My alternator is bad

Endurance · **Posted:** Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:50 pm

As I've been mentioning in some of my previous posts, my alternator is really loud and rattling. I took it to an indepent shop and they said that my bearing on my alternator is bad. Got an appointment at the dealer on the 5th.

Anybody else ever had alternator problems?

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

not yet*

*knock on wood

gmctd · **Posted:** Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:54 pm

Turn the ac on, bring rpms up to ~1000 - if rattley goes away, it's not the alt

Endurance · **Posted:** Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:40 pm

gmctd wrote:

Turn the ac on, bring rpms up to ~1000 - if rattley goes away, it's not the alt

why, what else would it be? The noise is definitely coming from the alternator, and it has brake dust looking builduip on it.

boilermaker2 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:05 am

If you look at some of my older threads you will see my run-down of this problem. You will also want to check the idler pulley/tensioner down and to the left of the alternator. Pull on the tensioner and you may find that the tensioner "sticks" at some point during the pull. This stickin alledgedly caused the belt to slip under certain load levels which eventually led to the alternators failure. They also replaced the serpentine belt.

Good luck.

Boiler

Endurance · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:55 am

boilermaker2 wrote:

If you look at some of my older threads you will see my run-down of this problem. You will also want to check the idler pulley/tensioner down and to the left of the alternator. Pull on the tensioner and you may find that the tensioner "sticks" at some point during the pull. This stickin alledgedly caused the belt to slip under certain load levels which eventually led to the alternators failure. They also replaced the serpentine belt.

Good luck.

Boiler

Do you maybe still have the work order the dealer gave you when it all got fixed? I would like to take as much documentation with me as possible. I also want them to replace as much as possible. Are they going to be able to see that if its not the alternator?

boilermaker2 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:47 pm

My alternator read fine on the numbers. They will have to see it and this worked only when it was under full load...this means they will have to take their eyes off of the machine and actually look at engine:
dome lights
running
A/C fan on High
hazards
Rear defroster
Radio
...you get the picture.

They will be able to see spindle/axel of the alternator vibrate and make the alternator pulley wobble. Make sure the tensioner and serpentine belt are replaced too or you will be back in the garage.

One more thing. My perfectly good Optima ran dead. This was another indication that something was amiss.

I will look for the paperwork. My wife alledgedly files them :roll:

...I should just keep the dossier in jeep.

Boiler

Endurance · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:34 pm

boilermaker2 wrote:

My alternator read fine on the numbers. They will have to see it and this worked only when it was under full load...this means they will have to take their eyes off of the machine and actually look at engine:
dome lights
running
A/C fan on High
hazards
Rear defroster
Radio
...you get the picture.

They will be able to see spindle/axel of the alternator vibrate and make the alternator pulley wobble. Make sure the tensioner and serpentine belt are replaced too or you will be back in the garage.

One more thing. My perfectly good Optima ran dead. This was another indication that something was amiss.

I will look for the paperwork. My wife alledgedly files them :roll:

...I should just keep the dossier in jeep.

Boiler

If you could send me your paperwork that would be absolutely awesome. This way I can show them that somebody else had the same problem and that they have to replace ALL that stuff. How long has it been since you got it fixed?

GoodCRD · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:32 pm

If the pulley is "wobbling" have the dealer change just the pulley. This Freewheeling pulley will go bad around 60,000 miles +-5K. They are meant to save the belt tensioner and alternator. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers have been changing the entire alternators instead of the defective pulley. The first sign will be surging headlights and dimming lights when the alternator is put under a load. Take the belt off and spin the pulley by hand both ways. If you feel a wobble or slipping in the clockwise direction it is defective. It should spin freely in the counter clockwise direction. You need a special tool to change this pulley. The dealer should have the part and tool needed. If not tell them to call Jeep and give you something for bringing them up to speed.

StarDreamer.us · **Joined:** Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:15 pm **Posts:** 63

05 CRD - Just had the alternator replaced at the dealer. Bearing was bad. Was also not working all the time a hit and miss, that resulted in some dead batteries.

Endurance · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:30 pm

Thanks for all the help!

They replaced the alternator and I picked it up today. First of all, its like night and day. It is so quiet and smooth now when idling it is unbelievable!!
But of course, dealer didnt test it and therefor didnt notice that its making a metal grinding/vibration noise at 1900 rpm. Very noticeable too. Now I gotta take it back there again.

Endurance · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:40 pm

Alright, here the rest of the story:

So after they replaced the alternator it was still making noise, a different noise, but still rattling. I dropped it off last night and then they called me today at 2: "Sir Im sorry but we cant duplicate the noise, we cant hear anything"

So I get completely mad and tell the service writer that Im headed down there, which is 45min away by the way.

Then I get there, and of course I have to wait on a technician to ride with me. While Im waiting, the service writer tells me what a great technician he is. He's been with chrysler for 30 years, he is one of the top techs in the nation, he builds race cars blablabla.

I just sat there and asked one question:"Is he the one that replaced that alternator?"

He finally went on a ride with me and he didnt hear anything, of course. "Sir, everything sounds normal, the only thing I hear are your tires."
So we go back inside and I make them give me another, younger, technician to ride with me. Now he on the other hand can hear the rattling noise.

We headed back to the shop and it turned out that one of the bolts that mount the alternator to the engine was loose.

I cant tell yall how furious I was, its the SAME THING EVERYTIME, and its a 5 STAR dealer.

My alternator is bad

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