2012 Fiat 500 that's been sitting 6 months. When go to start it today, I heard a terrible squealing noise and smoke coming from the engine. Turns out the alternator is seized. A replacement is only $110, but what are the chances of getting it unstuck? Or replacing the bearings?
Alternator seized
- Thread starter atikovi
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Was the alternator the cause of its sitting? You have to remove it either way
Originally Posted by andyd
Was the alternator the cause of its sitting? You have to remove it either way
No, I just stored it.
Was the alternator the cause of its sitting? You have to remove it either way
No, I just stored it.
Thats weird. Did a critter fill it up with some kind of nuts?
you can try spraying penetrating oil on the backside of the pulley and then tap on the pulley with a hammer to unstick the bearing.
either try turning it by hand with a wrench or try starting it a few times.
if you do get it unstuck but the alternator howls really bad, you may end up having to replace the alternator anyways.
I have a truck with a snow plow that sits a good portion of the year and the alternator has seized up on me a few times but i've been able to free it up, the alternator does howl a bit but because its not licensed and never leaves the property I haven't bothered to change it until it seizes up for good or stops charging
either try turning it by hand with a wrench or try starting it a few times.
if you do get it unstuck but the alternator howls really bad, you may end up having to replace the alternator anyways.
I have a truck with a snow plow that sits a good portion of the year and the alternator has seized up on me a few times but i've been able to free it up, the alternator does howl a bit but because its not licensed and never leaves the property I haven't bothered to change it until it seizes up for good or stops charging
JHZR2
Staff member
Not sure I'd want to trust a stick alternator for much use of that vehicle.
Originally Posted by atikovi
2012 Fiat 500 that's been sitting 6 months. When go to start it today, I heard a terrible squealing noise and smoke coming from the engine. Turns out the alternator is seized. A replacement is only $110, but what are the chances of getting it unstuck? Or replacing the bearings?
Good luck. Get a replacement and be done
2012 Fiat 500 that's been sitting 6 months. When go to start it today, I heard a terrible squealing noise and smoke coming from the engine. Turns out the alternator is seized. A replacement is only $110, but what are the chances of getting it unstuck? Or replacing the bearings?
Good luck. Get a replacement and be done
Try unsticking it. You don't have much to lose.
Not the first time I've (or others) have heard of this happening.
I always wondered if there's a spray you could shoot into a seasonally used alternator.
If I had to guess, I'd shoot it with 5-56. Any ideas or experience out there?
I always wondered if there's a spray you could shoot into a seasonally used alternator.
If I had to guess, I'd shoot it with 5-56. Any ideas or experience out there?
I successfully unstuck the alt on an XJ cherokee I bought from my work. Just put a breaker bar and 27-ish mm socket on the big nut inside the pulley.
It worked fine, didn't squeak or chirp. I didn't lube it or do anything else.
Same scenario-- had been sitting a while.
It worked fine, didn't squeak or chirp. I didn't lube it or do anything else.
Same scenario-- had been sitting a while.
Can you take off the belt, put a breaker bar on the nut in the pulley and wiggle it back and forth a bit? To try to get it unstuck? If you do get it to work, well, start planning for a new one anyway, it's not going to be long for this world.
DC is humid when its not raining. Perfect climate for a dry bearing to rust up, Same thing happening inside the engine and exhaust. is why sitting is bad for cars.
Take it to a rebuild shop.
Originally Posted by 53' Stude
Originally Posted by atikovi
2012 Fiat 500 that's been sitting 6 months. When go to start it today, I heard a terrible squealing noise and smoke coming from the engine. Turns out the alternator is seized. A replacement is only $110, but what are the chances of getting it unstuck? Or replacing the bearings?
Good luck. Get a replacement and be done
x2.
Originally Posted by atikovi
2012 Fiat 500 that's been sitting 6 months. When go to start it today, I heard a terrible squealing noise and smoke coming from the engine. Turns out the alternator is seized. A replacement is only $110, but what are the chances of getting it unstuck? Or replacing the bearings?
Good luck. Get a replacement and be done
x2.
Originally Posted by andyd
DC is humid when its not raining. Perfect climate for a dry bearing to rust up, Same thing happening inside the engine and exhaust. is why sitting is bad for cars.
Plus the garage I store it in gets water on the floor by the door during heavy rains. Anything vinyl inside starts growing stuff on it. Like this Ranger,
![[Linked Image from fototime.com]](http://www.fototime.com/3DEBF5756235698/large.jpg "[Linked Image from fototime.com]")
I cut the belt off and it runs fine. Going to drive it home 22 miles like that after charging the battery so I can work on it. Should be well within the reserve capacity.
DC is humid when its not raining. Perfect climate for a dry bearing to rust up, Same thing happening inside the engine and exhaust. is why sitting is bad for cars.
Plus the garage I store it in gets water on the floor by the door during heavy rains. Anything vinyl inside starts growing stuff on it. Like this Ranger,
I cut the belt off and it runs fine. Going to drive it home 22 miles like that after charging the battery so I can work on it. Should be well within the reserve capacity.
Did you make it home on a single charge?
I have heard of people driving with jump packs installed.
I have heard of people driving with jump packs installed.
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