Need Help Diagnosing..

mopar04 · Post by **mopar04** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:24 pm

SO.. I have been having a problem with my belt squealing when the weather is cold or when it is wet outside especially when I have accessories on IE radio, car running, heater, lights. Some of the time I can rev the engine up to 2500rpm's and it will stop, but lately I have been having trouble more often and when it starts squealing, the battery light comes on (also more often). Now I have used a DVOM on the battery and alternator but they both APPEAR to be fine.

Any suggestions?[/b]

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:53 pm

Buy a new belt. I like the gates brand. I have run mine up over 8600 and not a peep. It also doesn't fly off unlike the stock one.

mopar04 · Post by **mopar04** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:57 pm

I have a gates one. Replaced it back in October when I had the head re-done (again)

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:12 pm

Considering it likely wasn't tightened enough, it is prolly about trashed now from all the slipping. You could just tighten it, and go on your way, but it may just let you down when it is least convenient. I would get a new one, and make sure it is properly tensioned.

mopar04 · Post by **mopar04** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:09 pm

I had checked it out this morning and it looked to be in good shape. What is the cause of the battery light coming on?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:11 pm

The belt slipping, not spinning the alternator fast enough.

mopar04 · Post by **mopar04** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:56 pm

Okay that is what I thought. I am pretty sure the belt is tight enough. Could it be the bearings in the alternator giving out?

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:11 pm

The alternator might just be crapping the bed. One way to check is to start the car and disconnect the battery. If the car stalls the alternator is bad

stdlystdmufn · Post by **stdlystdmufn** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:12 am

NyNeon0813 wrote:The alternator might just be crapping the bed. One way to check is to start the car and disconnect the battery. If the car stalls the alternator is bad

this isn't always a good idea on modern cars.
but you can pour water on the belt, and generally if the sound goes away it is a belt issue, if it stays constant then you are looking at a new alt--look in to these thigs if after the water it still makes noise. pull the belt off the alt and spin the pulley by hand and listen for odd sounds and feels like grinding or rubbing. then you can grab the pulley and try and move it up, down, left, and right to see if there is play in the bearings inside the alt. if any of these things happen its probably time to ge a new alt.

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:55 am

Huh... wasnt aware of that. Thank u for correcting me

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:48 am

Disconnecting the battery with the key on at anytime, is generally a bad idea. The arc from being disconnected is very hard on solid state electronics.

Also without the battery in the equation, the PCM may go from one extreme to the other, trying to regulate the voltage.

mopar04 · Post by **mopar04** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 5:43 pm

Thanks all. I will check out the alternator and see if it is indeed a bearing issue.