Alternator Question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,795
Likes: 1
From: Regina Saskatchewan, Canada.
Alternator Question
This isn't about my Corvette, but my 79 Riviera. What does it mean when the belt squeals? I know know, get a new belt, tighten it etc etc...it only squeals for about the first 3-4minutes on start up and when I rev the engine slightly. After the warm up (it's -24 right now) it goes away until the next time I have a cold start. Is it working too hard and the belt tends to slip a bit? Do I have battery problems maybe?
Aaron
[Modified by Stingy74, 5:07 PM 1/22/2002]
Aaron
[Modified by Stingy74, 5:07 PM 1/22/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: Alternator Question (Stingy74)
You don't have a problem other than you live to far north. When belts get older they get harder and tend to slip..... Add -24 and the belt really slips until the friction heats it up.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,795
Likes: 1
From: Regina Saskatchewan, Canada.
Re: Alternator Question (gkull)
Reason I ask is because I just went to start my car and it only got through about 3 rotations and then just slowly died. It's got a Delco freedom battery that's less than a year old. Those are good, expensive batteries so I hate to look there for problems. I started to put two and two together and I remember the squealing upon warm up. Hmmmm.
I have since charged the battery for about an hour on my little baby charger. Re-installed batery and....werrrrrr werrrrrr werrrrrr....vroom! It has always always started like that and I think it's becuase I always keep thing in tune. I hate diagnosing electrical crap, espically without the proper tools.
I have since charged the battery for about an hour on my little baby charger. Re-installed batery and....werrrrrr werrrrrr werrrrrr....vroom! It has always always started like that and I think it's becuase I always keep thing in tune. I hate diagnosing electrical crap, espically without the proper tools.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 5
From: Satellite Beach, FL, USA
Re: Alternator Question (Stingy74)
A alternator belt slips after startup because the belt is loose or slippery AND the alternator must supply a huge amount of current for the first 30 sec to recharge the battery. As the battery charges, the alternator load slowly drops. The more power you pull from an alternator, the more HP you need to put into it.
With a new car, the engines can draw 25 amps easy. When you add lights and other accessories AND trying to charge the battery, the alternator may have to supply 100 amps. Wow!!!
With a new car, the engines can draw 25 amps easy. When you add lights and other accessories AND trying to charge the battery, the alternator may have to supply 100 amps. Wow!!!
