2005 Tahoe Alternator issues -- Suggestions

[remist17]

I have a 2005 Tahoe and on the way home last night the truck start to squeel. It sounded like power steering when its low in fluid. It was not a belt squeel but more of a bearing shhh shh shhh. If that makes any sense.

I put my ear close to the alternator and its making the sound from there. I checked the power steering fluid just to make sure.

I guess my question is three part. What is the life expectance on these alternators? I have a 93 K1500 that has the original in it still.

Part 2- Is it as simple as it looks to replace. I have changed out the older ones but not the 5.3.

Part 3- My codes say 160 Amp Generator. I am assuming this is the alternator amp I need to get.


I plan on taking the truck to Advance Auto to get the charging system tested. I would not be so concerned but I have a 3 month old child that travels in this truck and with 10 deg weather outside I can not afford for it to let me sit.


Maybe its fine, suggestions?

[bwood]

Remove the belt and spin the alt by hand. Also check the other pulleys. Any excessive freewheeling and of course noise is a sign of a dry or damaged bearing. The alternator bearings do go out, some sooner than others. Your charging system may be fine, just the bearing is going out. On mine, it started squeaking before I replaced the engine, so while I had it out, I pulled the end apart and found the squeaking was glazed over brushes and and rotor. I ran a little emory cloth across it all and no more squeaks.

[1971gmcshortbed]

Any part on any car/truck can break at any time. We put alternators on some with less than 10k miles. It is simple to replace with hand tools.
What code did you use to have a 160 amp alternator? It should be a 105 or 145 amp. Hth.

[remist17]

the code I used to come up with 160 amp...KW1 - 160 AMP GENERATOR .

The strange thing is I drove it yesterday and no noise.... hmmmm