something wrong???? HELP

[potshots007]

i just hopped into my car today and it mad some funny wining sound from under the bonnet and then later after i was driving for a bit the battery light on the dash came on, what has happened does anybody know? if ayone has any ideas please tell me so i can check it out.
regards, Nick

[MavVP]

The two things might be unrelated

When did you check the water in your battery last?
How long did the wining sound last when you started it up?
Have you done any work on the car recently, (anything)?

[potshots007]

the battery water is full, the wining stayed on for a little while until i gave it a rev, the power steering fluid is full. i have not done anythign at all on the car, well not mechanical wise, i have done a bit of ineterior work like lights and shit

[rattattack1313]

Starter motor &/or solenoid........

[potshots007]

its not the winig im worried about its the battery light on dash which comes on and goes out every now and then

[samuels]

its not the winig im worried about its the battery light on dash which comes on and goes out every now and then

alternator need o/haul,brushes worn,whining is your bearings in the alternator,thats why your battery light is coming on,does your battery sound sluggish next morning?

[potshots007]

nah battery seems to be fine, starts easily, the light on the dash only comes on every now and then, the light stays on longer when the engine is warm/hot.

[spacattack]

ahh at the back of the alternator youll see this little thing bolted on there its called a voltage regulator mine did exzactly the same thing trust me V6 and V8's are renouned for goin threw them like theres no tomoro undo the 2 screws in it ( it plain to see what ya have to do ) then just wriggle it slightly to get out now at the bottom of it youll see 2 little bars that when ya push on em they go in there called ya contact points if when they are out are less than 1cm or near that chuck it out its useless got to auto barn spend 21 bucks get a new one job take about 10mins to get out then new in should fix ya problem

[potshots007]

ok cool, i took it off yesterday and the contact points are down quite a bit, less than a cm and one is worn down more than the other

[spacattack]

yep its ya voltage regulator alright

[potshots007]

now im just curious as to what the wining sound is? i topped up power steering and thats not wining, its something else and i cant quite pick it, got an ideas?

[genIIIbandit]

Yep close, they are called brushes, not contact points, just b carefull that the brush hasn't worn the armature (copper looking thing that the brush makes contact with). Its a good idea to clean armature with a com stick, also check that there is an air gap between sections in the armature. The winning sound might be the bearings in the alternator, try removing belt and spin the alternator, check 4 noise. Goodluck

[potshots007]

well i just went out and spray the alternator with some CRC and seems to have stopped the wining, im thinking (hoping) it was just some dust that flew up inside the alternator as i have been driving around with no bumper and grill for a few days. I am going to buy a brand new alternator and starter motor, when i get enough money. its F&%$#@ not working

[samuels]

well i just went out and spray the alternator with some CRC and seems to have stopped the wining, im thinking (hoping) it was just some dust that flew up inside the alternator as i have been driving around with no bumper and grill for a few days. I am going to buy a brand new alternator and starter motor, when i get enough money. its F&%$#@ not working

i'd say the CRC has gotten in and lubricated your almost stuffed bearing.did you check to see if it was your voltage regulator?if thats ok.....will be an alternator o7haul or get an exchange one,but be absolutely postive that it is your alternator
does your dash lamps,i mean every thing from illumination to high beam light in the dash or even headlights flare when you indicate or accelerate,etc,etc?

[potshots007]

well i didnt find any lighting changes, stereo flat out and lights on high beam and can indicate, no change from before,

[samuels]

well i didnt find any lighting changes, stereo flat out and lights on high beam and can indicate, no change from before,

best bet,is to run it in to an auto electrician and get him to test it on the vehichle,usually they don't charge,his multimeter will tell all,unless you have one yourself and are comprehensable of auto electrics.