Alt lock up

[freshtiva]

Ive been driving Frankenstiva this summer. Lately it will squeal or chirp for just a second when I start it up and then its fine. Last night I started it up for a beer run and it wouldnt stop squealing and I smelled burning rubber when I got out of it. The A/C works great and turning the A/C off and on didnt make any difference. Apparently either the water pump or the alt has locked up. Id go check it out but its too darn hot. Ill probably get up about 3 am and tear into it while its a little cooler but was curious what you guy thought it might be. Never had an atl lock up but I guess it could. Hopefully its not the water pump which only has 10,000 miles on it. Any guesses ?

[Damkid]

you could be right that its the alt. only way to know for sure is to tear into it i guess lol

[bravekozak]

Just loosen the belt and try spinning each pulley. Your fingers will feel the slightest resistance.

[freshtiva]

Another thought occurred to me, could be the timing belt idler maybe.

[M3NTAL]

That would suck! ^^

[1990new]

The symptoms you describe sound almost identical to a problem that I had years ago when my alternator bearings were going bad and then locked up. (At the time, I ordered bearings for the alternator and replaced them myself).

[yelo festiva]

happened to me

I had a 90 L once and that happened. It was the alt. When I took it appart it had rust build up on the rotor. I cleaned it off, treated it with rust converter an put back together. Apparently the clearence between the rotor and stator is close.

[Larry Hampton]

Pull the alt belt off.and start it up. No noise, alt.

[freshtiva]

That would suck! ^^

Im on a bad luck steak so I wouldnt be surprised.

The symptoms you describe sound almost identical to a problem that I had years ago when my alternator bearings were going bad and then locked up. (At the time, I ordered bearings for the alternator and replaced them myself).

I had a 90 L once and that happened. It was the alt. When I took it appart it had rust build up on the rotor. I cleaned it off, treated it with rust converter an put back together. Apparently the clearence between the rotor and stator is close.

Hey thanks guy, thats sounds like a good place to start. I sprayed some belt dressing on the belts awhile back and didnt notice any improvement. I think Ive noticed a hint of a grinding noise too that started about the same time as the squeal so it all sounds logical. That squeal on start up embarrasses the heck out of me, Ill be glad to rid myself of it. I'll plan to hit it before daybreak.

[freshtiva]

Pull the alt belt off.and start it up. No noise, alt.

Yes thats a good starting point. Ive got air so I'll loosen the alt enough so that the belt doesnt turn. If it is the alt I wont have to remove any belts.

[Charlie1717]

Hey thanks guy, thats sounds like a good place to start. I sprayed some belt dressing on the belts awhile back and didnt notice any improvement. I think Ive noticed a hint of a grinding noise too that started about the same time as the squeal so it all sounds logical. That squeal on start up embarrasses the heck out of me, Ill be glad to rid myself of it. I'll plan to hit it before daybreak.

I was hoping the belt dressing would make an improvement, hoping that it just needed tightening or something simple.

[skimsucka]

Ive had the exact same symptoms happen to me and it was the alternator better look for a replacement!

[freshtiva]

hoping that it just needed tightening or something simple.

That would be nice.

Ive had the exact same symptoms happen to me and it was the alternator better look for a replacement!

Ive got three on the shelf. Id like to fix it if its serviceable and repairable.

[bravekozak]

I've had GM alternators apart for polishing. I am very good at holding back the brushes when reassembling them. It's easy after you do it once.

[freshtiva]

Five am, going to go have a look at this problem. 80 degrees 88 % humidity, dew point 72 degrees.