Did my alternator go?

[B.Brattina]

Woke up this morning trying to run to the post office and heard the nasty sound of grinding. Car worked fine just yesterday, but with every turn of the key comes that horrid sound. This is my alternator that causing the problem, right?

-Blake

 

[BrApple]

not at all. if you hear the sound when you start the car I would suspect the starter or possible the flywheel ring gear.

start by removing and inspecting the starter.

 

[SHOgoFast]

Blake,

if you run into issues with that let me know and i will see if jared is around to lend a hand.

 

[B.Brattina]

Well after trying it 5 times this morning (before I first posted), I took a shower and decided to try again and it worked... ? Any recommendations on getting this fixed as soon as possible, etc.? Obviously I wouldn't want to get stuck in some random place and have the problem be perminent.

Adam, I'll let you know if it persists, or I'll talk to Jared at the liqour store or something haha, thank you for the offer.

 

[Ray]

fwiw,

in a pinch, you can remedy the situation (likely, at least) by doing the following:

Leave the car in gear, stand outside your driver's door with the door open (as if you just got out of the car) and push on the a pillar/door jamb to rock to car forward and backward. The goal is to push the car as far forward and back as you can. It will "stop" when it gets as far as the teeth in the gear will let you roll, then quickly pull back until it hits the "reverse" (bottoms out in the gear and won't roll backwards.

Push back and forth, stop-to-stop 4 or 5 times and then retry starting. This action engages the teeth together tighter to get past a worn ring gear, or worn starter wheel. It just meshes the teeth closer together. This is not a permanent fix, nor will it CONTINUE to work.. eventually, the worn teeth may shear off completely, etc, so don't rely on this. Just as an "in case" you get stuck before you replace the starter.

 

[B.Brattina]

By doing so, would it cause any more damage than necessary to replace? If taken to a dealership, what would you estimate the cost for a new starter or ring?

 

[Ray]

no.. it will not cause more damage. Starter replacement? at a dealer?? yikes.

3-4 hours labor, or so?

You can EASILY do it yourself. There are ample walkthroughs and advice on the procedure on here.. DON'T pay for it. you need a basic socket set and a pair of pliers or so (for the coolant line clamp)

That's it.

its a tight fit, snaking the starter out from the nest of coolant hoses, etc, but it can be done, easily. 2 bolts hold the starter on, three wires leading to the starter, and that's it.

 

[B.Brattina]

Sounds managable enough even for me and possibly another person. Thanks for the advice Ray.

 

[Ray]

Just look straight down from the throttle body, towards the ground, and you will see the starter.

silver, cylindrical (like an other starter) mated to the transmission case. remove the main coolant hose that runs to the top driver's side of the radiator and use twine, etc to tie it UP (suspend from the hood, etc) to keep coolant from pouring out.

stuff the radiator hole with something to prevent coolant from leaking out there, as well. (plastic bag then electrical tape, etc?)

now go at getting the starter out.

 

[Ifordman98]

I had a grinding sound coming from my alternator before. I had to jump the car and as soon as i took the cables off it would die. The light was consistantly on. Strangest sound ive ever heard come from an alternator. I replaced it and i was good to go.