I think I am having alternator problems, I have this loud metal screeching noise coming from that area, and I know that I have a bent fan blade in the alternator. My question is, I really dont want to buy a new one if it is still working.....but the noise is loud. Anyone know how I can test it to see if it is that, or something that would make the alternator screech like that. Any help is appreciated.

 

ttt

 

two thoughts:
see if you can put a thin piece of cardboard all the way around the alt fins.
If not, a fin is rubbing, and a pair of pliers might pull it back to line up with the other fins.

2. Remove the alt belt and run the motor a few seconds. No squeak means it is the alternator....squeak continues......might be something else. Keep us posted.-Bob

 

If you find that the pulley/fan isn't rubbing, it could be a bad brush internally. Another thing to consider: If it's really loud, you'll at the very least have to remove it to fix the problem, whatever it may be. Consider how much your time is worth. Using a bad alternator as a core in exchange for a rebuilt alternator from Discount shouldn't be all that expensive. Less than $100. About $80 after core. It's a pain in the ass to change brushes, IMO. Why bother when you can have a clean serviceable part ready to go right in
?