Hey guys,

Just looking for a bit of help with this. Last Monday the car developed a rattle from cold start up which seems to be located from around the alternator area behind the drivers light. I haven't pinpointed it directly but it seems like its definately coming from this area. The rattle last for abouts 30 seconds to 1 minute before disappearing completely. It only returns when the car is stone cold, sitting for 4-5 hours its still fine, has to be left overnight for it to return again.

Any ideas what This may be?I had the fan belt replaced a number of weeks ago. Have considered flywheel but its just too far forward and doesn't sound severe or sinister enough. Car drives absolutely fine, no clutch slip or vibration when loaded. Starting to bug me now! Lol any help would be much appreciated! Apologies for the essay

Jordan

Alternator bearings going bad mine make a racket.

Thanks you pretty much hit the nail on the head, had a good listen yesterday and appears to be coming right from the alternator. What's the solution for this? New alternator? Or can the bearings be replaced?

Also anyone know where's good for sourcing an alternator if required? Not sure whether to go brand new or second hand.

It's probably not the bearings tbh, it would whine constantly ( like my mrs) if the bearings were fubar, those alternators have a clutched pulley and they sometimes make an awful noise when they are cold.

Could the belt be too tight?

Could the belt be too tight?

Hi Wilsy7

Unlikely as belt is tensioned by a spring loaded tensioner roller. Follow the belt back from the top of the alternator pulley and you'll see it. This makes a very light rattling sound on my car - but it's there all the time!!

Alan

Hi Wilsy7

Unlikely as belt is tensioned by a spring loaded tensioner roller. Follow the belt back from the top of the alternator pulley and you'll see it. This makes a very light rattling sound on my car - but it's there all the time!!

Alan

That's the thing, it only lasts for about 30 seconds before disappearing completely!

Edited 25 January, 201313 yr by wilsy7

Does it make this noise?

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/259549-car-shaking-again/

The alternator will be working its hardest when started from cold as the starter draws a lot of current, so you probably only hear it then as this is when it is working the hardest. If you were to put a lot of load on the alternator you'd probably hear it again, although it'd have to be a lot to draw the same current as starting... If you had a voltmeter on the battery you'd probably find it'll go down to about 9-10V when you first start and then it will creep back up to 13ish volts pretty quickly.

Having a voltmeter and boost gauge on my previous fabia taught me a fair bit about engine behaviour...

Does it make this noise?

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/259549-car-shaking-again/

No sorry, how easy is it uploading to YouTube? Can it be done via the app on iOS?

The alternator will be working its hardest when started from cold as the starter draws a lot of current, so you probably only hear it then as this is when it is working the hardest. If you were to put a lot of load on the alternator you'd probably hear it again, although it'd have to be a lot to draw the same current as starting... If you had a voltmeter on the battery you'd probably find it'll go down to about 9-10V when you first start and then it will creep back up to 13ish volts pretty quickly.

Having a voltmeter and boost gauge on my previous fabia taught me a fair bit about engine behaviour...

Thanks for that!

Wonder if there's any way of fixing the clutch pulley issue without replacing the alternator? :S is it even part of the alternator or a separate component?

Hi,

Replaced my alternator clutch pulley a few months ago ('51 plate Octavia turbo diesel) - the alternator must be removed and a pulley extractor tool used - available e-bay. Not a difficult operation but awkward.

best of luck

Wingless

the best cure to any rattle / annoying noise it to turn the radio up louder