can bring it into college see what its saying
  7. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gaz4399 View Post
    make sure its your alternator, i would take off the alternator belt and start it up again, if it still makes the noise then it obviously isnt your alternator and will likely be cambelt related.

    if the noise has stopped then will probably be the alternator gone

    garry
    Taking off the alternator belt & running the engine will damage the alternator,try tensioning the drivebelt or renewing it.


    Steve.
  8. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2009 Uckfield, East Sussex Posts: 3362 Citroen saxo 1.4 furio
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Taking off the alternator belt & running the engine will damage the alternator

    Steve.
    How exactly? it won't be spinning. for all it knows the engine could be off
  9. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #9
    Because you create a magnetic field with the engine running which will damage the internals of the alternator not taking the p1ss mate its a fact.

    Steve.
  10. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 Chester Posts: 2850 1275 mini
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Because you create a magnetic field with the engine running which will damage the internals of the alternator not taking the p1ss mate its a fact.

    Steve.
    you may be right theoretically mate but ive never had an issue. I only run cars for no more than a couple of seconds with alternator disconnected and belt off though.
  11. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gaz4399 View Post
    you may be right theoretically mate but ive never had an issue. I only run cars for no more than a couple of seconds with alternator disconnected and belt off though.
    No probs mate just told that in a garage I used to work at


    Steve.
  12. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #12
    easy now peeps lool
    is a new belt aint been on no more than 6-8months checked and seems correct tension
    ill have another look at it tomorrow after college bit nippy now
  13. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gazer View Post
    easy now peeps lool
    is a new belt aint been on no more than 6-8months checked and seems correct tension
    ill have another look at it tomorrow after college bit nippy now
    Don`t worry mate just trying to help lol


    Steve.
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  14. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #14
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Don`t worry mate just trying to help lol


    Steve.
    so what would you suggest i do, mean i just had a real close listen and is defo coming from it, might aswell just get that one from the scrappy dont you think....
  15. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #15
    Swap your alternator over with another 1 & see if theres any difference or take your car to an auto electrician see if he can diagnose the problem.

    Steve.
  16. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #16
    right i got a quick vid of it cant really hear it that well the sound will go quiet then will go louder again but is still there sort of thing

  17. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #17
    Sounds like alternator bearings are shot or the crankshaft pulley is on its way out.

    Steve.
  18. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #18
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Sounds like alternator bearings are shot or the crankshaft pulley is on its way out.

    Steve.
    am hoping its the first one then
    it defo sounds like is coming from the it tbh hard to tell just from above the car
  19. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Saltash Cornwall Posts: 199 Saxo forte posi blue
    #19
    as said defo sounds like alternator bearings just take the belt off and spin the pulley if it makes that noise then your bearings gone in alternator
  20. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bunkerstevo View Post
    as said defo sounds like alternator bearings just take the belt off and spin the pulley if it makes that noise then your bearings gone in alternator
    hmmm could do will have alook later
  21. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Rednal Posts: 1943 Vauxhall Vectra VW Golf Mk4 Honda Prelude
    #21
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bunkerstevo View Post
    as said defo sounds like alternator bearings just take the belt off and spin the pulley if it makes that noise then your bearings gone in alternator
    Be abit hard to spin it fast. Doubt would hear it doing it slow
  22. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 Chester Posts: 2850 1275 mini
    #22
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Matt-T View Post
    Be abit hard to spin it fast. Doubt would hear it doing it slow
    +1 it may be perfectly silent spinning it by hand but make a lot of noise when spinnind at 3k rpm + with engine running
  23. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #23
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Matt-T View Post
    Be abit hard to spin it fast. Doubt would hear it doing it slow
    true might be able to tell if bearings have gone though
  24. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD
    #24
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Because you create a magnetic field with the engine running which will damage the internals of the alternator not taking the p1ss mate its a fact.

    Steve.

    how? would love to see the science behind this (and eat my own words) as if the alternator isn't even connected how can it be damaged? the pulley rotating creates a magnetic field which generates electricity to charge the battery, so if the pulleys not spinning, theres no field... that'd be like running an engine with no alternator on it and sitting an alternator on the head fucks the alternator

    not doubting your skills, just people who say things that don't quite make sense.
  25. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 Chester Posts: 2850 1275 mini
    #25
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by chinkostu View Post
    how? would love to see the science behind this (and eat my own words) as if the alternator isn't even connected how can it be damaged? the pulley rotating creates a magnetic field which generates electricity to charge the battery, so if the pulleys not spinning, theres no field... that'd be like running an engine with no alternator on it and sitting an alternator on the head fucks the alternator

    not doubting your skills, just people who say things that don't quite make sense.
    i also think the same tbh although i dont want to say steve is wrong as i dont know 100% if i am right or not. My own opinion is that yes the engine running will create an magnetic field, alternator not spinning by the way, however i doubt the field will be strong enough to penetrate through the large magnets within the casing of the alternator and damage anything internally. I am also not sure if there really is anything to damage inside the alternator due to magnetic fields.

    I am also not some dumb ass e-warrior lol as i am on my final year of my engineering masters degree so do understand a bit about fields etc, dont mean im right though

    Aso i have ran in the region of 100 cars in my lifetime without alternators connected and never damaged anything once

    still i dont want to say stevo is wrong as he may well know more than me and be right , he may not want to take the risk and i cant blame him tbh, i fitted an alternator last week on an astra and it cost £500, i wouldnt risk it tbh unless i knew i was 100% confident there was zero risk.

    garry
  26. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #26
    well i took it off this moring, and spun the pully can here somthing inside only just though, so i started the enigine anyway and sound wasnt there was only for couple secs just to see if sound had gone.
  27. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 Chester Posts: 2850 1275 mini
    #27
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Gazer View Post
    well i took it off this moring, and spun the pully can here somthing inside only just though, so i started the enigine anyway and sound wasnt there was only for couple secs just to see if sound had gone.
    alternator is gone then mate
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  28. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Rednal Posts: 1943 Vauxhall Vectra VW Golf Mk4 Honda Prelude
    #28
    Get ur arse down hoopers mate or the local auto shop.......
    Best be working sunday.. otherwise will be pealing them sax-p stickers off ur sax n puttin them on the vectra lmao
  29. Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow
    #29
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Matt-T View Post
    Get ur arse down hoopers mate or the local auto shop.......
    Best be working sunday.. otherwise will be pealing them sax-p stickers off ur sax n puttin them on the vectra lmao
    thanks for telling me what i should do aint that noobed ffs! like josh lool
    and you do that what i dont smack ya one
  30. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Rednal Posts: 1943 Vauxhall Vectra VW Golf Mk4 Honda Prelude
    #30
    Lmao... Na vectras got its own DK stickers