SUCCESS! First time I ever changed anything. Feels good not having to pay extra for something you can do yourself.

My old alternator's rotor was destroyed, the rattling sound was the platic pieces that were left in there. Also, you know that im having problems with my A/C; well, I turned the ac on while the car was running and I noticed that the "single" cable thats being held by a rod to the alternator makes a loud , periodical, vibrating noise when the AC is on. It will go away as soon as I turn AC off.


Thanks for your help again guys

 

This is the single belt setup (serpentine) right? If so, that's your tensioner going bad. It's gettin old and it's going to die soon. It's the pulley between the alternator and the A/C. Kragen has it (or whatever Kragen is in your neck of the woods) I had the same problem. A/C on, rattling. Replaced tensioner ($40-ish part) and all was well. If you can replace an alternator, you can replace a tensioner.

 

no no, the serpentine is fine, tension is good. im talking about the cable that is held by a bolt on the side of the alt.

 

A loud periodic vibrating noise would be the a/c compressor clutch engaging and disengaging; the noise shouldn't be coming from the alternator's output terminal.

 

if it's actually the wire/cable shield vibrating, just wire-tie it to a nearby bracket or cable in one or two places, and that should do it. just need to change the resonance frequency...

 

I know what youre talking about Tom, this happens when the clutch engages and disengages. Though, its not the compressor itself, the the output wire on the alt which makes the this buzzing noise which timing is related to the compressor's clutch

 

do you have a picture? That would help a lot.

 

basically, just grab the wire while it's vibrating (use a glove if you're worried that it's an electrical noise instead of a mechanical vibration).

if that stops the problem, just find somehting nearby to tape/tie it to.