Alternator Whine

I'm sorry if this has been asked before but I'm having an issue with a whine coming from the Alternator. I had a major service and asked them to check this and they said it was a common issue and it's just how the car sounds. It kind of sounds like a large fan or electric car and pitch goes higher when you accelerate.
The noise is there when putting your foot down when idle too.
Any idea on if this is common and any way to get rid of the noise?
Apologies again if this has brought up before, I've recently passed my driving test and this is my first so my knowledge is lacking.

Thanks

Hi Trevski18

Trevski18 wrote:It kind of sounds like a large fan or electric car and pitch goes higher when you accelerate.

Can you record the sound, put it on youtube and attach the video here?

Trevski18 wrote:The noise is there when putting your foot down when idle too.

Keep the car stationery with the engine running, then switch on all the lights and the rear heated screen. Does the pitch change without changing the engine speed?

Hi Trevski18

How do you hear this noise, is it from under the bonnet or through the audio system?

Is it just the garage that have said it's your alternator?

Arfur Dent wrote:Hi Trevski18

Trevski18 wrote:It kind of sounds like a large fan or electric car and pitch goes higher when you accelerate.

Can you record the sound, put it on youtube and attach the video here?

Trevski18 wrote:The noise is there when putting your foot down when idle too.

Keep the car stationery with the engine running, then switch on all the lights and the rear heated screen. Does the pitch change without changing the engine speed?

Thanks for responding. I was going to record this tonight but it's far too windy here to get a decent recording. Will get back to you tomorrow.

Missing Lincs wrote:Hi Trevski18

How do you hear this noise, is it from under the bonnet or through the audio system?

Is it just the garage that have said it's your alternator?

It's not coming through the radio. I can hear it whilst driving and under the bonnet from the drivers side.

I thought it was the alternator just because of where the sound was coming from and asked the garage to take a look whilst it was in for service. They said it's a common sound so I'm assuming, maybe badly, thats them confirming it is an alternator sound.

If the sound is coming from the alternator, it will be the bearing whining. Either replace the bearing yourself or a replacement unit is needed.

I'm thinking it is a bearing but wanted to make sure but looking at replacing it. I have recorded the sound below.

https://youtu.be/zJVvd6EDmZY
Apologies for being late with getting this. Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks for the video.

I can hear two different sounds that bother me.

The first is a tappety tap from the top. It sounds like a diesel. Possibly due to a lack of oil either now or in the past.

The other sound is like a bearing gone dry. It will fail before long.

It could be the alternator, the alternator tensioner, the cam belt follower or the cam belt tensioner.

I suggest you take it to a different garage because the original garage don't know what they are talking about. The C3 should definitely not sound like this.

Thanks for the reply. The oil was recently flushed and changed. Levels look good. If this is a past issue with oil would there be any way to repair this?

Second, do you think it would be a good idea to remove the alternator belt and run it to make sure it is an alternator bearing rather than cam belt?

Thanks

Trevski18 wrote:Thanks for the reply. The oil was recently flushed and changed. Levels look good. If this is a past issue with oil would there be any way to repair this?

No problem.

You will need to replace the cam shaft and cam followers or whatever is worn at the top end. It could be a valve sticking. You have to remove the cam cover to look.

But, do the alternator belt first. You also need to check the TVD



If there is one on your engine, they can make a tapping sound when failed.

Trevski18 wrote:Second, do you think it would be a good idea to remove the alternator belt and run it to make sure it is an alternator bearing rather than cam belt?

You can do that, it won't be a problem.

Depending if the noise disappears you can do this:

With the belt off you can also spin, rotate and wobble the alternator pulley and the tensioner pulley and any idler pulleys that are free of the belt. Any wobble, dryness or grinding would indicate a worn bearing.