Alternator Problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Alternator Problem
Here's one I've never seen...until today.
I was driving my old '77.
It's a car that is in really rough condition and has close to 150,000 miles (estimated). I started having a problem with the alternator. I heard a bit of a noise. Then my voltmeter dropped to below 13 volts. Just before parking it at my destination it started charging again. 
When I later started it, the voltmeter reading was normal. Sitting at a light after driving eight miles I heard metallic banging, the voltmeter dropped like a rock, and the GEN light came on. So much for that alternator!
I figured I could limp home on just the battery. Probably true, but I couldn't without a water pump! Yep, it threw the only belt turning the water pump.
Once I got it parked and popped the hood I couldn't believe my eyes. The alternator pulley was gone!!
This just hasn't been my week!
I was driving my old '77.
It's a car that is in really rough condition and has close to 150,000 miles (estimated). I started having a problem with the alternator. I heard a bit of a noise. Then my voltmeter dropped to below 13 volts. Just before parking it at my destination it started charging again. When I later started it, the voltmeter reading was normal. Sitting at a light after driving eight miles I heard metallic banging, the voltmeter dropped like a rock, and the GEN light came on. So much for that alternator!
I figured I could limp home on just the battery. Probably true, but I couldn't without a water pump! Yep, it threw the only belt turning the water pump.Once I got it parked and popped the hood I couldn't believe my eyes. The alternator pulley was gone!!
This just hasn't been my week!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by PairOf80s
Once I got it parked and popped the hood I couldn't believe my eyes. The alternator pulley was gone!!
This just hasn't been my week!
This just hasn't been my week!
when my last alternator went (bearing froze up), I also had to limp home with an eye on the temp gauge since my vette only has one belt, man that 327 gets hot fast
at least I knew for sure the temp gauged worked for the full range 
tim
