Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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Fiat88

Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by Fiat88 »

I noticed that my car still has a intermittent whining noise sometimes. I did some further investigating with my Stethoscope(long screw driver) and when placed on the alternator I can hear a certain slight grinding noise. Could the bearings in the alt be the source?
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by 124JOE »

that sounds right
it could last awille,if its stored for the winter you can rebuild it
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
Exit98

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by Exit98 »

Hi Fiat 88

Is your alternator on the passenger side of your motor?

Mine made a terrible noise that I chased for a while. Turns out the boss on the engine block that accepts the long bolt is not as wide as it should be, leaving a gap between the alternator fitting and the block. I should have shimmed the gap, but be sure the long bolt is tightened waaay tight to eliminate vibration.

One of these days you'll have to get down and meet us Jersey guys.
majicwrench

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by majicwrench »

Pull the belt....does the noise go away?? Now spin the alt by hand, is it noisy??
Fiat88

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by Fiat88 »

Exit98 wrote:Hi Fiat 88

Is your alternator on the passenger side of your motor?

Mine made a terrible noise that I chased for a while. Turns out the boss on the engine block that accepts the long bolt is not as wide as it should be, leaving a gap between the alternator fitting and the block. I should have shimmed the gap, but be sure the long bolt is tightened waaay tight to eliminate vibration.

One of these days you'll have to get down and meet us Jersey guys.
No my alt is on drivers side. Yup I know I've been promising George for the last 2 years! :lol: but I plan to.
majicwrench wrote:Pull the belt....does the noise go away?? Now spin the alt by hand, is it noisy??
Will check that if I here the noise again.
Fiat88

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by Fiat88 »

124JOE wrote:that sounds right
it could last awille,if its stored for the winter you can rebuild it
Yeah not too hard to replace. :D
NJFIAT1981
Posts: 1490
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:55 am
Your car is a: 1970 SPIDER AND A 1976 SPIDER
Location: New Jersey

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by NJFIAT1981 »

Have spare alts if you need them. George
Fiat88

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by Fiat88 »

Noise came back! Will take the belt off tomorrow and spin the pulley by hand. :(
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Alternator bearing bad or belt tension wrong?

Post by fiat218 »

MY ALTERNATOR where the long bolt on the bottom went ,

i had to get a big bushing made to fit that round hole. im not sure what was ever there now it nice and tight
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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