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Constant annoying loud Grinding Noise.

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Neo123:
Hi,

im getting constant grinding noise coming from the driver side of the volvo engine, its near the power steering pump and alternator. Its been going on for around 6 months and its getting louder and louder.

What can this be.[:(]

DocBrown:

--- Quote from: "Neo123" ---Hi,

im getting constant grinding noise coming from the driver side of the volvo engine, its near the power steering pump and alternator. Its been going on for around 6 months and its getting louder and louder.

What can this be.[:(]
--- End quote ---


Could be tensioner or guide pulleys or bearings within alternator or power steering pump. I would expect worn alternator bearings to ruin alternator within sis months of the noise so it is most likely tensioner or guides.
Only way to be sure is to remove belt and give the alternator pulley a spin. It shouldnt have any detectable axial movement neither should it make a noise or feel rough or gravelly when spinning it by hand. Same goes with guide pulleys and tensioners.
You won't be able to spin the power steering pulley freely as it's plumbed in but you should still be able to feel and see wear in bearings.
If you feel side to side movement of the pulleys or hear rough noises or there's chunks of the pulleys missing then change them as a snapped belt can whip round and smash the timing belt cover and snap the timing belt.

Doc

Rabbit Tat:
On the subject of spinning the alternator pulley to check for wear; is is safe to do so with the battery disconnected, as per safety instructions?
I always thought an alternator shouldn't be rotated without being 'live'.

DocBrown:

--- Quote from: "Rabbit Tat" ---On the subject of spinning the alternator pulley to check for wear; is is safe to do so with the battery disconnected, as per safety instructions?
I always thought an alternator shouldn't be rotated without being 'live'.
--- End quote ---


Keep the battery connected but remove belt. All you need to do is to check axial play in the alternator bearings by pulling and pushing on the pulley and then see if it rocks side to side. Spinning it by hand won't generate high enough speed (as would be found when car runs or idles) to cause problems if the battery was disconnected. So long as ignition is OFF and for safety reasons the keys should be in your pocket anyway, the alternator is basically inert when battery is disconnected.
If you do find movement especially if that movement is visible then you need to replace or rebuild the component.  That goes for any rotating engine part especially tensioners and guides, alternators etc.

My car suffered a failed alternator which seized solid and cooked the alternator belt all because the alternator bearing retainer plate (inside the casing - under the pulley) broke free and locked it solid at 40 mph. A real mess but I was lucky the alternator/power steering/air-con belt didn't lunch the timing belt.
I forgot to ask, does the noise occur only when car is moving or does it do it when engine is running but car parked up?

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