Bought the alternator 4 months ago...starting to whine yesterday. Whine means it's going to die soon, correct?

The voltage has held steady thus far, but would it be a sudden drop off or a gradual death?

I don't understand why it would be whining already though. I know the belt wasn't too tight, but would a slipping belt cause damage?

This is on a normal v-belt setup...

 

A loose belt will cause the whining, just tighten as tight as possible, I usually get a long srewdriver and try to force it real tight.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

well, that's what I thought, so I did that (forgot to mention it) and it didn't change anything...

it might have gotten wet during the huge storm here the other day, would that make any difference?

 

well, I thought about it, and it does get louder when I rev it...sounds kinda like a belt problem huh? I need a new belt anyways.

 

Yeah, a wet belt, or if you touch it with greesy fingers will make a belt whine for a while. Changes in temp will also make a belt loosen up sometimes.

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

and I imagine a worn-out belt would cause it to squeak to...

 

Or the bearings could be shot. I'd have to hear the whine to tell.

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WS6 Trans Am.

View My Ride @ thirdgen.org

 

If it starts throwing sparks, it's not the belt. (Yep, had that happen... "What's that whine? Sounds like the alternator!" Well, I popped the hood, and it was definately the bearings.)


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)