Ok, every now and then my alternator starts making a raspy noise. It'll last for a couple minuts then go away. The belt is tight, nothing loose, its charging ok, battery is not dead, etc etc. Like I said it doesn't make the noise all the time, just every s often. Whats the deal here?

 

You could have a bearing going out.

Joe

 

I agree with FireAm94. My father-in-law's pickup had the same problem. It will get worse as time goes on--start looking for a new alternator.

 

I'll go for bearing, too. Better start thinking of replacing the bearings or getting a new alt. You know it is going to break when you don't want it to.

The diodes can make noise too, when they are going out. They like to make a high pitched scream, but once they start, it usually does not come and go. The bearings will make a more metallic, whir/growl noise.

 

Thats exactly the sound it makes.. So thats the bearings IN the alternator? How much do alternators on these cars go for? On my old '87 Cougar a rebuilt one from Autozone was around $60.

Or can I just replace the bearings? Whats the cost/difficulty of that?