Alternator
Alternator
Author
Discussion

jonnyw

Original Poster:

867 posts

271 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
I believe I am hearing an intermittent vibration/whine at certain revs from the alternator?

No loss of water or steering fluid and car running fine, so assuming early diagnosis and am preparing! Get one on the shelf and wait!

How much are they and I assume that the fuel rail has to be removed?


Julian64

14,325 posts

283 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
Never understood this philosophy.

You think its about to break, and you're waiting for it to happen so you can spend money on a new one?

If it is a whine or vibration from your alternator and you're lucky enough to spot it before it happens, why not do some preventative work?

The most likely thing to be causing the whine is the bearings on the shaft running dry or about to fold. When they finally go the shaft will sieze and the windings will hit the armature probably damaging the windings. Also the crankshaft is currently turning a shaft against resistance.

Why not remove it and either lube or replace the bearings now. Job done, it'll cost you about £4 for replacement bearings, and doing it now will stop you being left on the side of the road, where people will laugh at you because its a TVR.

jonnyw

Original Poster:

867 posts

271 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
Good point, how easy are the bearings to remove?

Julian64

14,325 posts

283 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
No idea but if you live anywhere near brands hatch you are welcome to use the lift in my garage to get underneath.

andy4200

5,125 posts

302 months

Wednesday 11th May 2005
quotequote all
Alternator..... remove fuel rail, remove bolts holding alternator, swear lots cause you dropped bolts under the mounting plate in the V. Swear again cause you don't have a magnet thingy to grab them out. Kiss the dog cause TVR used normal bolts and not non-magnetic (after you bought a magnetic extendable thingy). Get alternator fixed, much cheaper than a new one.

Fitting is the reverse of removal

TooTall Paul

938 posts

276 months

Thursday 12th May 2005
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If anyone is reading this with a 4.5 engine, imay be wrong here but to remove the alternator you either have to remove an inlet manifold or the coils etc

jonnyw

Original Poster:

867 posts

271 months

Thursday 12th May 2005
quotequote all
Julian, I live about 10 miniutes from Brands, so will take your offer up at some stage.

Guess what I did last night?

I lost the socket from the socket set down into the V, now this was a first and I tried, like Andy suggested, to pull it out with a magnet, but no good. So I got a really long screwdriver, wrapped some tape round it, made a concave side, covered this in EvoStick, waited for it to get really tacky, pushed it down into the gap and managed to stick the socket to it and get it to a level where my banana like fingers could take over!

Have to say, having looked at the alternator, now not sure that it is making the noise?