Electrical Problems Gone Crazy!

sleepy2lazy · 10-01-2007

Hey guys, Any help would be appreciated!

So I just installed my "new" alternator. Started up the car and bam, its running fine now, not dead like before but it runs.
Everything seems fine sitting idle for awhile, but then I put it into reverse to back up to take it for a spin.
As I was backing up, the belts started squeeking. Checked the belts, the two visible belts, they seem pretty fine. I revved up the car a bit, and it started squeeking like crazy. I thought it was the alternator belt, but apparently the noise didn't go away. It appears to be the belts behind it, the two pulleys in the back.

What are the two belts in the back behind the alternator?

But I had to run an errand so I drove with my squeeky belt anyways. My voltage would go up as I drove and drop as I stopped. But on my way back from the school, the belts stopped squeeking but my volts stayed at a steady 11.7 till I got home. Checked out the car a bit more and took it for another spin. My steering wheel got incredibly stiff, and so did my brakes. Pulled it into my driveway. Sat there wondering wtf is going on, and I started turning the steering wheel for the hell of it. Everytime I turn the wheel a bit farther to the left or right, my brake light / battery light and some other light in the dash would go on.

Whats goin on here? A simple alternator fix turned into a pain in the ass for me that I have no idea whats happening.

So please, if anyone has any input, please let me know. I wanna fix this asap and start driving again instead of taking the city bus to and from work =(

b00stcreep21 · 10-01-2007

Sounds like you broke a belt

sleepy2lazy · 10-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by b00stcreep21

Sounds like you broke a belt

Thanks. Just saw your post.
I just got back from checkin out the car again, in the middle of the dark with no lights but my werewolf halloween flashlight. Garage is full so can't use that. I was lookin at the alternator belt and bam, its half cut almost loose. So basically, I just ripped it off.

At first when I put it back together it "seemed" alright with a quick visual. Stupid me rushed it so i barely noticed it. Should have bought a new one in the first place to start.

Is the alternator belt the main problem for this dilemna that I created?

FattyBoomBatty · 10-01-2007

Did you install it on the wrong pulley? Sounds to me like the power steering pump stopped spinning, that would be the only explanation for the hard steering, maybe when one belt let loose, it anihilated another one next to it.

x-pride · 10-02-2007

The noise is from the alternator belt being loose. You will need to tighten up your alternator belt. If the noise does not go away take off all the belts and clean the pulleys. Also inspect your crank pulley. The crank pulley is two pieces the rubber in between the pulley might of cracked. If cracked replace the pulley or it might fall apart.

AwdGSX13 · 10-02-2007

if your going to replace one you might as well replace all of them while your in their. That way if another breaks down the road you dont have to do the work all over again.

sleepy2lazy · 10-02-2007

i'm at work right now but I have to fix this car asap the moment I get home.
Does it take long to replace the crank pulley and how would I go about to doing it?

Andrew7dg · 10-02-2007

Just inspect the crank pulley. That may explain why both power steering and alternator are being effected. You should be able to sort of see it in the wheel well if you turn your steering wheel to the left.

If all is good just replace the belts again. If you smoked one belt clean the pulleys off. Very important!

You could have had a bad belt and when you installed the alternator it required a heavy pull to charge the battery. Belt probably just couldn't take the stress. Especially on a wet day. I have one on my car that needs to be replaced.

To change the pulley...
Take all belts (or what is left of them...) off and there are 4 bolts that hold it on. You put the car in gear so that the crank doesn't move. you will have to remove the tire and some plastic guards. After that you should see the pulley well enough for inspection.

Here is a link to what it would look like...
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169254

sleepy2lazy · 10-02-2007

Ah shit, I forgot to mention that. The belts did smoke for a little bit. Then it stopped....I'll check that right away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew7dg

Just inspect the crank pulley. That may explain why both power steering and alternator are being effected. You should be able to sort of see it in the wheel well if you turn your steering wheel to the left.

If all is good just replace the belts again. If you smoked one belt clean the pulleys off. Very important!

You could have had a bad belt and when you installed the alternator it required a heavy pull to charge the battery. Belt probably just couldn't take the stress. Especially on a wet day. I have one on my car that needs to be replaced.

To change the pulley...
Take all belts (or what is left of them...) off and there are 4 bolts that hold it on. You put the car in gear so that the crank doesn't move. you will have to remove the tire and some plastic guards. After that you should see the pulley well enough for inspection.

Here is a link to what it would look like...
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169254

**Goat Blower** · 10-02-2007

It's most likely the alternator itself. I'd say at least half of the aftermarket alternators I've installed had problems right away. You're better off getting your stocker rebuilt.

Andrew7dg · 10-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

It's most likely the alternator itself. I'd say at least half of the aftermarket alternators I've installed had problems right away. You're better off getting your stocker rebuilt.

However there are places now like red rooster that offer life time warranty on some alternators.

"You offer a lifetime warranty on a mitsubishi alternator?!"

"yes"

"are you sure?"

"yes"

I have had alternator problems also...

but first check everything else and make sure the belt is tight

sleepy2lazy · 10-02-2007

Thanks for the advice guys.
The car seems to run fine now. I checked the crank pulley and it looks good. Cleaned off all the pulley's and stuck everything back on. Put a new alternator belt this time.
Drove it for about 20 mins only but it seemed good. Voltage is good. No more stupid lights turning on. No squeeks either. Hopefully this will be the end of my worries.

Sometime Nextweek I have to go past Willmar for work purposes and hopefully, my car won't have any problems.