Can a tensioner pulley change cause the alternator to go.

JODIEJONES

MEMBER
2002 PEUGEOT 307
105,000 MILES

Hi, Im after some advice. I took my car in yesterday for a full service & repair. The repair I needed was a chirping noise which I assumed would be a pulley. He called me with the problem he had diagnosed and a price I was happy with and the work went ahead. I picked the car up and replacing the chirping was now a full blown squealing. He advised he had got some oil on the belt and that it would stop soon, I took this as he as because he is the professional. The squealing didn't get better it got a lot worse. 12 miles later the car judders and I pull over the belt is there but hanging off plus the alternator pulley also. The work carried out was supposed to be a tensioner pulley although the receipt says ALT BELT IDLER he has taken the car back to his garage to change the full alternator he has told me this will be £107+vat but the work completed will be free and I can 'pop' the money in when I have it. What my question is have they caused this as I had no problems with the alternator previous to this. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

3 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

First oi should neverbe put on a belt as it destroys it. If he changed the tensioner he should have changed the belt as well. However, the only way a tensioner pulley could have made the alternator go bad was that it wasn't lined up correctly and may have side loaded the bearing in the alternator. The bearing could have been goin gbad and the pulley if installed incorrectly could have damaged Make sure he puts a new tensioner and belt on as well as they are suggested to be replaced every 60,000 miles. That will be up to you and h im to decide a cost thing between you two. We can only guess here.

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Thursday, September 20th, 2012 AT 4:38 PM

JODIEJONES

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi first thanks for your reply.

The alternator was fine before hand I had no symptoms. No dimming lights, no engine failure only a slight chirping noise which was diagnosed as a tension pulley.

No new belt was fitted when the new pulley as he mentioned he had got oil on the belt while taking it off.

He has brought the car back, Delivered to the door which is something ive never had with a garage. Followed with a bill for � 128 for parts only & told to drop off the money when I have it, Again something ive never experienced before.

The car had the worst squeal you have heard when I collected the car which is whats pointing me in the direction that they have put it on too loose causing surges to the alternator or the oil spill caused the belt to slip also causing surges.

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Thursday, September 20th, 2012 AT 8:00 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

What I meant is that if the pulley was installed incorectly it wold have been on an angle and put pressure on the alternator bearing due to not running straight. However there are alot of things that can go wrong with an alternator, especially at high miileage. They have diodes that can go bad, internal regulator, stator, rotor, etc. This cold be just a coincidence as well. Dirty battery terminals can cause surging like you are saying. I really don't know what to tell you asi' haven't seen what was wrong to begin with. Even a pulley going bad or actually the bearing inside would cause what you are talking about because it cold freeze up then unfreeze etc. It should have anew belt and tensioner though, it kind of sounds like you are in the uk so I have no idea how you want to handle this. Becaue you don't have the alternator to take apart and inspect ther eis no way you'll be able to tell what failed. I really don't have an answer beyond what i've told you.

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Thursday, September 20th, 2012 AT 8:12 PM