I was just told that a tensioner or pulley could have caused my alternator to go bad and if not replaced could make the new one go
I was just told that a tensioner or pulley could have caused my alternator to go bad and if not replaced could make the new one go bad. My batter light came on this morning and I looked up what it might be. I went to autozone to have them check my alternator because my battery was not yet a year old and barring the fact that I might have gotten a dud battery I had them check my alternator. They guy said it was totally dead and that everything was running off the battery and that would drain soon. The closest place was the dealer. Later in the day they called and said my car would be ready
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Pulleys do go bad because the grease in the pulley bearing dries out, the ball bearings and bearing races get pitted and then the pulley becomes noisy. Sometimes, the pulley will actually seize. However, it will be EASILY evident if a pulley bearing is bad. So, all you need to do is have them PROVE the failure to you. If the pulley turns SMOOTHLY with no resistance and there is no noise, then there is nothing wrong with the pulley. Tensioners combine a pulley with a "tensioning" mechanism. If the pulley on the tensioner is good, to check the tensioning mechanism, just ask the shop personnel how many pounds they are able to measure (using a Gates gauge) as "belt tension" with the tensioner installed. If they can measure an installed belt tension of at least 80 to 110 pounds on the serpentine belt, you are fine. As far as alternator failures, even if all pulleys seized, the serpentine belt snapped and all the accessory drives came to a crashing halt, such would have no effect whatsoever on the mechanical or electrical function of an alternator. Alternators are DRIVEN by the serpentine belt. All that happens when the belt disappears or pulleys seize is the alternator stops turning; there is NO possibility of damage to the alternator. Once you re-apply a new belt, or new pulleys, the accessories start turning again, just like before and the alternator produces current to charge the batteries. As noted, pulleys do wear out…worn pulleys do cause noise but all that is beside the point. Insofar as your concern, you CAN confirm if they are telling the truth by just simply having them PROVE the alleged failure to you. If they cannot prove it, or are unwilling to prove it (don’t buy the "insurance rules don’t allow you in the shop trick), then do not replace the pulleys. In the future, you can save a lot of money by having a repair like this, as well as maintenance, performed on a mobile basis. So, please keep us in mind and if additional concerns arise related to your current issue, please don’t hesitate to inquire further.
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A bad belt tensioner can also lead to the alternator failing to function as designed. The engine`s alternator is meant to power the automobile`s electrical system and also charge the battery while the vehicle is operating.
The headlights in your Odyssey require a significant amount of voltage from your minivan`s battery to operate. When the alternator cannot provide this power, the headlights will drain the reserve power in the battery. As the reserve dwindles, the headlights will start to go dim.
A possible related problem is a worn serpentine belt tensioner pulley. This pulley provides tension on the serpentine belt so that it is tight enough to spin the alternator and other accessories. When the belt is too loose, it can slip on the alternator pulley and, once again, not enough electricity is made.
A seized or loose drive belt tensioner can cause the belt to snap, which will disables those accessories and can cause problems such as overheating, a dead electrical system and battery, or a disabled AC system.
When a timing belt tensioner fails, it loses tension. As a result, the timing belt becomes loose and the valve timing can be thrown off. This leads to engine performance issues. So if any suspicion arises that the timing belt tensioner has failed, it`s important to check the tensioner and replace it if necessary.
Symptoms of a burnt out diode:
The engine will begin to run rough, lack power and eventually stall and not start again. The battery warning light will turn on, warning you that there is a problem with your alternator charging system. The headlights will become dim due to reduced battery voltage.
If the internal clutch mechanism is bad, the pulley may slip and fail to drive the alternator, or it may remain locked all the time – increasing noise, vibration and stress on the belt drive system.
Age and use-related wear is often the reason behind a dying alternator. Engine oil or power steering fluid leaking onto the car alternator can lead to its failure. Prolonged idling while using multiple electrical accessories can prematurely wear the alternator.
Alternators can last about seven years or 80,000 to 150,000 miles, although there are some factors that can cause your alternator to wear down faster than expected. These include: Power drain on the alternator. Driving conditions.
In the event that your serpentine belt breaks while driving, several things can happen: Your alternator may fail, in which case your car battery won`t be able to recharge—this can result in a sudden loss of power. You may lose power steering, making it more difficult to turn the steering wheel.
If the pulley is bad, it can lock up or spin free in both ways, not allowing the alternator to charge. The clutch pulley is designed to alleviate stress on the belt drive system and the components within that system, allow the alternator rotor to coast when the engine is shut down, and reduce belt slippage.
A serpentine belt is one long rubber belt along your car`s engine that provides power to many vital components in your car like the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning and sometimes the water pump, according to Firestone.
A serpentine belt is one long rubber belt along your car`s engine that provides power to many vital components in your car like the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning and sometimes the water pump, according to Firestone.
