Alternator rattle
Discussion
Guys would be grateful for any thoughts -
Had the S3 for nearly 18 months now. Been a real joy ! Just recently its started making a weird kind of rattling noise though, but not all the time and not that loud.
Pulled the hood up the other day, engine ticking over, noise sounds like its coming from the alternator i think. What's strange is that when i pull the alternator up(ie away from the floor, thus tightening the tension in the fan belt), the noise stops.
At first i thought the alternator just needed re-fixing in to position. For a week, this sorted the problem, but last night the damn noise came back. Quick inspection of suspect area, doesn't look like the alternator has slipped on it's bracket.
Also, the voltmeter is reading fine - charging at 11-13v i think (after taking revs over 2200 per the bible).
I was wondering if there are some 'bearings' internally in the alternator that may be wearing. If so i need to fit a new one
- doesn't look too difficult (read bible and done search on forum). Seems like it could be anyone of about 3/4 different models though !!!!
However, before i rush off head-long into that, i was wondering if anyone on here has experienced anything similar or might have alternative suggestions about what to look at.
Any help really appreciated, thanks in advance
DB
>>> Edited by DB S3 on Wednesday 28th April 21:01
Had the S3 for nearly 18 months now. Been a real joy ! Just recently its started making a weird kind of rattling noise though, but not all the time and not that loud.
Pulled the hood up the other day, engine ticking over, noise sounds like its coming from the alternator i think. What's strange is that when i pull the alternator up(ie away from the floor, thus tightening the tension in the fan belt), the noise stops.
At first i thought the alternator just needed re-fixing in to position. For a week, this sorted the problem, but last night the damn noise came back. Quick inspection of suspect area, doesn't look like the alternator has slipped on it's bracket.
Also, the voltmeter is reading fine - charging at 11-13v i think (after taking revs over 2200 per the bible).
I was wondering if there are some 'bearings' internally in the alternator that may be wearing. If so i need to fit a new one
- doesn't look too difficult (read bible and done search on forum). Seems like it could be anyone of about 3/4 different models though !!!! However, before i rush off head-long into that, i was wondering if anyone on here has experienced anything similar or might have alternative suggestions about what to look at.
Any help really appreciated, thanks in advance
DB
>>> Edited by DB S3 on Wednesday 28th April 21:01
Sounds similar to a problem I had, I thought the bearings were going in my alternator, but I found that when I sprayed the fan belt with WD40 the noise went away. So I bought a new fan felt and its been fine ever since
Strange though because I can't work out what is wrong with the old one to cause the noise !!..
Trev
Strange though because I can't work out what is wrong with the old one to cause the noise !!..
Trev
tried the wd40 trick over the weekend
sprayed the whole suspect area (fan belt, alternator and water pump) - regrettably that just resulted in a plume of smoke (burning off wd40 !!!!!) when i started the engine - you can imagine the comments and chuckles from my girlfriend !!!!
next attempt - replace the fanbelt tomorrow evening
not completely ruled out the water pump, but the noise definitely sounds like its coming from the alternator
sprayed the whole suspect area (fan belt, alternator and water pump) - regrettably that just resulted in a plume of smoke (burning off wd40 !!!!!) when i started the engine - you can imagine the comments and chuckles from my girlfriend !!!!
next attempt - replace the fanbelt tomorrow evening
not completely ruled out the water pump, but the noise definitely sounds like its coming from the alternator
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