Help me feel better about myself...

[SVX JAZZ]

Ok... Friday night I crank my car and I hear a strange whineing sound. I go back into the garage (while its sitting in idle) and come back out to the car. When I get in all the dash lights are lit up. When I rev the motor they fade away. So I'm thinking alternator... Right? My car has 120,000 miles so it's about time for it to go. Right?

Well I get a new (rebuilt) alternator from Advance ($190!) and put it in my car (tensioner screw had broken so I had to be creative). I cranked it and still heard the whining noise. It turned out that the noise was coming from a rock in one of the upper heat sheilds! I should have investigated it closer. My car is charging well now (was putting out 12 amps a few months ago)and the dash light aren't coming on. Was my alternator going bad? Did I do the right thing? Was I too quick on my decision to replace it?

Only possitive feedback is wanted... remember... I want to feel good about myself...

[svxcess]

My car is charging well now (was putting out 12 amps a few months ago)

I assume you mean 12 VOLTS, not amps. If your alternator was only showing 12 volts when charging it could have been on its way out. I think most of us show 13-14.4 volts, depending on whether the alternator wiring upgrade was done (see the How-to locker) Its a tough call. You may have had a loose/slipping alternator belt at idle. The belt tension may have been corrected when you installed the new alternator.

Hard to say how long they last. My 92 pearlie has 10 years and 171,000 on the original alternator without any problems. My 96 polo green needed a new alternator at 45,000 miles

I also had small stones work their way into the heat shields of my 92. My muffler shop torched a hole in the shields to let them out. I finally had all of the heat shields removed with no ill efects whatsoever. One less source of buzzes and rattles

[SVX JAZZ]

Originally posted by svxcess
[B]

I assume you mean 12 VOLTS, not amps.
/B]

Yeah... 12 amps would hardly cause a spark!

I did the upgrade after I got the reading on the alternator but that has been a few months ago. I don't own a voltmeter (need to buy one ) but it seemed that it helped the output. The light were a little brighter.

The tension on the belt was tight. Very tight, so I don't think that was the culprit. So... That points me to think that my initial analysis was correct. I did need a new alternator.

I took most of the heat sheild off a few years ago but left the ones ear the headers. I guess thats why I was not thinking the noise could be coming from them.

Thanks for replying to my initial message. You [B]did[B] help me feel better.

Have a great weekend[B]