Technical Noisy pulley

[Thisoldman]

My 2017 Tipo 1.6 diesel has developed an annoying rattle that seems to be coming from around the alternator pulley area....before I start stripping stuff out , does anyone know if there's a common problem with the pulley or it's bearing?
And is it possible to just swop out the pulley or is it a full on alternator swop, alternator is still charging normally.
TIA

 

[bugsymike]

My 2017 Tipo 1.6 diesel has developed an annoying rattle that seems to be coming from around the alternator pulley area....before I start stripping stuff out , does anyone know if there's a common problem with the pulley or it's bearing?
And is it possible to just swop out the pulley or is it a full on alternator swop, alternator is still charging normally.
TIA

Not sure on your model but some alternators have a "free wheeling clutch " in the pulley which can fail/get noisy.
You could try spraying oil directly at the pulley to see if the noise changes.
Are you sure it is not a alternator belt, that is another area noise can come from, spraying WD40 directly on the belt will soon show if it goes quiet, only do a little spray, it soon washes off with no issue, I have done it many times to locate faults.
I have also used a long screwdriver (very carefully) to my ear and against the alternator to check for location of noise like a stethoscope.
Do be careful as hospital will not be happy pulling the screwdriver out of your ear after it hit the pulley.
You can try turning headlights on and see if noise changes as alternator has extra load electrically on it.

 

[jackwhoo]

Could it be the crank pulley damper tvd

 

[Thisoldman]

Not sure on your model but some alternators have a "free wheeling clutch " in the pulley which can fail/get noisy.
You could try spraying oil directly at the pulley to see if the noise changes.
Are you sure it is not a alternator belt, that is another area noise can come from, spraying WD40 directly on the belt will soon show if it goes quiet, only do a little spray, it soon washes off with no issue, I have done it many times to locate faults.
I have also used a long screwdriver (very carefully) to my ear and against the alternator to check for location of noise like a stethoscope.
Do be careful as hospital will not be happy pulling the screwdriver out of your ear after it hit the pulley.
You can try turning headlights on and see if noise changes as alternator has extra load electrically on it

 

[Thisoldman]

Noise doesn't alter when the alternator is under load , got a new pulley and belt on order, hopefully once they arrive and are fitted it cures the noise,will try your oil tip in the meantime though and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Thisoldman]

Could it be the crank pulley damper

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[Thisoldman]

Seems ok , I'll know better when the new pulley and belt get fitted.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Not sure on your model but some alternators have a "free wheeling clutch " in the pulley which can fail/get noisy.
You could try spraying oil directly at the pulley to see if the noise changes.
Are you sure it is not a alternator belt, that is another area noise can come from, spraying WD40 directly on the belt will soon show if it goes quiet, only do a little spray, it soon washes off with no issue, I have done it many times to locate faults.
I have also used a long screwdriver (very carefully) to my ear and against the alternator to check for location of noise like a stethoscope.
Do be careful as hospital will not be happy pulling the screwdriver out of your ear after it hit the pulley.
You can try turning headlights on and see if noise changes as alternator has extra load electrically on it.

Not so long ago I'd have recommended turning headlamps and rear screen demister on to increase load on the belt. Nowadays, not quite so confident on that one with independent ECU control of charging and "Smart Charging" is the norm.

Slightly "nervous" about spraying a lubricant on the belt too? I prefer a blackboard chalk stick held against the inside of the belt. Been doing it all my life but you do need to watch your fingers.

I use the screwdriver stethoscope a lot too and again ne very careful what and where you poke with it
No kidding. Poke it in the wrong place and the results can be life changing or even fatal.

If it has a freewheel pulley I'd probably suspect that to be most likely. Test that with a listening tube rather than a listening stick - that is a length of tube, fuel pipe, fish tank tubing etc works well. One end in your ear and the other open end moved around the area where the noise is. Don't get it tangled in the pulleys/belts.

 

[bugsymike]

Not so long ago I'd have recommended turning headlamps and rear screen demister on to increase load on the belt. Nowadays, not quite so confident on that one with independent ECU control of charging and "Smart Charging" is the norm.

Slightly "nervous" about spraying a lubricant on the belt too? I prefer a blackboard chalk stick held against the inside of the belt. Been doing it all my life but you do need to watch your fingers.

I use the screwdriver stethoscope a lot too and again ne very careful what and where you poke with it
No kidding. Poke it in the wrong place and the results can be life changing or even fatal.

If it has a freewheel pulley I'd probably suspect that to be most likely. Test that with a listening tube rather than a listening stick - that is a length of tube, fuel pipe, fish tank tubing etc works well. One end in your ear and the other open end moved around the area where the noise is. Don't get it tangled in the pulleys/belts.

Hi Jock, not talking about drowning the belt, just a light squirt of WD40 which very quickly washes off with no harmful affect, have done it many times, probably no more of a lube than the chalk, both quickly disperse.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi Jock, not talking about drowning the belt, just a light squirt of WD40 which very quickly washes off with no harmful affect, have done it many times, probably no more of a lube than the chalk, both quickly disperse.

Don't you think this is a perfect example of the value of this forum? I was taught very early on to do this check with chalk and you have found your way to do it. Both of us have been doing it for years probably on hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles and, through practical experience have found a way which works. The fact we are talking about our experience here enriches both of our experiences and can only be a benefit to others, perhaps without the benefit of our many years working on vehicles. For my part, I was very much a "hammer and screwdriver" man back in the day and although I had to cope with electronic systems as they appeared, I most certainly was not expert in any sense. Although knowing the basics regarding what the output from an O2 sensor should look like or what to expect the waveform from an ABS sensor to look like, the stuff I've learned on this forum about using MES has been a great benefit and I'm very grateful to all on here who have chipped in with their experiences and knowledge. Long may it continue!

 

[Thisoldman]

Many thanks for your help, fellas ,being new to fiat it's all a learning curve for me.....nice to see some old practices are transferable