Faulty alternator?

BD10NNF · 30 May 2013 at 17:26

Hi guys

Just want to confirm if this is the sound of a faulty alternator really.
Sorry for the bad video.

Cheers

-Mike- · 30 May 2013 at 17:28

Sounds like the bearings have gone in it to me, but I'm no expert.

BD10NNF · 30 May 2013 at 17:58

Yeah thats what I thought. Gutted as the alternator is about £250 to replace and dont know how much labour

-Mike- · 30 May 2013 at 18:01

Is it definately coming from the alternator? Not the belt tensioner? I'd imagine you can use a screwdriver to listen to the alternator to make sure it is that.

What car is it?

BD10NNF · 30 May 2013 at 18:08

Its a 2005 Toyota Corolla T sport. Im almost certain its the alternator as the noise is the loudest when i go near it. I will do the screw driver test once it stops raining.

-Mike- · 30 May 2013 at 18:37

Engine size?

-Mike- · 30 May 2013 at 18:46

Hmmm google suggests 1.8.

www.eurocarparts.com have 20% off with a code and assuming its a Lucas Alternator it makes it £190 ish, if its the Denso then £211.xx

Dogbreath · 30 May 2013 at 18:51

Get a long screwdriver, put the pointy end against the alternator body the the end of the handle against your ear. This works like a stethoscope and will allow you to hear if the noise is being generated by the alternator. Take care not to put the end of the screwdriver into moving belts and pulleys.

It does sound like a dead bearing, but it could also be a belt tensioner if there is one close by.

EDIT: Damn, a bit slow with that response, but I did make a coffee before replying!

Tom_ed1987 · 30 May 2013 at 18:52

If you fancy a bit of DIY alternator bearings are fairly easy to replace at home using nothing more than a cheap ebay bearing puller kit. The bearing will be ~£10 delivered from a bearing supplier.

rodenal · 30 May 2013 at 22:01

Alternatively there are plenty of places that will either replace the bearing for you or do you an exchange for less then half the cost of a new one

Can't remember where the alt sits on a vvt /vvtli but on most Toyota's other than thebbloody mk2 mr2 they're dead simple to swap

Maz · 30 May 2013 at 22:08

Got the alternator bearings replaced on my old mans Merc last week as it was making a noise similar to that of yours, we took it out and had the bearings replaced for £20.

TaKeN · 30 May 2013 at 22:21

Does the noise change if you load up the Alternator?

Try putting all the lights on etc, more load on it, will change the pitch of the noise. It does sound like the alternator though!

BD10NNF · 31 May 2013 at 14:08

So I've tried s few things like putting A/C and lights on etc. Even the screw diver test but still no definitive answer. So took it to a local garage and even he wasn't 100% sure. Said let it get worse so it will become move obvious as he didn't want to start charging me for parts that it didn't need. Fair enough really.

acemastr · 31 May 2013 at 14:17

That couldn't sound anymore like a pulley if it tried

Dogbreath · 31 May 2013 at 15:30

It sounds nothing like a pulley, and very much like a bad bearing.

bledd · 31 May 2013 at 16:01

With a press would a bearing like this be fairly easy to remove & replace?

TaKeN · 31 May 2013 at 16:55

You'd need a puller not a press bledd.

Pretty simple, if you're of sound mechanical mind!

BD10NNF · 31 May 2013 at 17:52

Well the mechanic took the belt off and spin all the pulleys and no sound came from them. It only happens when its under tension and gets worse as the car gets warmer.

Im going to give it a week or so as it should get worse making it easier to find out which pulley or what is wrong. Its not causing any issues with the car at the moment so I guess its OK till it goes.

Fuzz · 31 May 2013 at 19:39

Ahh yes, wait until it wrecks the alternator and then have to fork out for a new one at the cost of nearly £200 quid when you could in fact LISTEN to all the rotating components in turn as stated above and if it is the alternator then get the bearings done for about £40..

I missed this

BD10NNF said:
So I've tried s few things like putting A/C and lights on etc. Even the screw diver test but still no definitive answer. So took it to a local garage and even he wasn't 100% sure. Said let it get worse so it will become move obvious as he didn't want to start charging me for parts that it didn't need. Fair enough really.

Sorry