New alternator installed same noise?

[CARGUY40]

Exactly but i didnt pay him anything he checked it for free and confirmed it was the alternator bearings so i came back the next day with a new alternator he installed it and i dont think just using a stethescope is the only way to determine it was bad he could have made sure by doing a charge test but no he was so sure.

 

[CARGUY40]

and i paid $120 to have the new alternator,new tensioner,and new belt installed dont u think thats too much or good price?

 

[Trav]

You changed it based on his diagnosis correct?
Can you return the new one? You might be worse than screwed on this deal because its electrical.

Are you sure the idler and tensioner pulleys were shot?
He didn't do a thorough test of the alternator before he condemned it. He owns it.

If i tell someone all 8 of their injectors are shot and they go and spend $800 on a new set and it turns out a screwed up i have to do something.
Sorry too bad isn't cutting it.

Personally i would buy the injectors from the customer and eat the loss when i sold them.
Sometimes it comes down to integrity, principal and character even if the law is on your side.

 

[CARGUY40]

yes he said it was the alternator causing the noise so i bought a new one and had him install it yet im still getting the same noise and yes the belt and idler tensioner did need to be done i could tell myself the belt had cracks in it and the idler puller was wobbling alot i just want my money back for at least the labor to install the new alternator.

 

[JHZR2]

Wait... "bad" because there is a bad bearing and it is noisy is different than "bad" and not performing electrically.

If I read correctly, the mechanic said it was bad and that the OP could keep driving but it would get louder.

If the replacement is of similar loudness, it could be that the "rebuilt" one had a questionable bearing that wasnt swapped, or that the bearing in the unit made noise that was not liked, but actually a normal variant...

Since the mechanic told the OP that it was OK to keep driving on it, there was obviously some question, and IMO its on the OP to deal with it now.

 

[CARGUY40]

well ive heard of similar stories where 3 alternators were replaced and all made the same noise so i dunno i guess this noise will never go away? is it possible the belt being too tight causing the alternator to make noise?

 

[eljefino]

It's possible how the alt is mounted can be causing a vibration/ resonance. Also a new belt can make noise for a week until it breaks in. It will also be tighter until it breaks in, though within the range of the tensioner.

 

[yonyon]

You have a spring loaded tensioner. For the belt to be too tight would mean it's too short (the tensioner should have a gauge to tell you this) or the tensioner was faulty from day one (unlikely) or the tesioner has corroded to the point where it doesn't move smoothly. The quick check for that last problem would be to grab the belt with your hand and pull it. The tensioner should move very smoothly and allow you to pull the belt a bit. When you release the belt the tensioner should return, again smoothly, to its previous position.

 

[CARGUY40]

ugggghhh so i found out that these buick century 3.1 v6 all make that same sound and its normal i guess the mechanic didnt know that sht and though yup alternator! I watched about 5 videos of the same car and they all make the same sound!!!

 

[Vikas]

Once a customer buys his own parts, why is the mechanic on the hook?

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Once a customer buys his own parts, why is the mechanic on the hook?


Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner.

Initial diagnosis was a "no charge". Customer brought in his own parts.


Originally Posted By: boostedtsiawd
ugggghhh so i found out that these buick century 3.1 v6 all make that same sound and its normal i guess the mechanic didnt know that sht and though yup alternator! I watched about 5 videos of the same car and they all make the same sound!!!


Now, what if you had taken the time to actually find that out before you went to a shop, bought parts from a 3rd party, paid to install them and then took the time to start a thread and complain about it on an internet forum?

When you have a base engine noise, it can echo throughout every ancillary component on there. Tech may have not known better, but you only paid him to put the parts on, the "diagnosis" was a no charge. You got what you paid for.

 

[Vikas]

Quote:
Initial diagnosis was a "no charge". Customer brought in his own parts.


The diagnosis was worth all the price that the customer paid for!!

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Trav
If the battery wasn't discharging and the noise is the same then its a safe assumption the alternator was okay.
Take it and get it tested, they can check for a noisy bearing on the machine.


Trav; Is this "machine" like an alternator 'dyno'??

Does it spin the armature/shaft/pulley at engine speeds?

One can have a bad bearing/bearing noise in an otherwise perfectly functioning (charging fully/regulating voltage/etc.) alternator, correct? (I ask because I have a front belt drive whine, but my alternator is < 2 years old, and functioning perfectly as far as charging goes, brand new belt AND ALL idler/tensioner pullies, and a brand new power steering pump.)

 

[Trav]

Yes it runs it at normal speed. If it has a bad bearing you will hear it loud and clear. You can even feel a loud sealed bearing.
Alternator bearings can be changed fairly easily also.

 

[Trav]

Quote:
Once a customer buys his own parts, why is the mechanic on the hook?

Same reason a doctor is on the hook when you buy your own medication from CVS with the prescription he wrote.

Edit: I agree. If the guy did his own diagnosing, bought the parts and said "here put this in" its a different story.
The fact he wasn't charged for the diagnosis is meaningless.

 

[CARGUY40]

i went to get my charging system checked out and with the car running its putting out 13.8-14.1 volts so i guess my charging system is fine? another thing is i noticed a lil flicker of the lights when i press the brake with the lights on is that normal? The car fires up no problem so i dont think its the battery.

 

[zzyzzx]

You should have left well enough alone. Now it's too late, and you have a spare alternator to show for it. I do think it's your fault and you should not bug the mechanic any more.

 

[Papa Bear]

My son has a 2003 Century 3.1 and it makes more whines/ticks/clunks than a farm tractor. It runs reliably though.

Like my wife says: "Turn the radio up"

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Yes it runs it at normal speed. If it has a bad bearing you will hear it loud and clear. You can even feel a loud sealed bearing.
Alternator bearings can be changed fairly easily also.


Could the bearings still be bad enough to make a whining noise even though there is NO excess play, or clicking, when the pulley/shaft is moved around without the belt attached (or 'roughness' when it is spun without the belt)??

 

[Trav]

If its smooth the full rotation with no roughness or stiff spots and the bearing has a slight amount of resistance from lube and doesn't just spin like it has no lube then its a very good bet its a good bearing and will be quiet.

Sorry i cant explain it any better, its sort of an acquired feeling.
Kestas can tell you more about bearings and diagnosing them.