Funny noise coming from my car

[zoombini]

Sounds like a trip to the car breakers yard is called for.

[pop80_uk]

Alternator bearings, but you have already said this!

Just get a new alternator, not hard to fit, one adjusting bolt and a long fixing bolt to remove, work from the bottom of the car upwards. Easy enough job Id say 1hr for a novice mechanic. Replace the belt as well when your at it. They are only £4 - 6 and you then know its been done.

PS You can tell when a belt is going as it begins to fray around the edges and the teeth begine to crack (rubber fatigue) If you push on the top of any belt you should be able to push a finger nails tip length down. This shows it is the correct tension.

Any help you need PM me.

Originally Posted by ZrByte

I done a quick google and the alternator belt keeps coming up with no mention of fanbelts, so that is looking more likeley. And yes it does sound like a live hampster being squashed actually that summed it up pretty well. is there anyway I can check to see if it is that or is it time to see a mechanic?

Fan belts used to go around the Crankshaft pulley, Fan pulley and the alternator pulley. In more modern cars the fan is electric and as a result the belt only goes around the alternator and the cranckshaft pulley, hence why its now called an alternator belt.

Typically at this time of year the pulleys get damp and you have your heater blower on and lights on resulting in increased load on the alternator which causes the belt to slip.

Either replace it or tighten it up

if you have a Partco motorfactor in your town go there for you belt and possibly alternator, they will be much cheaper than Halfords

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by gary_580

if you have a Partco motorfactor in your town go there for you belt and possibly alternator, they will be much cheaper than Halfords

We do, I allready went there for my exhaust the other week, as soon as Ive got some money I think I'll be going there to get this alternator sorted, though we do have an alternator specialist nearby so I might try them first.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

Fan belt?

Thats the one!

[Tricky]

Call in at a local garage say the belt is slipping and they'll usually tighten it up for free (takes 5 mins top) which will stop the squeak, they may say the belt has started to fray which is why it has started to slip and that'll cost you £20 max. If you suddenly get a couple of red lights (battery especially) this means the belt has come off all together and it's a good idea to stop cos it will normally mean your water pump is not working and this make your Corsa a little warm (no that's not how to get a hot hatch).

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Tricky

Call in at a local garage say the belt is slipping and they'll usually tighten it up for free (takes 5 mins top) which will stop the squeak, they may say the belt has started to fray which is why it has started to slip and that'll cost you £20 max. If you suddenly get a couple of red lights (battery especially) this means the belt has come off all together and it's a good idea to stop cos it will normally mean your water pump is not working and this make your Corsa a little warm (no that's not how to get a hot hatch).

The belt is perfect condition and is as tight as it will go. Its the alternator itself wich is causing the problem since it is resisting the belts pull and making it slip

Originally Posted by ZrByte

The belt is perfect condition and is as tight as it will go. Its the alternator itself wich is causing the problem since it is resisting the belts pull and making it slip

belt might have stretched

also if your going to an alternator specialist they will prolly change the bearings quite cheaply. Worth asking. Theres nothing else in an alternator really that can make a noise.

Have you tried taking the belt off and spinnig the alternator by hand ?

[tkiely]

interested to see about the exhaust breaking in the recall bit, today i got an mot on my car and saw a corsa 1.0 having its exhaust MIG welded up. The mechanic said they fail all the time, its a £50 fix which will last three years if lucky! value or what?

to get to the point, sounds like a fanbelt prob to me