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2001 Infiniti QX4/Nissan Pathfinder - what is this noise? (streamable.com)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by to c/mechanicadvice@lemmy.world
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Sounds like gears rubbing or something. Maybe a chain or belt? Sounds like it’s coming from the front of the engine and it goes up and down in pitch with throttle.

For context, I recently got some water in the intake, but not enough to hydrolock. Changed MAF. Idles fine.

Thanks!

EDIT: I think the sound is coming from one of the belt pulleys. Upper left one?

Edit edit: I’m pretty sure it’s the alternator now. Will follow up.

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[–] [S] 1 point 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 child)

Thanks! Fluid looks fine. I think it’s actually the alternator. Turning the wheel doesn’t change the sound at all. Sound goes away with belt loose. And I poked a metal rod at different components and the alternator vibrated the most.

Battery is charging fine though, so alternator is still working. Maybe just a bad bearing?

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  • [–] 1 point 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 child)

    Probably.

    An old shade tree mechanic testing tool is a long screwdriver - press it to a spot on the alternator and rest your head on it just near your ear - it makes a great stethescope.

    If it's the alternator bearing, it'll very slowly get worse, you'll have plenty of time before it fails.

    Honesty I've never seen an alternator bearing fail before the voltage regulator - that's the weakest link. But hey, take what you get, right?

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 month ago

    Thanks! I’ll have to get a long screwdriver. I only have a long piece of metal and it does t transmits sound but I can feel the vibrations are stronger on the alternator.

    It’s an old alternator anyways (20+ years, 100k+ miles) so I’ll replace it and hopefully that’ll do the trick.

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