magictree

iTrader: (1)

ok so i finally decided to get the annoying whining noise checked out in my engine bay, which from closer inspection i could deduce that it was coming from the alternator. so off i popped to my closest alternator specialist and he suggested that it was mor ethen likely to be the bearings, so 2 and half hours and £96 later i get back in the car to drive it home from the place and as soon as it starts i can tell the noise is now even louder, went straight back in and told him, and he came out to have a listen only then to say he couldnt hear anything. which to me i find hard to beleive as its quite obvious.

what i want to know is should i go back and demand he finds the cause as his fiddling has obviously triggered it louder, or is it not his problem and, il just have to keep shelling out money to find the cause elsewhere?

I went to a reputable place by the way on a few recomendations.

Thanks all

debbiesonic

iTrader: (7)

What were the old bearings like that came out of it? He would of known if the old ones were ropey on removal, i would ask to see them.
On a side note, double check the whine is definitely coming from the alternator, i've had 2 air con pumps that whined, it is right beside the alternator, and they are driven from the same belt. The fact that it got louder on refitting will be due to the belt being retensioned. It would of probably been slightly slacker before removal.

Paul Hutch

Have you checked the power steering fluid?

magictree

iTrader: (1)

Yea power steering fluid level is fine. And it has no aircon (00 classic sport). I see what you are saying about the belt tension, I wonder if maybe its been reattached too tight. The guy showed me the two bearings and said one wasn't too bad but the other was grating.

pslewis

No A/C - in that case I assume that you took the belt off completely and ran it - the whine had disappeared?

It could, of course, be the belt itself.

I have known the slip gear wearing on the Alternator, but never the bearings ...... not if the car was correctly serviced, that is.

If you paid them to silence the whine and they didn't - then you have a claim.

magictree

iTrader: (1)

I guess il have to take the belt off tomoro and have a proper look, just didnt have the time after I finally got home . As for the service, it is due one, but again im dreading the cost as it will be the first one ive done on the car ive only had it a year or so. What sort of price would I be looking at for a standard service? any ideas?

debbiesonic

iTrader: (7)

I don't think it would whine straight away with new bearings imho, it would generally just cause the new bearings to fail prematurely if the belt was too tight.
Saying that, if the bearing housing is worn, it may be spinning the bearing outer race in the housing. It can't hurt slackening the belt slightly just as a test.
It should have 9-10mm movement in the centre of the longest length. Unless the belt is new, in which case it should have 7.5-8.5mm

magictree

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the replies all il let you know tomoro how i get on

pslewis

If you can take the belt off, you can do a standard service yourself - cost? About £50 all in.