Posted by Bruce K on September 14, 19100 at 14:07:39:
In Reply to: Whirling Noise and then Death posted by Frank on September 14, 19100 at 09:10:45:
My first guess would be a bad alternator, but you say it checks out OK? How about the wire to the battery?
How about the ground wire on the battery? (both ends).
What I'm guessing you hear is the alternator trying to keep up with a very bad short somewhere. Since the alternator can put out over 100 amps at speed, this is probably a significant short. A short this heavy should blow the fuses if it's anywhere in the small wires. It would certainly let some of the smoke out of the wires.
One other guess, Is the insulation bad somewhere on the positive cable from the battery to the starter? Is there a short somewhere around the starter? Is the starter solenoid not shutting off?
These are just some ideas. I'm sure someone can come up with more.
: I noticed a rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr noise that increases in intensity as my Burb goes through the gears. Simultaneously I noticed that my guage showed a steep discharge (right on the red line).
: I made it home and the battery didn't have enough juice to restart. My first reaction was alternator. I pulled it and had it tested at the local O'Reilly's. It tested just perfect.
: Next I pulled the battery (three months old). Took it in, it tested deader than a door nail ( I had put it on a charger for two hours: wouldn't hold). So O'Riellys gave me a new battery. Put it in starts right up. But the RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR noise still comes around (not all the time) and when at idle or with appliances on (ari conditioning, radio) the gage is at about half way between Center and completely discharging (10.5 maybe?)
: What is up with this darn thing? I know I need a deep cycle Optima(?) but there is definitely a relationship between the RRRRRRRR noise and the discharge but apparently it is not the alternator. The belt is tight.
:
: Any ideas?