Horrible engine noise *Video inside*
 

Please don't move this to the Photo/Video section, as this is pertaining to vehicle maintenance.

My 323 is making a horrible noise, coming from the engine bay. It's a bad, bad screeching sound. Like squeeling belts, which it is, but worse. It usually makes the noise when I start the car, but not always. I can also make is squeel when I turn more accessories on, like my lights, and have the vent fan on full blast, and my stereo on.

Which leads me to believe that it's the alternator thats bad. Perhaps somehow it's seizing up, which makes the belt slip. As you can maybe see in the video, it makes the water pump pully kinda shake.

I don't think it's the water pump because the engine never really gets hot. And I don't know what else it would be, the engine runs really smooth.

Here's the link: Yes, my engine bay is really fucking dirty, and yes, I have quarts of oil sitting in there :D

http://breich.tripod.com/323_Engine.wmv

If anyone else can host this, I'd appreciate it... I'm mooching off my friends website right now. (It's only 550k)

I was unable to open the video file, however what you have described sounds like what happend to me! In my instance, the bearings inside the alternator had siezed up. I took it to an alternator shop and the guy looked at it quickly and said it was fine. Later i found out that the problem was that the bearings would only act up under load, so if you were just spinning the wheel by hand you would not notice it! Try putting a different alternator in if you have one lying around, or take it out and get it tested under load at an alternator shop. It only cost me $50cdn. to have mine rebuilt!

right click and save as

Have you tried just replacing / tightening the belts?

edit: It looks kind of like the pulley is slowing down when it makes the squealing noise...am I seeing that right?

Sorry, I should have mentioned. The belt is brand new, still has the writing on it, and it's not loose. Yes, the water pump pulley seems to slow down when it squeels.

i cant see the video, but i got the sound:wtf:

Hmm, then I'd have to agree with you and vtec-this...alternator problems... do you know how many miles are on it? I seem to recall somebody saying they tend to go at 120,000miles ish, although that's about where mine is and it's okay.

I needed to play the video in Windows Media Player 9 to get both the video and sound.

my car squeeks on cold and/or rainy days.. only at idle. then when i drive it squeeks up until round 800rpm then go away. when the the lites + fogs are on it squeeks louder at idle. on hot days sometimes it still squeeks. weird shtuff. =P

That seems about right, I have just under 120k on it.

Sorry if you can't see or hear the video... Maybe I'll export it as an MPEG instead. I'm using winXP, and used windows movie maker 2.0 to encode the video...

Does anyone know the approximate cost of a replacement alternator? Any higher-output units out there?

I don't know about price, but I think that if you want a higher-output alternator, get the V6 MX-3 one, it's 90amp, versus 65amp, and shouldn't be to hard to switch over (from what I gather).

i remember getting an alternator for $65 at a u-pull it JY, i didnt pull it they just sold me a recharged/rebuilt one.

phone local alternator shops. they actually sell them cheaper than jy on some models.

rebuild it yourself
 

rebuild it yourself its not that hard i just did it a lil while ago,

1.)take out your altenator and undo the 4 bolts holding the two peices together

2.)first step you might as well do anyways it to sand down the hard metal (hard to explain) shapped like spades with some sand paper to remove dirt and rust

3.) now where the pully is theres a bolt in the center, losen this bolt and remove it, you will see the bearings and such after this

check for blueish burnmarks on the shaft and bearings and spacers(if there thats probally your squeeking)

4.) if you can remove the bearing (4 star heads, probally seized tight) greese it up really good, but if not just pack it in there, and lube those spacers in there as well they cause alot of the squeeking

be VERY carefull not to add too much lube due to the fact when it spins it sends lube everywhere causing the altenator to not fuction properly, then you have to start it all over again

and no lube on the pully, any copper or spade shapped thingys

reverse the process to reassemble, make sure to put all the right spacers and such in the right places, after that WASH YOUR HANDS!! no lube should touch anything else

when sliding the altenator back together be care fully not to bend or break any copper wires if you do is F$^ked over for good, not hard to do just dont force it, just so you know bout it not like its hard to do


ONE MORE THING when sliding it all back together get a small peice of picture frame wire, something small and not very flexible,

theres two pin like things where the axel/shaft seats on the other side of the altenator, stick your small wire throught the outside in while pushing the pins in with your fingers, this will probally take you a few times to work, then you altenator will slide back together no prob, pull the wire as you push in the shaft and other side of the altenator

i know it sounds hard but its not all that bad, takes maybe an hour to 1 1/2 hrs, very stright forward , once your into it it will be simple , if you need more info or have questions PM me

good luck, this fixed my mad squealing:D :p ;)

alternator bearings is the first thing that came to my mind bud by the sounds of the squeeling. key sign that it's close to or going to die completely soon. cheapest option i see, junkyard it... go to http://www.car-part.com and search for a junkyard in your area that has the alt you need, plenty near or around williamsport... eitherwise, i can swing you one for $11 bucks from my junkyard (plenty of 323's in my yard :) ) ...well, plus shipping. no guarentee's on whether the alternator works or not, but hey, can't beat trying that out. give me a pm if you want me to pick one up for ya from my junkyard. good luck.
peace

Thanks for all your help, guys... I'm going to try and go to a wrecker maybe sometime this week. Until then, the 323 is grounded! :(

I got a new alternator, and installed it today. Install is rediculously easy, took me about 20 min. Turns out it definately was the problem.

Car drives smoother (engine power delivery, no surging throughout the RPM range), no noises, and system hits harder... Good times :D

If anyone is interested, I'll make a how-to install video... It's very easy, but I just like my new video cam :D