Okay, I have an 85 Camaro w/ the LB9 and v-belt setup. I have replaced several alternators on this car this year, I am currently on my 3rd one. The first one kept overcharging, the 2nd couldn't hold a charge w/the accessories (too low amp model), and my 3rd one has been fine for several months up until just recently...

The alternator has been having these sessions of real high pitched "squealing" if there is more than 1 accessory on. It is almost unbearably loud if the hood is open. When this sound begins, the battery guage will drop from 14v to 8-9v and continue to stay there until you rev the engine for several seconds. If I drive at night and have just the headlights on, the engine will run fine as long as I do not sit in traffic. If the car sits at idle too long, the volts will drop below 10 and the alternator will begin squealing very loud up until the point I accelerate for a few seconds, then it stops and the volts go back to 14.

This is extremely embarrassing, and quite annoying I'm sure for anyone driving next to me to have to hear this racket. I'm sure it also does not help the reputation that this car already has. Nothing says performance like a nice alternator squeal from under the hood!


So I'm guessing I need to replace this alternator, but is it normal for a thirdgen to go through this many this quickly? Could this be a slipping belt? I would like some input as to if this is simply just a dying alternator, or if maybe there is something else causing these alternators to not be able to hold a charge after a few months.

Thank you very much for any help, and I will continue to just drive in the daytime to save my alternator some life until I figure this out.

- Rob

p.s the current alt is rated at 85 amps.

 

Kidrcth.

Seriously, you first have to figure out if it's the belt or the alt. No you should not be going through this many this quick. On the face, it's sounds like a belt issue over an alt issue.

 

thanks

 

That's not the most annoying sound. The most annoying sound is that horrid sound of hondas with fart can exhausts.

 

You must have missed the referencing quote. "The most annoying sound?" My answer to that question was... oh nevermind, just take offense to everthing I say like everyone else.

But seriously, it does sound like a squealing belt from your description, I'd look there first, either the belt itself or its tension.

 

You might also want to check the alignment of the sheaves. If the bracketry is bent, that may explain why the belt is noisy. A simple straightedge along the face of the alternator sheave should point directly at the edges of the water pump and balancer sheaves.