About 6 months ago or so my alternator started squealing when I hit a certain rpm. Since that time I thought it was going bad but I never had the money to get a new one. My battery stays charged, I don't have any power loss (I have 2 subs and my speakers amped). I was talking to my dads friend tonight and he said my alternator has dirt in it (I do take my truck out and play in the mud) and to get this electrical spray and clean it out.

Think that is the problem or is it slowly going out?

 

Sounds like your dads friend is right. Spray it out and see if it goes away it may or may not work depending on how far the crud has worked it's way into the alt.. If it doesn't go away you may have to pull it and open it up and spray it out. If you have to do that check the front and especially the rear bearing for play. If you find play in the bearings you could go to an auto electric shop and have them put a new bearing in it or depending on your capabilities you might be able to do it yourself.

 

Your sure its the alternator and not the water pump right? I mean Water pumps squeek when going out and they are located pretty close.

Just a thought?

 

I couple months ago I had my friend that works at pep boy listen to it because at the time I didn't know what it was and he said it was the alternator making all the noise.


What do you guys suggest I get to spray it out with?

 

A can of electronics cleaner. Do it with the truck off and give it a few minutes to dry out before starting the truck. If you don't let it dry out you could start a fire.

 

i doubt there is anything in your alternator, or that spraying it with anything will make a difference. an alternator is an electric motor, with a stationary field and a rotating armature and a thin air gap between them. any water or mud would get slung out. any mud left behind on the stationary parts is not going to make any noise.

more likely you have a bad bearing on the pulley end of the shaft. the only thing that will quieten it down is a new bearing (or a rebuilt alternator).

 

I got some spray at Advanced yesterday, sprayed it down with the whole can and it did nothing at all. I thought before it could have been a bearing until the idea of dirt was coming up. My belt could use replaced as well, what are the chances it could be that squealing?

 

A new belt is only a few bucks and never hurts to replace. If the old one is good, keep it as a spare, but like DV said, you will most likely either have to put up with the noise or get a new alt.

 

Like DV and 2nd gen said, it's a pissed of bearing that you are hearing. It sucks. I know. I'm dealing with one right now, and it's embarrassing when you stomp the throttle and the rpms spike into the 3000 range, and that low growl of the Flow masters is fouled by this sound in the engine bay. Reminds me of someone trying to strangle a chipmunk. I spray mine down with a silicone lube every now and then, but once it cooks off, it comes back. I'm waiting for it to seize and torch the belt at the same time.

 

Are you getting good tension on your belt? Maybe your belt tensioner is going bad. check and see if the inner ribs of your belt are glazed or not. Just a thought.