Pulleys do go bad because the grease in the pulley bearing dries out, the ball bearings and bearing races get pitted and then the pulley becomes noisy. Sometimes, the pulley will actually seize. However, it will be EASILY evident if a pulley bearing is bad. So, all you need to do is have them PROVE the failure to you.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I was just told that a tensioner or pulley could have caused my alternator to go bad and if not replaced could make the new one go
ANSWER : Pulleys do go bad because the grease in the pulley bearing dries out, the ball bearings and bearing races get pitted and then the pulley becomes noisy. Sometimes, the pulley will actually seize. However, it will be EASILY evident if a pulley bearing is bad. So, all you need to do is have them PROVE the failure to you. If the pulley turns SMOOTHLY with no resistance and there is no noise, then there is nothing wrong with the pulley. Tensioners combine a pulley with a "tensioning" mechanism. If the pulley on the tensioner is good, to check the tensioning mechanism, just ask the shop personnel how many pounds they are able to measure (using a Gates gauge) as "belt tension" with the tensioner installed. If they can measure an installed belt tension of at least 80 to 110 pounds on the serpentine belt, you are fine. As far as alternator failures, even if all pulleys seized, the serpentine belt snapped and all the accessory drives came to a crashing halt, such would have no effect whatsoever on the mechanical or electrical function of an alternator. Alternators are DRIVEN by the serpentine belt. All that happens when the belt disappears or pulleys seize is the alternator stops turning; there is NO possibility of damage to the alternator. Once you re-apply a new belt, or new pulleys, the accessories start turning again, just like before and the alternator produces current to charge the batteries. As noted, pulleys do wear out…worn pulleys do cause noise but all that is beside the point. Insofar as your concern, you CAN confirm if they are telling the truth by just simply having them PROVE the alleged failure to you. If they cannot prove it, or are unwilling to prove it (don’t buy the "insurance rules don’t allow you in the shop trick), then do not replace the pulleys. In the future, you can save a lot of money by having a repair like this, as well as maintenance, performed on a mobile basis. So, please keep us in mind and if additional concerns arise related to your current issue, please don’t hesitate to inquire further.
What would cause the clutch on an ac compressor to continue to go bad after being replaced three times?
ANSWER : The compressor clutch relay on these vehicles are a known cause of sticking on the compressor clutch and overheating the A/C compressor clutch coil. Replace the A/C relay to see if it cures the clutch going bad the next time you do a compressor clutch replacement, or replace it now if you have just replaced the clutch.
my battery kept draining until i bought a new alternator and battery. i have tightened the belt on the alternator but it still die
ANSWER : Hi there. The best way to diagnose why a battery would constantly drain is to review it’s job and how it is recharged. The battery is responsible for powering all electrical systems until the vehicle is started. At this point, the alternator takes over and also continually charges the battery while the vehicle is in use. A battery will drain when one of two things occurs. First, a battery will drain if it is constantly in use; supplying power to an electrical component even if the key is not in the ignition. Second, the battery will eventually die if the battery is not being charged frequently. However, since this is happening every two days, my initial thought would be that some electrical component on your 86 Olds is continuing to draw power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic drain. The best way to determine the source of this battery issue is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a battery will not hold a charge inspection.
After new front bearings/hubs, Lexus still making noise and shaking
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Feeling steering and suspension issues in the steering wheel is very common. While everything you have done is within reason, there are several components that need to be inspected or tested. You will want to make sure the steering linkage is clean, dry, and tight. In particular, check from the gear box, down the rack and pinion, and over to the tie rod ends. If they look bent, loose, have work seals, or dirty seals, then you want to replace the whole unit. Secondly, you want to make sure your brakes are not dirty, worn, or have debris stuck in them. If they are out of round they will cause issues similar to what you describe. Lastly, with the vehicle in the air, you can manipulate the tires back and forth, and up and down checking for excess play. For more help with diagnostics, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
I have broken 3 sepentine belts in the last week, i replaced the tensioner pulley as well. What else could be causing my issue?
ANSWER : The pulley has a ball bearing within. The failure mode, or causes of failure, is limited to three possibilities: 1) defective, or worn out, ball bearings; 2) lubrication failure; 3) overloading. To eliminate possibility Nos. 1 and 2 you could try using the OEM Toyota supplied part. As far as overloading, measure belt tension to see if it is excessive. For example, a possibility is you have the wrong belt (too short) and that would increase the load on the bearing. Also, check to be sure that all the pulleys are operating in the same plane. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a serpentine belt/rotating elements diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Diagnostic code read o2 sensor bad, replaced o2 sensor, cleared code but engine light came back on, is it caused by bad air filter
ANSWER : Hello there. Typically jump starting a vehicle doesn’t trigger an OBD-II error code. However, one of the most common misdiagnosis issues with the P-2270 is replacing the O2 sensor before diagnosing if there are any exhaust leaks. Obviously, you’ll want to check for the exhaust leaks first, repair the damaged component, and then clear the codes before scanning the vehicle again. Sometimes the electrical harness attached to the O2 sensor is damaged or dirty which will also trigger this error code. The noise and vibration may be an indicator of a loose exhaust pipe, which may be the source of the error code staying on. If you need any help, have a technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to diagnose your Check Engine Light and make the necessary repairs.
How much oil needs to leak into an Alternator to cause the Alternator to go bad
ANSWER : It would be difficult to say exactly how much oil it would take to cause the alternator to fail. However, oil leaking on the alternator due to leaking valve cover gaskets can cause it to fail. It seems as if the technician who is servicing your vehicle may not have performed a courtesy inspection to check for other potential issues prior to starting the other repairs you had requested. I would recommend having the alternator replaced if it has oil leaking on it as well as resolving the valve cover gasket leak to prevent it from happening again. You may try to use a different mechanic who is more upfront and honest in the first place. Consider YourMechanic as services such as this can be completed from your home or office.
Battery good, alternator good, brand new alternator cable, still not charging.
ANSWER : Hi There,
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
