was driving from school today and heard a weird buzz like sound coming from behind my dash. the dash battery voltage gauge is fluctuatiing from as low as 9v to 13v. accessories not as bright.... windows slower, turn signal slower etc...

my guess is bad alternator.

your thoughts?

 

My guess is you're right. Buzzing. What part of the alt was that.... Brushes maybe. Or was it bad diode. I think it was bad diode.

 

crap. an old mechanic friend told me something along the lines of ...

when the alternator is bad, resistors in the dash dont get enough juice which makes them eminate a whine/buzz sound. it kinda sounds like when you get interference in your speakers from your amp or something.

i just put on a battery/alternator load tester on the car and it read 11.3V at the alternator and 11.4 at the positive battery terminal.

i guess i was right?

 

Hmm. Haven't heard that. But I do know that the alternator will buzz when it's dying. But with the Alt running, you should be pulling 13.4-14 volts. You could always try rebuilding your alt before getting a new one though, and it's significantly cheaper.

 

that should do it then. ive got a new alternator on will call for tomorrow. 37 bucks plus tax for a new delco.

( my brother gets delco, motorcraft and misc. parts at less then cost.)

i appreciate your input