how can i tell if my bearings are bad in the alternator?
can i visually tell?

 

I would say it will squeal like a pig and you wont be charging

 

it squeled the other night when i first tryed starting it up and quit real fast but the headlights were going in and out while i was in park

 

I thought it sounded more like a cat stuck in a ceiling fan, but that was a Delco alternator, lol.

 

but im looking at the pulley it seems to be pulling straight like it should

 

Pull it and take it to autozone they will check it for free.

Easiest way

 

the guy at advance auto told me it was the bearings and so did another guy without me having to take it out they put a pipe to it and indicated thats where all the noise was coming from. and that guy has an XJ thats all fixed up

 

but i still dont know..

 

If you take the belt off and turn the pulley by hand, is there any roughness?

 

hmm ill go check that

 

Usually any noise is best to take a long screwdriver or ext and hold it on the bolt or part you suspect to be making noise but remember noise will travel and you'll have to find the sweet spot to know where it is comming from.

 

Yeah it will squeal like a MF and then if you drive it 2 blocks down the street it will seize up and snap your belt and smoke will pour out of your hood. I know because it happened to me two days ago lol.