Date:         Tue, 2 May 2000 09:23:43 -0400
Reply-To:     "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: squeaking from alternator?
Comments: To: Brett Ellingson <bellingson@LOCALACCESS.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <390E639F.6B6F@localaccess.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Assuming that you've eliminated belt squealing, it may be on its last legs.
Mine started doing that and I took it to an alternator rebuild shop.  The
rebuilder said it was about to spin a bearing and wouldn't have gone another
300 miles (showed me the old bearing...he wasn't blowing smoke).

It was just under $100 for the rebuild, including sandblasting and repainting,
a couple of other internal parts, etc. and I had it back in 24 hrs.

When you hook it up again, make sure the belt tension isn't too strong or
you'll start wearing the bearings quickly again.

-Karl

> My 87 Westy has recently developed a squeaky noise that seems to be
> coming from the alternator.  It tends to make the noises only when it is
> cold.  The battery light on the dashboard remains lit until the accelator
> is depressed.  Does this sound like the beginning of an alternator going
> bad?


Karl and Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
'87 Westfalia Weekender  "Beverley" - 196K miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/
PA/NJ Vanagon owner's mailing list: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon/