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Ever hear of bearings getting tight on alt?

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Old 10-30-2011, 12:27 PM
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Default Ever hear of bearings getting tight on alt?

Having trouble with the belt slipping on my 99 when it is cold. Tension is fine. I pulled the belt off and spun over all of my idlers and pulleys, and my alt seems hard to turn by hand. Seems like it should buzz right over if I grab it and spin it. It just kind of turns over once and thats it. It charges fine, just hard to turn. Can I put new bearings in it? Don't want to spend $125 on a new one.
Old 10-30-2011, 01:05 PM
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Yes, you might want to put new brushes in it also while it's apart.
Old 10-30-2011, 01:13 PM
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I had a similar problem with my '99, spun hard and whined while running. When I removed the alternator to inspect it I found that the case/housing had cracked, causing a misalignment of the front and rear bearings. It still charged fine though.
Old 10-30-2011, 01:43 PM
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my issue:
~new battery
~left lights on for a couple hours
~started right up but voltage was way low and she squealed somethin fierce till voltage was at 14 again
~now when cold start, voltage is low and it squeals till voltage returns to full.
~engaging fan makes it worse
~been this way since i left lights on about 2.5 weeks ago.

so its probably NOT the bearings on any of my pulleys, but the alternator itself, right? thanks.
Old 10-30-2011, 02:21 PM
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rebuild kits and partshttp://www.alternatorstarterrebuildk...bargin_bin.htm
Old 10-30-2011, 03:19 PM
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VT, you sure your belt is tight? Or you have a drain. Does the voltage drop overnight? Third guess, have you driven enough to get a good charge since you left the lights on? Sounds like the belt. Just 14 is a tad low, 14.5 is more like it.
Old 10-30-2011, 06:40 PM
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VTJeep: that is what mine is doing intermittently, I figure the voltage drop is because the alternator isn't turning fast enough to charge because the belt is slipping around it.

Here's one more thought I had: it is possible that this car has a higher output alt because it was a police issue car. Do higher output alts turn over harder than standard ones?
Old 10-30-2011, 06:46 PM
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I had an Issue with my 90 the alt just sized on me and broke the belt going down the freeway when I tore it apart the berings where rusted I went to junk yard and got another one for 40 dollars......I never knew that would happen
Old 10-30-2011, 09:19 PM
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Supperdrag, you would expect it to be stiff it the field where energized with the key on. Usually a bad bearing will be rough and/or loose and noisy.

If it is stiff from bearing friction it will get hot there at the bearing.
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