Alternator Pulley

[dude1116]

Hi Guys!

Quick question. Not really related to my KJ...but figured I could ask in the general section. If the OAD pulley on an alternator blows, can that cause the alternator to not charge the battery? Have a friend's Jeep Patriot not getting a charged battery. One of the pulleys was making a HELLA lot of noise. Trying to figure out if I should replace the alternator or just the pulley.

Thank you so much!!

 

[ltd02]

If you're sure the pulley is making noise and not the alternator innards, then I'd replace the pulley first. Big difference in price between an OAD pulley and a complete alternator.

I think I remember that Gates had a tutorial somewhere in www land.

 

[dude1116]

If you're sure the pulley is making noise and not the alternator innards, then I'd replace the pulley first. Big difference in price between an OAD pulley and a complete alternator.

I think I remember that Gates had a tutorial somewhere in www land.

Yeah I know HOW to replace the pulley...just don't want to have to do both. The pulley is $50 and the alternator is actually only about $160 from what I can find (remanned).

 

[LibertyTC]

Even tho you could replace the pulley chances are the internal bearing is fubar.
Turn it by hand is the pulley moving or internal grinds?
At that point, just replace with a new ALt. Then it is overall problem solved.:gr_grin:

 

[dude1116]

Even tho you could replace the pulley chances are the internal bearing is fubar.
Turn it by hand is the pulley moving or internal grinds?
At that point, just replace with a new ALt. Then it is overall problem solved.:gr_grin:

Funny thing is turning the pulley by hand didn't produce any noticeable grinding noise. Then my friend called me up (after we ordered the general idler pulleys/tensioner/belt) telling me that her battery light came on and the car died. So obviously the alternator is in question.

 

[ltd02]

Yeah I know HOW to replace the pulley...just don't want to have to do both. The pulley is $50 and the alternator is actually only about $160 from what I can find (remanned).

Wow 160 is pretty cheap for an alternator. In that case, I'd probably swap the whole thing like LibertyTC said.

 

[dude1116]

Wow 160 is pretty cheap for an alternator. In that case, I'd probably swap the whole thing like LibertyTC said.

Not my money, unfortunately. I can suggest all I want (since it's the same amount of labor) but that doesn't mean she has the extra $100 to drop at the moment. Just trying to figure out if the pulley can actually cause a charging issue.

 

[ltd02]

Not my money, unfortunately. I can suggest all I want (since it's the same amount of labor) but that doesn't mean she has the extra $100 to drop at the moment. Just trying to figure out if the pulley can actually cause a charging issue.

It could as an AOD pulley is a clutch pulley. If it's clutch system is toast and slipping it won't spin the innards and then no charge. I think that is how they usually fail and they'll hum and whine a bit. Does it buzz right after shutoff? I think they're rated for about 50k miles.

 

[dude1116]

It could as an AOD pulley is a clutch pulley. If it's clutch system is toast and slipping it won't spin the innards and then no charge. I think that is how they usually fail and they'll hum and whine a bit. Does it buzz right after shutoff? I think they're rated for about 50k miles.

It actually does not buzz after shutoff which is odd.

I actually convinced her to replace the whole unit. It'll now most likely outlast the vehicle.