Alternator

[dunski]

This morning is started up my 96 Taurus GX sedan and its making this loud annoying howling sound and i believe its coming from my bearing in my alternator, has anyone had this problem before.

[sahib]

It does happen. You can check further by removing the drive belt and turning the alternator by hand. It should feel rough or even have up/down play in it if it is bad. It may also be the idler pulley or tensioner. Hard to determine without actually checking, at least it is for me.

[FlamingTaco]

Hell, after removing the alternator belt, just start the car. If the howling is gone, you will have your answer.

Bearings can be installed by local alternator/starter rebuild shops. If you are mechanically inclined, most of them are willing to sell you the bearings alone. They are only a few bucks each.

[Willyum]

Several things that you can do, rebuild the old, or can get a "lifetime guarantee" alternator, just R & R the thing and keep your paperwork. If this is your first alternator failure, it likely won't be your first.

[sahib]

Originally Posted by FlamingTaco

after removing the alternator belt, just start the car. If the howling is gone, you will have your answer.

Are you saying then that the alternator on the '96 has it's own independant drive belt? I'm going by what I have on my '94 Taurus and '99 Windstar. They both have the one belt does all system.

[Willyum]

You can run the vehicle for a short time without the belt that drives the alternator, no matter what it's like.

[sahib]

Originally Posted by Willyum

You can run the vehicle for a short time without the belt that drives the alternator, no matter what it's like.

I don't dispute that, but all you're going to prove is that the crank is or isn't causing the noise. Yes/No?

[FlamingTaco]

Well, I was thinking of a multiple-belt system, but as has been stated, you can still remove the belt for short periods of time. If the car is cold, you can run it as long as it take to normally warm up, way more than enough time.

For a single belt engine, removing the belt will confirm that one of the accessories is making the noise if it stops. The crank would continue making noise as it still turns when the engine is running, but honestly, if your crank bearings are making noise, your motor is not long for this world.

[Willyum]

sahib,
If you don't understand what is being accomplished by running it with the belt off, you probably better have someone else take over the diagnosis.

[sahib]

Originally Posted by Willyum

sahib,
If you don't understand what is being accomplished by running it with the belt off, you probably better have someone else take over the diagnosis.

I can understand that you are removing the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, A/C pump (if equipped),tensioner, and or idler pulley from the list of possibilties. So now what? Going back to my original post, you check by hand, feel, ear the different possibilties. Just running it with the belt off will tell me the crank and it's associated parts are either good or bad to some extent. Does this make sense or am I missing something?

[dunski]

i went down to autozone and the guy ran a check on my alternator and its fine, he said its most likely my belts

[FlamingTaco]

Originally Posted by dunski

i went down to autozone and the guy ran a check on my alternator and its fine, he said its most likely my belts

A load check of the alternator does not tell you anything about it's bearings. I had a bearing go bad that made the same howling noise, but it's output was fine. Go to a shop that specializes in alternators/starters and they will replace just the bearings for you.