I have experienced now twice  a loud gravel type noise (the sort when you drive over a loose ish surface and it hits the car) and the noise gets louder as you rev the engine. It goes away within about a minute but is really quite worrying. Anyone know what it could be?

Could the clutch pulley on the alternator. Mine sounded similar when it when but it was happening most of the time

Could the clutch pulley on the alternator. Mine sounded similar when it when but it was happening most of the time

interesting because the belt on the alternator came off today

Alternator will be working when you start the car up. When it goes away try turning your radio player, blower on full, lights etc and see if it comes back

Alternator will be working when you start the car up. When it goes away try turning your radio player, blower on full, lights etc and see if it comes back

when the belt was off and it started again, i don't think the alternator was spinning

So you started the car with the belt off and the noise was still there? Maybe get a video and for us and try and locate roughly where you think that noie is coming from.

So you started the car with the belt off and the noise was still there? Maybe get a video and for us and try and locate roughly where you think that noie is coming from.

No the noise was before the belt fell off. The belt fell off and now it won't charge the battery. Do you know why a belt would fall off?

I don't know why it could fall off, but if you can start the car now and the noise is still there then it rules out any of the auxiliary systems.

A pulley has failed, that's why the belts get thrown off.

The alternator pulley should have a clutch in it, so that's possibly failed.

To be honest I've known them all to fail, only way to tell is to spin them by hand and listen or use proper gear.

A pulley has failed, that's why the belts get thrown off.

The alternator pulley should have a clutch in it, so that's possibly failed.

To be honest I've known them all to fail, only way to tell is to spin them by hand and listen or use proper gear.

if i start the car and drive it without the belt on the alternator am i going to cause damage to the engine? This is only driving it about 5 miles to a mechanic near me. The belt i can see but it has fallen off

Can you remove the belt fully?

Can you remove the belt fully?

if i can what else is the belt attached to?

Nothing it should be loose in the engine bay

Nothing it should be loose in the engine bay

apart from having no power, is there any disadvantages to not having the belt on the alternator, will it mess things up? Thanks a lot by the way. 

No power as in, electric power. Driving wise it should be exactly the same.

It's fine to drive a short distance with the radio and fans off etc. Basically your car will drive until the battery goes flat which all depends on the battery, could be 200 yards, could be 10 mile I'm not sure.

The worry is starting it with the belt loose in the engine bay, it can get pulled into the timing belt and the engine will be toast.