alternator heating up why???

[corvettelover]

Hey fellow corvette owners l have a problem my alternator is getting so hot that you can't even touch it,the red wire that goes to it from the battery is getting so hot also to the point you can't touch it.Help don't know why does anyone know whats going on ?? Thanks Danno

 

[c4cruiser]

Get it tested. Sounds like a possible short. Heat from the engine gets trapped in the engine compartment and that is the #1 killer of C4 alternators. But this sounds like an internal problem.

Other than the heat, does the voltmeter show a normal voltage? It can be anywhere from around 13.7 to 14.8 or so. You can check the voltage at the red wire to see if it's different from the dash display.

 

[Vettefan87]

Yes i have found that the digital dash is a little off when i checked my voltage to the volt meter it, the digital dash read out about .3-.5 volts lower then the voltmeter.

 

[switch]

Probably wouldn't hurt to have the battery checked at the same time, also check the red wire connection for tightness, corrosion, etc.

Gordon
Witchhunter Performance
http://www.witchhunter.com

 

[rwpeders]

Would an alternater having trouble due to heat emit a high pitched noise? I have noticed that driving down the street I get the noise reflected back to me and it is tied to RPM, but within a specific RPM range.

The voltage is okay on the gages. Has anyone else experienced this type of noise from an alternator?

 

[c4cruiser]

Did you check the noise with the hood up and standing next to the alternator? A noise like this usually indicates a bad bearing. Excessive underhood heat can cook the bearing lubricant and cause failure.

 

[rwpeders]

Did you check the noise with the hood up and standing next to the alternator? A noise like this usually indicates a bad bearing. Excessive underhood heat can cook the bearing lubricant and cause failure.

And right you are, it turns out the noise is not the alternator but a pulley in the belt system. Too bad it isn't simple where you can just grease it. No one has it in stock, so Chevrolet is overnighting it.

Thanks for the response.