what racket????????

[johntl]

Anybody any ideas ???
the last couple of days the car has had a bit of slip from the auxi belt (just for the first few miles ) which is has just been replaced this year.
I started the car today and there was loud scrapeing/squeeling noise coming from the the auxi belt area, the cars computer beeping and saying battery charging problem!!
when I looked into it , it seems to be the unit above the alternator, with pipes coming out of it, do not know what it is?,when you hold the unit it seems to be vibrating heavily, more than you would expect?
Do you think this unit is ceasing up and making the belt slip etc The racket completely stopped after about 5 minutes
when I got home, I checked the car , on start up same again ?? tried to squirt some WD40 on the drive of the top unit and it still took a few minutes to stop after I revved it a bit!
ANY IDEAS, should I risk driving it, what happens if something ceases up ????? work is 50 miles round trip

[Doggy]

Usually the dual mass crank pulley that drives the aux belt that makes that noise when it's failing.

Look for metal shavings or rust around the immediate area, easier to see if you remove the offside wheelarch liner.

[gumby6371]

As doggy says check the crank pulley and if nothing is obvious pop the belt off and check each thing by hand. It should all turn freely but with no movement across the bearing if that makes sense. Check the tensioner is holding the belt nicely as well, it should be pretty tight on the belt.

[Rolebama]

The unit above the alternator is usually the air con pump. Feel it with the air con both turned off and on and see if there is any difference in vibration you can feel. Also worth checking power steering fluid level as I had a problem with a different car when it developed a leak and the bearing failed.

[gumby6371]

PS pump is at the top, alternator in the middle and Aircon at the bottom,
If you're unsure the aircon pump will have the clutch visible inside the pulley, with aircon off it stays still and spins when on (if it's working). PS pump will normally have 2 heavy'ish' gauge hydraulic pipes coming from the opposite side to the belt.
Have a look at here for diagrams
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=9948

[johntl]

thanks for the input
got it checked out today it was the alternator!!!!!!
trouble is the one one for my car is the 150amp on , not cheap, 185 fitted

[GingerMagic]

If that price is for the alternator, belt, tensioner and labour - I don't think thats too bad....

[trufflehunt]

There any number of s/h 406 alternators on the auction site for less than £30.

Reckon you could get the alternator, belt, and fitted for about £90.

[johntl]

Job done - Recon AC Delco 150amp, £175
Going to keep car a few more years so worth fitting a good make!

[grasmere59]

It was probably the alternator clutch pulley that failed,mine did exactly the same.

[johntl]

Thats what the mechanic said, alternator clutch pulley, the car had done 130k can't complain

[grasmere59]

I wish I had known that at the time as the pulley can be replaced separately to the alternator and it would have saved some cash as the alternator itself was fine.