Brand new alternator whining

[PhysDoc]

Hi all,

Had a whining coming from my 1996 Serp Chimaera over the last couple of weeks. Couldn't quite locate it, but it went away when I ran without the belt. Water pump and idler pulley only 2 years old so discounted those, but alternator and tensioner both felt a bit rough, so replaced them.

However, the whining remains, and it is now unmistakably coming from the new alternator. Could there be an electrical issue causing high load on the alternator to make it whine, or have I just had my usual bad luck and been sent a duff one? (Starts fine everyday, and no charging issues, and the whining does not get worse with lights on etc. Belt looks fine, no cracks or bits missing)

Cheers

[blaze_away]

Check you have the belt on with the correct routng. Its possible to fit it wrong and it runs the alternator and water pump backwards.

[Zener]

Generic pattern part is it branded?

[Hedgehopper]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I am sure you will find that the alternator and water pump will run correctly even if the belt is fitted incorrectly. The water pump always runs off the back of the belt however you fit it.

[PhysDoc]

Zener said:

Generic pattern part is it branded?

Must admit it is just a generic pattern part.


Fan belt is on correctly.

[Zener]

Then you've taken a gamble TBH , either back it or fit a proper one

[Penelope Stopit]

Hindsight and all that

Would have been good if you had the original alternator bearings replaced

[PhysDoc]

Penelope Stopit said:

Hindsight and all that

Would have been good if you had the original alternator bearings replaced

Still got it. Can you recommend a company that rebuilds them?

[Zener]

Where are you ?

[PhysDoc]

Zener said:

Where are you ?

I'm in the Newbury area.

[CoolC]

Duff battery? Might be that the alternator is having to work hard to charge it up.

[Penelope Stopit]

PhysDoc said:

Penelope Stopit said:

Hindsight and all that

Would have been good if you had the original alternator bearings replaced

Still got it. Can you recommend a company that rebuilds them?

Don't know anyone in your area but it's good news that you've still got the original

If you get it rebuilt make sure that decent bearings are used such as SKF, cheap bearings will give a whine

I reckon the whine you're hearing is from the rotor/stator magnetic field (cheap parts or bad design), if the bearings are good

Only other thing I can think of is the fan, did the replacement come with a fan and pulley ? If it did, is the fan identical ? Thinking fan noise

[Penelope Stopit]

Is it by any chance over-charging ? This will give a whine

[Zener]

This above ^ Local and good reviews https://www.burghfieldstarterandalternatorcentre.c... me personally get your old unit repaired, an alternator is a critical part of your cars electrics why chance cheap pattern white box brands ? even if it does seem convenient at the time

[PhysDoc]

Zener said:

This above ^ Local and good reviews https://www.burghfieldstarterandalternatorcentre.c... me personally get your old unit repaired, an alternator is a critical part of your cars electrics why chance cheap pattern white box brands ? even if it does seem convenient at the time

Smashing, thanks! I'll run around with the noisy one (daily driver) until I can get the old one repaired by them guys. I'll call them tomorrow.