alternator and battery light

[princej]

hi guys.

I was supposed to put my car away for the winter in a few weeks. usually its november 30th.

all of a sudden this week. i have wicked noise coming from the engine compartment, squealing and grinding.

i looked into it today, it looks like its coming from the alternator (which I has changed last November)

my question is, the battery gauge is showing 12 volts. not charging , I will test it better in the morning with my multimeter.

why is the light not on? it should be on, no?

my pet peeve: to replace something I already changed.

[simssj]

I just went through a similar problem. If the alternator light (in the instrument cluster) isn't illuminated with key-on, engine-off, you'll never get a charge out of the alternator.

Do you have this?

(Funny story: I didn't, so I yanked the cluster, dropped in a brand-new bulb, put everything back together and *still* didn't have the light. So I spent half a day with a multimeter and the wiring diagrams trying to figure out what else could be the problem. Then it dawned on me: Maybe the bulb I put in was defective? So, yank the cluster again and -- sure enough -- the "new" bulb was "pre-burned out." )

But it also sounds like you're losing / lost the bearings in the alternator. So... One step at a time.

Maybe pull the A/C - Alternator belt and spin the pulley by hand? It ought to spin "like buttah."

[mytrplseven]

Sounds from all the symptoms, the alternator just crapped out. Make sure the replacement is the same amperage rating. The owner's manual will tell you which rating your alternator is. When you pull the suspected one out, you'll likely feel some crunchiness (grinding) in the shaft when you turn it. If you pull the voltage regulator on the rear and then spin the shaft and it's smooth as glass, look at the brushes on the VR. It could be they are shot and you might consider replacing just the VR. However, if it got to the point of making noise, and the VR had bad brushes, it probably damaged the slip rings inside the alternator. Good luck.

[iplagolf]

Been there done that. Replaced an alternator, lasted a few days, it went out, installed another, this one has been running for a couple of years. I had an old Dakota truck. Brake master cylinder went south. Bought a re-built one (I think they all are). It wouldn't work. Went through 4 or 5 trying to bench test, bleed, them. None worked. Got one from a different auto parts store (different lot number), it worked. Make sure the replacement you get wasn't from the same run.

[princej]

I had a chnace to look into it today. according to my multimeter the alternator is charging the battery.

the noise is very loud and annoying.

I did get the shop I took it too last year to pass it under warranty. I just have to get off my butt and take the car to the shop east end Of Montreal

so maybe jumped the gun on this thread.

[princej]

I got the car back today.

the alternator bearings were shot and they passed it under warranty.

could have been worse, and im glad to get her back.

i have a couple of things to do it next year. cam and crank shaft oil seals, and a new tie rod and a leaking rack and pinion.

never a dull moment, lol