2015 THREAD RESURRECTION

[LAZ 1]

Just took my 98 Safari into MIDAS for a wheel alignment.

Strange coincidence, but the next day I heard a NEW sound coming out from under the hood.
Sort of a Humming/whirring noise, similar to a supercharger spooling up, that increased with RPM.
HMmmmmm??

Thought it might be power steering pump low on fluid or possibly the alternator.

Sure enough, next morning after a 200 km road trip, with both headlights and A/C on high, my van would not start.
Dead battery.
Did not notice any lights left on so ....?

Charged the battery overnight, and it came up to 13 V.
Checked the charging output at idle with a multi meter and it is at 14.2 V.
Dash gage shows 13.9 V.

So now both the battery and the alternator seem OK??

Looked up the repair receipts and the alternator is a replacement BOSCH, 10 yrs old, with 130 Km on it.

Hopefully it is not time to do a re and re on the alternator.
If I do have to do a replacement, glad to find the detailed instructions in another thread here on the site.

[AstroWill]

According to your tests, the alternator is fine, at least electrically.

[LAZ 1]

Yes but ....
driving around I see the volt gage drop to 12 when I have the lights and the heater fan on.

Under load shouldn't there be more than that?

[AstroWill]

I would be checking and cleaning connections.

[LAZ 1]

Midas checked both the alternator and the battery.
Battery tested out as good, alternator NOT good. Only putting out 12V.
They say it is probably a blown diode.

I have A SPARE PARTS VAN with low Kms on it so will pull the alternator tomorrow and replace it.
OH BOY!!

[LAZ 1]

Swapped in another alternator from my spare parts van. Noise went away, Voltage output went up to 14.5 V at idle. Under load ( wipers+heater+lights) voltage no longer drops below 12 V but stays over 14.
Saved almost $400 from Midas estimate, and only took two hours.
OH BOY!