88-560SEC Alternator belt keeps breaking

[angust]

I have inherited a wonderful 560SEC with only 60k on the engine. It sat covered in leaves for 5 years. I have spent the summer putting the beast back in working order, and it is wonderful, EXCEPT, I have snapped 3 alternator belts. The are no apparent burrs on the pulleys. The next theory proposed has been that the alternator is periodically locking up which destroys the belt. It will run fine for a few weeks with a new belt, then if someone hits a button on the accessory panel, the squeal will start and before you know it, the dashboard is lit up like a xmas tree and you're driving w/o an alternator. Any suggestions before I take it to the local "LuxuryCar" repair shop and receive the bill of the century.

 

[television]

Hello and welcome, if you have any end float in the alternator,that could be the problem, if one of the bearings is shot, then under load the rotor could make contact with the field core .

malcolm

 

[angust]

Thanks

That would make perfect sense. with the age on the car, replacing the alternator will hurt nothing.

 

[television]

That would make perfect sense. with the age on the car, replacing the alternator will hurt nothing.

You are lucky over there as lots of firms rebuild them at low cost.

malcolm

 

[jberks]

yes - I thing you've already diagnosed it yourself. Fault occurs randomly when the alternator is under load - bearings. Get the alternator reconned. Shouldn't be expensive, there are lots of local guys about, but as it's going to be out of the car, I'd probably have the regulator done at the same time.