Stupid question about a belt
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Bowling Green KY
Stupid question about a belt
I'm hearing a "whine" when my engine is running that I think is coming from my alternator bearing. To test this theory, can I take off my belt and run the engine.
BTW-I've already changed the tensioner and the idler pulley.
BTW-I've already changed the tensioner and the idler pulley.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 7
From: Bowling Green KY
Thanks. I was just looking for a quick way to test that bearing before spending the bucks on a new one. Maybe the best bet is just to pull it off and have it bench tested at autozone.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,629
Likes: 28
From: FL
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Arizona
Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
The belt test is a good initial test. It will only tell you if it's a pulley, but not which. If you still hear it with belt off, the balancer might be rubbing on the timing cover.
Stop guessing and throwing away money on unnecessary parts at it that don't fix the noise. Go spend $4 at Harbor Freight and pinpoint the source with precision using a mechanic's stethoscope.
Autozone only tests output and function. They don't spin the alt fast enough or long enough to tell you anything about the condition of your bearings. Your car is already doing that. What you need to do is poke around with a stethoscope. You'll know right away when you probe the right area. Otherwise you're just guessing and wasting your time.
Stop guessing and throwing away money on unnecessary parts at it that don't fix the noise. Go spend $4 at Harbor Freight and pinpoint the source with precision using a mechanic's stethoscope.
Autozone only tests output and function. They don't spin the alt fast enough or long enough to tell you anything about the condition of your bearings. Your car is already doing that. What you need to do is poke around with a stethoscope. You'll know right away when you probe the right area. Otherwise you're just guessing and wasting your time.
Last edited by 86PACER; Dec 1, 2009 at 03:08 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
- its amazing how well these thing work, but don't do what i did - i was caught by the wife, using her medical stethoscope. 
she came out in the garage while i was doing the very same thing. needless to say, after she "informed" me on the errors of my way 
, i went down to harbor freight and picked up my own. happy wife, happy life 