help, alternator is out

[slingblade]

hi everybody, i am looking for any tips on changing my alternator, i just put a new battery on 2 weeks ago, and this morning it was dead, i have a power pack with alternator check, and it indicated bad alternator. it has been making a high pitched whining noise for a few weeks also, kinda like a supercharger would make. i would appreciate any input on how hard is this to change out, and any experiences you guys have had. my lc has 230K on it, and has never had alternator fixed.

 

[re_guderian]

Buy an OEM replacement. Search - there's one or two good threads on replacement here. You won't be overwhelmed by search results as it is not a high failure item. Depending on year, room to remove it out the bottom is tight.

 

[KLF]

Another option that you might think about: it might just need new brushes. This is a common thing with hi-mileage mini-trucks, I've rescued a few alternators by just replacing them. Cheap, easy fix, hardest part is getting the alternator out.

 

[agaisin]

it has been making a high pitched whining noise for a few weeks also, kinda like a supercharger would make.

Another option that you might think about: it might just need new brushes. This is a common thing with hi-mileage mini-trucks, I've rescued a few alternators by just replacing them. Cheap, easy fix, hardest part is getting the alternator out.

slingblade says he heard whining noise - if it was coming from the alternator than he probably needs to replace a bearing as well.

 

[slingblade]

Thanks to you all!

with the help of the members here, my job took a little under 4 hours from start to finish. The whining noise is now gone. I did have to cut a small notch in my fan shroud to get the alternator out on my 99 LC. that was much easier than moving the lines, and possibly damaging one of them.