Does this sound like the alternator or something else?

[jond]

I can't tell where the sound is coming from, I'm curious if the sound is unique enough that someone might know what it is.

I'm leaning towards the alternator, it seemed like the belt on it was moving a bit more when the car was cold before the video was shot, although turning on the headlights, defrost, etc doesn't change the sound at all.




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[tbnsxt]

I would remove the alternator belt and ac compressor belt and see if the noise goes away. If so, it is probably the ac compressor belt idler pulley.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Does the sound change if you turn on the A/C?

The sound in the second vid, when you went under the car was worse, so maybe compressor pulley bearing is bad. If you remove the belts, do one at a time.

Regards,
LarryB

 

[jond]

Thanks Guys. I don't think the sound is different when the AC is on, but of course when I went out to test it just now, now it's not doing it.
How hard is it to replace the compressor pulley?

 

[Larry Bastanza]

How hard is it to replace the compressor pulley?

That will be some work. You need to get the compressor out of position, so a few things need to come off. You may be able to do it without disconnecting the freon lines if you are careful.

But....before that I would exhaust all other things, like the tensioner pulley mentioned above. If the sounds does not change w/A/C - on/off, the tensioner pulley is more likely.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[jond]

Good deal. Thanks Larry!