My wife's 01 VDC has started to make a high-pitched "whine", especially starting from cold. Being the original alternator a1 170k miles I suspected it. With the engine running, I touched my screw driver (stethescope) to the case of the alternator, PS pump and AC compressor. The PS and AC were quiet, but the noise was obviously from the alternator.
I found a local alternator re-builder (reputable place) and brought it to him. On his test stand, he could only making it "whine" by putting a load greater than 60A on it. Otherwise, he thought that the alternator was fine. There should not be a 60A load at idle. He suggested that the battery may be the problem.
The battery is getting up there in age, but the car starts right up even in the 25F weather we've been having recently. I'm wondering if it is less the problem of the battery and more the cables going from battery to alternator. I've cleaned the battery terminals, with no change in the sound.
I did also replace the idler and tensioner pulleys with no change in sound, though the old ones seemed a little sloppier than the new.
Thoughts?
I found a local alternator re-builder (reputable place) and brought it to him. On his test stand, he could only making it "whine" by putting a load greater than 60A on it. Otherwise, he thought that the alternator was fine. There should not be a 60A load at idle. He suggested that the battery may be the problem.
The battery is getting up there in age, but the car starts right up even in the 25F weather we've been having recently. I'm wondering if it is less the problem of the battery and more the cables going from battery to alternator. I've cleaned the battery terminals, with no change in the sound.
I did also replace the idler and tensioner pulleys with no change in sound, though the old ones seemed a little sloppier than the new.
Thoughts?