My car was squealing. It sounded like power steering belt noise, but it couldn't be because the power steering pump is gone. Beside that, it ONLY happened when idle dropped to rock-bottom (700ish) which only happens at a stop because my RPMs hang until the car stops rolling forward. The noise would sometimes go away when I blipped the throttle and the engine speed fell through some critical range, if I then raised the engine speed to keep it off idle. Sometimes it would also go away if I reduced engine loading. Reducing engine loading is a neat trick when you're idling and need the a/c to keep the wind screen dry, and need the headlights because it's dark out. The work-around was to keep engine speed from dropping below 1kRPM, which is stressful in city driving.



So I had a peek tonight. Glazed and worn alternator drive belt. It's a Goodyear Gatorback, the second Gatorback I've had problems with (first was the power steering belt, which was loud almost immediately). So I'm off to Hyundai to grab an alternator drive belt tomorrow, thanks God for being a 2-car family.



On a hunch, I gave the water pump a spin . . . seems okay. Then the alternator. Squeak. . . . . squeak . . . . squeak . . . .It's not loose yet, but it will be soon. Time for another set of bearings in the spare alternator (which has bad bearings from a power steering system leak). That's alternator number seven about to be installed. At this point, I mind the greasy mess on my hands more than replacing the alternators!

 

I have an accent alternator sitting on the work bench if you want it, might want to give something else a try... 7 wow.

 

Why have you change so many alternators?

 

What have you been doing to kill so many alternators?

 

LOL mostly what I do is drive down the road, minding my own business. Then either the car electrical systems start freaking out as the battery dies, or the alternators start complaining about their bearings. The first one failed within 6 months, electrical fault. The last one had the grease washed out of the bearings by power steering fluid. They are about an even split between bearing and electrical failures, but I guess this one makes it biased toward bearing failures . . . and the belt was LOOSE when I went to check it! Thanks God I kept the one from the parts car I purchased to do my transmission conversion, so I have one to rebuild.



You can keep your retail core charges.