Alt 2002 P5

[libtech]

Hi everyone. As of late my 2002 P5's alternator belt has started to squeel when I start the car up. I replaced all my belts last weekend and it quit for a bit but started again. The belt was pretty chewed up to begin with and thats when I noticed the squeeling so I replaced. Now its doing it again like I said. Seems to only happen when I turn the car on first, and if there is a draw on the battery like the heater or my HID Head lights. If there is no draw it doesn't tend to squeel. Usually I can stop the squeeling by a quick rev and it catches. I know its the alt belt because If I turn off the lights or heater really quick it usually will stop the squeel.

I am pretty sure my belt is tight enough. When I replaced the belt it started to squeel again so I tightened it up and it quit, but started again shortly thereafter. My guess would be the alternator is going and is having a hard time supplying current to the battery, causing enough force to stop the alt pulley from turning easily?

I did put the HID's in, but I cant see this the cause of the problem as it happens soley with the heater on as well when I start it up. Could the HID's caused the problem and wrecked the Alternator though over a period of time? I put them in at the begining of Nov, the car is a daily driver and the squeeling didnt start till about 3 weeks ago.

I am going to pull the alt I think and have it tested.

My questions are three fold:

1) Thoughts on the above situation? I have never replaced the alternator to this date.

2) Do you know of any places hopefully in Canada that I can order a new Alternator if thats the issue. Crappy Tire, and PartSource want over $200 for a rebuilt or remanufactured one. I haven't checked the dealer yet.

3.) Think it could be something else? I have never replaced the water pump either, but I am pretty sure that when I kill a load like the heater or the lights it quits squeeling so I thought I had ruled that out. I could try run the car without the alt for a couple seconds and see if it squeels. That might rule out the WP as well.


Thanks!

[dead_cactus]

Tighten it again, sometimes new belts will need to be tightened again shortly after install as the belts can stretch slightly.

Contact one of the MOSI guys (mike_moss, thekid, superdave) for prices on a new alt.

[libtech]

Ok I'll give that a shot, crossing my fingers. Can I overtighten? The belt IS NOT hot at all after running it for a period of time right now.

[kevcol74]

Don't over-tighten it!! You'll break things! If you don't know how to tighten it, then take it somewhere. I don't know the exact amount, but there is a set deflection in the belt that you need to tighten to. Someone might chime in here with that number!

[myprotege5]

1/4 inch deflection and is it a dealer belt or aftermarket
and second when ur stopped like at a light or or in a parking lot can you do this
rear defrost on. heater on. fan on full. high beams on. radio on. 4 ways on. and see if it squeels then if it dose turn then all off in the same order if it stops right after its all off.
with a new tightened belt if it squeels during this test that means its the alt

[libtech]

Its an aftermarket.

I have done that test and it never happens. this only happens when I start the car... And it doesnt happen when I have nothing on. So if I start the car without the heater, lights on, it is quiet. I can then turn on the heater say and it happens then the belt catches and it wont do it again until I turn the car off for a bit and start it up again.

[myprotege5]

sounds like to me its ur belt then. its true some cheep after market belts need to be adjusted from time to time

[myprotege5]

like i can see if theres a morning deww some moisture gets on the belt and then it will sound for a lil but there is no dewww just cold out side

[Azi]

get a volt meter and see what the alt. output is.

[thekid]

might be the bearings on the water pump starting to go!

[libtech]

It's definatley on the Alternator belt line. This morning I tested, I turned the car on with no other power draws( Lights, heater, radio ) all off. No squeel, like normal. Then I turned on the heater and put the car in reverse. As I did this the RPMs obviously dropped a bit and it started to squeel, I nailed the heater off and it immediatley quit squeel. I turned the heater on and off three times and each time the alt belt would start squeeling. So with this I know its not the waterpump belt.

That said I will check the tension on the alt belt again and tighten if needed. If that isnt it I would say its most likley a bad Alternator in some way.

[e2wJunglist]

I have the same thing. Primarily it squeels when my rear defrost is on. The second I turn it off the squeeling stops. If not the defrost it happens when the AC is on or front defrosters(a/c) set.

It doesn't squeal if i have only the heater blowing straight into the cabin.
Pain in the azz for sure. Too cold out to bother changing my belt though. haha