| [ Total Views: 647 | Total Replies: 9 | Thread Id: 98676 ] |
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 bluebus
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| posted on September 3rd, 2012 at 11:47 PM |
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whiny alternator with glowing light
I've just converted my beetle to an alternator and have a couple of questions. Test drove it yesterday, all perfect. Drove 12k to work this morning,
no probs. Leaving work tonight, headlights on, the alternator light starts dimly glowing and the engine sounds whiny, like a siren in the far off
distance. Pulled over to check, and it seems to be coming from the alternator zone, but only when I accelerate. Any ideas? Preferably a nice easy
fix so I don't have to spend another weekend getting up close and personal with the engine bay :-)
Cheers,
Angela |
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donn
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| posted on September 4th, 2012 at 09:20 AM |
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alternator bearings I'd say
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ancientbugger
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| posted on September 4th, 2012 at 09:33 AM |
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Could just be the fan scraping on the housing seeing that you've just had it apart.
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bajachris88
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| posted on September 4th, 2012 at 09:50 AM |
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Hmm, because the alternator light is glowing, assuming the blade plug at the alternator is still on it states that it isn't charging.
Fan scraping makes a horrible loud noise, but should be able to still charge and not get that light.
New alternators for vw's are a bit of a mine field when it comes to dodging crap. One i purchased didn't even come with a keyway machined in the
shaft for the pulley, with the supplier stating its 'suppose' to be like that. Is it still under a warranty/guarantee?
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bluebus
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| posted on September 4th, 2012 at 11:56 AM |
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Alternator is still under warranty (thankfully!), but I did buy a cheap one. Definitely not a horrible scraping sound, and I was very careful about
the fan placement.
After searching a lot last night, I put an extra shim in the fan belt pulley this morning, because I think I had it a little snug. Not enough that it
should have done any damage I hope, just not deflecting quite the full 1/2 inch.
Driving to work this morning, not much sound, just a very occasional whistle, and no glowing light. Will wait and see I suppose. I suppose if it is
the bearings, then the sound will only get worse?
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ancientbugger
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| posted on September 4th, 2012 at 06:21 PM |
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Over the years I've had scraping fans sound anything from a high pitch whistle through supercharger whine to horrible scraping. I'd check the fan
first before you blame the alternator.
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bluebus
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| posted on September 4th, 2012 at 08:35 PM |
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Thanks. I'll have another look at the fan gap.
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Freedo
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| posted on October 3rd, 2012 at 08:50 PM |
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Alternator
Hi
Did you end up sourcing the problem?
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vlad01
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| posted on October 3rd, 2012 at 10:15 PM |
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brushes. check them. seen this happen few times when the brushes are just barely making electrical contact the windings in the rotor and/or stator
resonate and make a whiny/whirly sound which increase with revs. Can be bearings but my finder is on the brushes since we have a dim glowing light
as well.
if you want to test this, kill the ignition supply to the alternator and/or the B+ (depending on the design) to isolate it electrically, if the whine
goes away its probably brushes if not, then its bearings or some other mechanical problem with it.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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vlad01
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| posted on October 3rd, 2012 at 10:23 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by bluebus
Alternator is still under warranty (thankfully!), but I did buy a cheap one. Definitely not a horrible scraping sound, and I was very careful about
the fan placement.
After searching a lot last night, I put an extra shim in the fan belt pulley this morning, because I think I had it a little snug. Not enough that it
should have done any damage I hope, just not deflecting quite the full 1/2 inch.
Driving to work this morning, not much sound, just a very occasional whistle, and no glowing light. Will wait and see I suppose. I suppose if it is
the bearings, then the sound will only get worse?
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oh i missed this. yeah keep us in the loop.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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