Need help with belt? whine on '99

When they replaced the alternator, was it a new or remanufactured one? Remanufactured electrical parts are pretty much worthless IMHO. Not unusual for a replacement part to be defective in this day and age, especially if it failed the first time because of bad bearings (which isn't something they typically replace when doing a "complete rebuild"). It sounds bearing related since it seems to occur when there is an increased load on the alternator. Good luck with it.

Tom

92 Red

gfphoto wrote:

Number 4 bearing? You seem to have had problems on both belts. A shaking crankshaft pulley might give you problems with both the PS belt slipping and the alternator being stressed, it seems to me.

Leon

Thanks Leon,

The power steering and a/c belt has been okay. If it was a main bearing would this cause a vibration at idle? I checked it at high rpm for about 15 sec. after replacing the belts - everything seemed smooth. How can I check for a bad bearing?

Gary Fuchs

The fact that you had a whine while making turns seems to indicate that the ps belt may have been slipping. It used to happen with my SC belt when rotating the steer if the belt was not tight enough.

A rattle, the SB says. I guess you could check crankshaft end play as per the TSB. 0.3 mm should be noticeable.

Thanks Leon,

I'm checking the tension, etc., frequently now. I'm sure I'm due for a new timing belt, water pump, and so forth - but would like to wait until the temperature gets back above freezing...then I'll pull the plugs and try to check out the things you mention.

I suppose the long screwdriver stethoscope would show up a crankshaft rattle. And I guess I should get a shop manual and see how to check the play.

At least today, after about 125 miles, all still seems okay.

Regards,

Gary Fuchs

Would not simply grasping the nut with pliers and trying to pull it back and forward show up 0.3 mm play? I don't know, just wonder. It is not a microscopic amount.

Leon

That sounds reasonable. I'll give it a try. I couldn't feel any movement by hand but a little extra force should work.

Thanks,

Gary

just quick / approx math in my thick skull tells me if 2.54cm = 1" than

25.4mm = 1" and .3mm (being less than 1/3rd of a mm) being something less than 1/75th of an inch. I'd say that's pretty close to microscopic. I don't think our elastic hands could sense that, pulling back and forth, could they?

Good luck, Chris

It seems to me that our elastic hands could feel this through changes in acceleration, not absolute displacement as you seem to think.

I would feel it if a part is loose by as much as 0.3 mm. It is also a visible distance if you have a reference.

Leon

Thanks Chris,

Since the last belt replacement the problem hasn't come back. Maybe it's tight enough now?

I'm not going to venture an opinion about the 1/75th inch...does sound reasonable though....

Cheers,

Gary Fuchs