So I installed Caspers heavy duty battery cable and a new 140 amp alternator, same belt. Ran it for a couple of days, no problem, 13.8 to 14.2 votls..then I went on a 2 hour road trip and noticed halfway to my destination that the battery volts were at 11.5, 11.4,11.3 until when I finally made it to my destination the car died at like 9.5 volts. I needed to make it back home after the weekend so I bought a new battery and a charger, I charged my old battery just in case I would need it and drove back home with the new one. I was at a light and noticed a loud sqeeeeeeek, then the volts jumped back up to 14. I got to high speed and noticed that I lost some power and the car wasnt running as smoothly all of a sudden, I check the volts and back to 11.3... Basically this kept happening, it was almost as if the alternator or the belt was slipping and once it "caught" it would return to working mode with a loud squeek. Anyway, I'm glad I took the extra battery cause the car died on me halfway home...I finally made it but the alternator works when it wants to and there is the occasional "engaging" squeek. I know it's not uncommon to have a brand new bad alternator, but the squeek throws me off? The alternator also works fine when I feel that something engaged (with the squeek), I don't know if this makes any sense to anybody...any takers? Sorry for the rambling.
Voltage drop, new alternator, squeeeeeeeek
- Thread starter DynamicGN
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I am not sure if it is for the impala, I got it off an alternator distributor from my dads mechanic shop back in Miami. They said it was for the Grand National, but I just noticed the pulley is a little bit smaller than the stock alternator pulley, almost a centimeter. I thought the tensioner took care of this, the belt doesn't seem loose...should I switch pulleys?
salvageV6
Daily Driver
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Definately switch the pulleys if using a stock 640 length serpentine belt.
NAPA makes a 060637 belt that works well on my cars with tired old tensioner springs.
Some use the 635 length as well.
And make sure the brown field current wire is securely in the connector securely into the alternator socket.
And make sure the volts light goes on when you turn the key to the ON position every time prior to starting the car.
NAPA makes a 060637 belt that works well on my cars with tired old tensioner springs.
Some use the 635 length as well.
And make sure the brown field current wire is securely in the connector securely into the alternator socket.
And make sure the volts light goes on when you turn the key to the ON position every time prior to starting the car.
mikestertwo
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The "squeek" is probably the belt slipping when the alternator suddenly kicks in.
I tried switching pulleys, I don't have an airgun and the new alternator has plastic fins so sticking a screwdriver inbetween was not a good idea. Can I just get a smaller belt and leave the same pulley? If so, which belt out of those two do you recommend for my situation?
I'd find someone with an impact wrench and gat that pulley changed. Easier if you have a belt problem on the highway and can't remember the name or number of the replacement belt. It's easier for parts stores to look up the stock belt.
The squealing you are hearing is the loss of the belts traction over the smaller pulley. Exacly what has been mentioned. The smaller pulley won't give as good of traction to the belt as it is supposed to have. A centimeter in overall size (diameter) would loosely translate into about a 35 to 40% loss of surface area that the larger pulley would give the belt...40% of the original surface area...at the angle the belt covers over the pulley.
The squealing you are hearing is the loss of the belts traction over the smaller pulley. Exacly what has been mentioned. The smaller pulley won't give as good of traction to the belt as it is supposed to have. A centimeter in overall size (diameter) would loosely translate into about a 35 to 40% loss of surface area that the larger pulley would give the belt...40% of the original surface area...at the angle the belt covers over the pulley.
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