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possible alternator issue....??
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luculent
New User
Jan 13, 2009, 5:59 AM
Post #1 of 4
(1510 views)
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possible alternator issue....??
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[i have a 96 mitsubishi galant]
my alternator went out. i went and had it replaced along with the serpentine belt. well, starting the very next day it would make this loud screeching sound when i started the car. i thought it was the new belts. [and yes, i am female, haha] ok...so this goes on for a couple weeks and i am getting to the point where that obviously isn't the issue. i take my car in. it turns out that screeching sound isn't the belt, but the actual alternator burning up. so, "another one" was put on. this was....friday, and today is tuesday. since it was put in i noticed when i let off the gas, my lights would get brighter and my heat would get stronger. today when i left for work it started making this screeching noise AGAIN. so i have to take it back and i don't understand what the issue is!!? how likely is it to have 2 alternators go bad? could this be another problem? please help
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 13, 2009, 7:18 AM
Post #2 of 4
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Re: possible alternator issue....??
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You said....
"noticed when i let off the gas, my lights would get brighter and my heat would get stronger."
**************
That's the opposite I would expect - did you mean it that way?
Whatever - this is more like a belt/pulley/tensioner issue going on. The screech is probably the belt - new or not - slipping on a device. Alternator works harder with more electrical items on and works better when just higher engine speed than plain idle.
Belt may not match the pulleys, or be a tad too long for the range of the tensioner or if manually adjusted need readjustment which isn't uncommon to a new belt to stretch some rather quickly once put into use.
I suggest that the belt be inspected, removed and the items that turn with that belt be checked as well - litterally spin them by hand for a bad bearing or free-play.
One bad alternator is possible. As you go for the second the chances decline but it's not impossible to have a whole bad run of them,
T
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luculent
New User
Jan 13, 2009, 8:30 AM
Post #3 of 4
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Re: possible alternator issue....??
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yeah, i thought it was weird too that it would get brighter and stronger when i let off of the gas. when i go back this week, i'll bring the belt and pulleys to his attention. hopefully this will resolve my issue.
thanks! 
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 13, 2009, 8:48 AM
Post #4 of 4
(1498 views)
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Re: possible alternator issue....??
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It is odd that it seems to "generate" more power when engine RPM would be lower as in when you let OFF the gas??
Anyway - YOU have the tech(s) where you took it figure out the actual problem but bring up all the symptoms you have noticed. If YOU do the suggesting of what's wrong than YOU need to be very careful as you are opening up the work to include perhaps what ISN'T wrong so let them decide - got it?
Again: Provide all your symptoms and observations and let them decide on the fix with your approval of course. I can't possibly know with any certainty from here what the actual trouble will be. Basic customer and professional relationship.
Good luck with the fix,
T
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