Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK

btleier · 01-14-2005, 10:32 PM

Hey guys, I'm unsure of exactly where I should be posting, but I'm gonna try here. Mods sorry if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move.

Here is my problem. On my way home tonight, I was driving on the highway, all of a sudden I have a very noticable whining sound coming from under the hood. I wasn't sure what was going on, so I continued on, watching my gauges closely. When I came into town, and started slowing down, the sound seemed to get louder, and louder.... however it would stop once I stop. I placed the car in neutral and tried reving to see if it would still make the noise, but it did not. When I stopped the car, I turned it off, and turned it back on to see if anything would reset. When I did this my gas gauge went to the E, and my low fuel light turned on, though I had just filled up with gas. The battery warning light is on, and my temperature gauges dropped all the way to the lowest temperature, and the 4wd buttons were not lite up, and stopped working. I took the car to a local automotive store, and had the alternator tested since the electrical system was acting goofy. They tested it, and said it was the alternator. We replaced the alternator, but the noise is still being made, and all the electrical issues still are present. Do you guys have any ideas? I'm supposed to be selling the car tomorrow, and I need help quick. The noise gets louder, as I accelerate.

*CLIFF NOTES*
car making weird noise
battery warning light on
fuel gauge below the E, and low fuel light on
temperature gauge stopped working
4x4 selection... indicator lights don't work
replaced alternator
still acting weird...

WELDERJEFFO · 01-14-2005, 10:34 PM

another bad alt, maybe? take it back and have 'em check it again.

btleier · 01-14-2005, 10:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by WELDERJEFFO

another bad alt, maybe? take it back and have 'em check it again.

I'm gonna have it tested tomorrow when the store opens again. I'm thinking about trying a new battery too. Maybe that will do it.

WELDERJEFFO · 01-14-2005, 10:39 PM

only other thing I can think of is maybe a bad idler, or tensioner pulley causing the belt to slip. But it seems like you and whoever checked the alt would've noticed it.
Good luck. let us know what happens.

andy84 · 01-14-2005, 11:05 PM

make sure the battery is charged fully before you put the new alternator back in (probably too late by now). It could be something else on your belt drive going out, which is causing the belt to slip.

btleier · 01-15-2005, 12:11 AM

well.... put the car on the charger... and about 12.5v just sitting there, and a hair over 14 when running... seems perfectly normal...

andy84... if there was something else causing that belt to slip it would mess with the electircal system, like I described.

01-14-2005, 10:32 PM	#1
btleier Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3 Location: User is: OffLine	Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK Hey guys, I'm unsure of exactly where I should be posting, but I'm gonna try here. Mods sorry if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move. Here is my problem. On my way home tonight, I was driving on the highway, all of a sudden I have a very noticable whining sound coming from under the hood. I wasn't sure what was going on, so I continued on, watching my gauges closely. When I came into town, and started slowing down, the sound seemed to get louder, and louder.... however it would stop once I stop. I placed the car in neutral and tried reving to see if it would still make the noise, but it did not. When I stopped the car, I turned it off, and turned it back on to see if anything would reset. When I did this my gas gauge went to the E, and my low fuel light turned on, though I had just filled up with gas. The battery warning light is on, and my temperature gauges dropped all the way to the lowest temperature, and the 4wd buttons were not lite up, and stopped working. I took the car to a local automotive store, and had the alternator tested since the electrical system was acting goofy. They tested it, and said it was the alternator. We replaced the alternator, but the noise is still being made, and all the electrical issues still are present. Do you guys have any ideas? I'm supposed to be selling the car tomorrow, and I need help quick. The noise gets louder, as I accelerate. CLIFF NOTES car making weird noise battery warning light on fuel gauge below the E, and low fuel light on temperature gauge stopped working 4x4 selection... indicator lights don't work replaced alternator still acting weird...
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-14-2005, 10:34 PM	#2
WELDERJEFFO Registered User Age: 50 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,728 Location: erie,pa User is: OffLine	Re: Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK another bad alt, maybe? take it back and have 'em check it again.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-14-2005, 10:36 PM	#3
btleier Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK Quote: Originally Posted by WELDERJEFFO another bad alt, maybe? take it back and have 'em check it again. I'm gonna have it tested tomorrow when the store opens again. I'm thinking about trying a new battery too. Maybe that will do it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-14-2005, 10:39 PM	#4
WELDERJEFFO Registered User Age: 50 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,728 Location: erie,pa User is: OffLine	Re: Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK only other thing I can think of is maybe a bad idler, or tensioner pulley causing the belt to slip. But it seems like you and whoever checked the alt would've noticed it. Good luck. let us know what happens.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-14-2005, 11:05 PM	#5
andy84 Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK make sure the battery is charged fully before you put the new alternator back in (probably too late by now). It could be something else on your belt drive going out, which is causing the belt to slip.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-15-2005, 12:11 AM	#6
btleier Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Newbie with electircal question... PLEASE HELP QUICK well.... put the car on the charger... and about 12.5v just sitting there, and a hair over 14 when running... seems perfectly normal... andy84... if there was something else causing that belt to slip it would mess with the electircal system, like I described.
	[Reply w/Quote]