'02 Envoy Slt Electrical

[fxcarden]

My '02 Envoy was running great until last night. Here is what happened.

 

Started the car and heard a whinning noise. I also smelled something burning. The smell could have been from the outside. It's hard to tell.

 

As I drove, I noticed the battery gauge was showing 12 volts, instead of the usual 14. The whinning noise stopped after about 5 miles.

 

This morning I started the car again, and heard the whinning noise, but no smell this time. I sprayed some belt lubricant hoping the noise would go away. I then went to the local auto part store and they tested the battery for me. They said the battery was actually overcharged ?. They also said the alternator was putting out borderline low voltage. Now, if the battery is overcharged, I would think it makes sense for the alternator to work less, but what do I know.

 

Anyway, I called two places and described the issue. The first place said it sounded like the alternator ($550 with a new belt). The second place gave more or less the same price but also said it could be the idler pulley.

 

Either way, as this is the wife's car, I am not too comfortable with erratic voltages, and whinning noises, so I figured I would come here and ask for advice.

 

Fire away, please.

[bossier62guy]

My '02 Envoy was running great until last night. Here is what happened.

 

Started the car and heard a whinning noise. I also smelled something burning. The smell could have been from the outside. It's hard to tell.

 

As I drove, I noticed the battery gauge was showing 12 volts, instead of the usual 14. The whinning noise stopped after about 5 miles.

 

This morning I started the car again, and heard the whinning noise, but no smell this time. I sprayed some belt lubricant hoping the noise would go away. I then went to the local auto part store and they tested the battery for me. They said the battery was actually overcharged ?. They also said the alternator was putting out borderline low voltage. Now, if the battery is overcharged, I would think it makes sense for the alternator to work less, but what do I know.

 

Anyway, I called two places and described the issue. The first place said it sounded like the alternator ($550 with a new belt). The second place gave more or less the same price but also said it could be the idler pulley.

 

Either way, as this is the wife's car, I am not too comfortable with erratic voltages, and whinning noises, so I figured I would come here and ask for advice.

 

Fire away, please.

 

Battery overcharged and the alternator barely putting out enough voltage....just doesn't seem right. I'd find an auto electric facility and have my charging system checked out before I put out that kind of money on an alternator. Is the belt slipping, was that the cause of the burning smell? Does the belt seem to have an abnormal amount of deflection while the engine is running? What was the battery voltage?

[fxcarden]

My '02 Envoy was running great until last night. Here is what happened.

 

Started the car and heard a whinning noise. I also smelled something burning. The smell could have been from the outside. It's hard to tell.

 

As I drove, I noticed the battery gauge was showing 12 volts, instead of the usual 14. The whinning noise stopped after about 5 miles.

 

This morning I started the car again, and heard the whinning noise, but no smell this time. I sprayed some belt lubricant hoping the noise would go away. I then went to the local auto part store and they tested the battery for me. They said the battery was actually overcharged ?. They also said the alternator was putting out borderline low voltage. Now, if the battery is overcharged, I would think it makes sense for the alternator to work less, but what do I know.

 

Anyway, I called two places and described the issue. The first place said it sounded like the alternator ($550 with a new belt). The second place gave more or less the same price but also said it could be the idler pulley.

 

Either way, as this is the wife's car, I am not too comfortable with erratic voltages, and whinning noises, so I figured I would come here and ask for advice.

 

Fire away, please.

 

Battery overcharged and the alternator barely putting out enough voltage....just doesn't seem right. I'd find an auto electric facility and have my charging system checked out before I put out that kind of money on an alternator. Is the belt slipping, was that the cause of the burning smell? Does the belt seem to have an abnormal amount of deflection while the engine is running? What was the battery voltage?

 

 

 

 

I didn't see the battery voltage as number, the guy's meter just had a red zone and a green zone.... the battery was at the end of the green zone, and when I started the car, the needle was just into the green......one tick from being in the red.

 

One other thing I noticed today.........when the car is stopped at a light or going slow, the gauge reads about 12 volts, when I go on the highway, it goes higher....almost to 14. In the past, this was always steady on 14, no matter what you did.......

 

Someone said the voltage regulator is part of the alternator. If that is true, then I guess I'm due for a new one. Does anyone know if the regulator is separate ?.

 

I'll be going into a proper repair place later in the week, but I want to be informed.

 

 

Thanks !

[bossier62guy]

I didn't see the battery voltage as number, the guy's meter just had a red zone and a green zone.... the battery was at the end of the green zone, and when I started the car, the needle was just into the green......one tick from being in the red.

 

One other thing I noticed today.........when the car is stopped at a light or going slow, the gauge reads about 12 volts, when I go on the highway, it goes higher....almost to 14. In the past, this was always steady on 14, no matter what you did.......

 

Someone said the voltage regulator is part of the alternator. If that is true, then I guess I'm due for a new one. Does anyone know if the regulator is separate ?.

 

I'll be going into a proper repair place later in the week, but I want to be informed.

 

 

Thanks !

 

 

Yes the voltage regulator is integrated into the alternator....you might want to get it checked out.

[fxcarden]

Turns out it was the alternator. The guy took it out of the car and showed me that it was not turning free. He said it was only a matter of time, and it could have been a fire hazard. They also replaced the tensioner. $500 later, everything is working as it should.

[bossier62guy]

Turns out it was the alternator. The guy took it out of the car and showed me that it was not turning free. He said it was only a matter of time, and it could have been a fire hazard. They also replaced the tensioner. $500 later, everything is working as it should.

 

Glad you got it fixed...how many miles did you have on that alternator?

[fxcarden]

Turns out it was the alternator. The guy took it out of the car and showed me that it was not turning free. He said it was only a matter of time, and it could have been a fire hazard. They also replaced the tensioner. $500 later, everything is working as it should.

 

Glad you got it fixed...how many miles did you have on that alternator?

 

 

 

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