Alternator Problems

pyro9862 · 02-25-2006, 12:36 AM

Well I got my 4 wheel drive working today so I celebrated by playing in the mud. In the process I managed to soak the entire engine bay (with water not mud).

Now my alternator is squeeling and not chargeing as much as it should be. The squeeling is non-existant untill about 900rpms and gets worse as the rpms increase. With no load other than the motor is charges at 14.2. As soon as you turn on lights it goes down to 13.25, and the more you turn on the more it drops. Increaseing RPMs do not improve it's output. I'm pretty sure the belt and pully are dry at this point as well.

My question is what specifically in the alternator is most likely to have gone bad? I'd rather replace bearings, a voltage regulator, or whatever has gone bad for a couple dollars than pay $65 for a "rebuilt" one.

**Big-n-Broke-YJ** · 02-25-2006, 08:07 AM

sounds like the belt is just wet and slipping, thus creating a squeal.....

wait for it to dry, tighten the belt, and be on your way... should be fine.

ballsout1 · 02-25-2006, 08:12 AM

yeah ditto,, the belt probably slipped bad and now maybe its glazed. i would double check the tension too maybe the tensioner or idler is goin south.

rare-renegade · 02-25-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballsout1

yeah ditto,, the belt probably slipped bad and now maybe its glazed. i would double check the tension too maybe the tensioner or idler is goin south.

I had my idler gernade on me without any noise. might want to wiggle the pulleys and check for play.

RWB214 · 02-25-2006, 09:17 AM

Make sure you get all of the mud off the alternator and get it clean and dry. I'm not familiar with what it does to the internal components of the alternator but I do know that mud can make it overhead and eventually crap out. I found this out the hard way by being stuck on the side of the road for 5 hours on the way home from a wheeling trip. Now I carry a spare alternator.

crazymon01 · 02-25-2006, 04:54 PM

i agree with the belt.. mine did that.

pyro9862 · 02-26-2006, 08:47 AM

Well you guys were right, the next morning it was fine. My belt was plenty tight and it's fairly new so I don't see why it would be been slipping like that. I also checked to see if the belt/pully was wet and it didn't seem to be.

Any ideas on preventing this in the future?

**Big-n-Broke-YJ** · 02-26-2006, 09:56 AM

stop 4 wheeling when it's wet out....

or just put in ear plugs and try to pretend you don't hear it next time since it'll fix itself...

02-25-2006, 08:12 AM	#3
ballsout1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 51 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	yeah ditto,, the belt probably slipped bad and now maybe its glazed. i would double check the tension too maybe the tensioner or idler is goin south.

02-25-2006, 09:17 AM	#5
RWB214 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 952 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Make sure you get all of the mud off the alternator and get it clean and dry. I'm not familiar with what it does to the internal components of the alternator but I do know that mud can make it overhead and eventually crap out. I found this out the hard way by being stuck on the side of the road for 5 hours on the way home from a wheeling trip. Now I carry a spare alternator.

02-26-2006, 08:47 AM	#7
pyro9862 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,563 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Well you guys were right, the next morning it was fine. My belt was plenty tight and it's fairly new so I don't see why it would be been slipping like that. I also checked to see if the belt/pully was wet and it didn't seem to be. Any ideas on preventing this in the future?