Bird under the bonnnet

[BEP120]

Hi All,
New to this so bear with me.
I have a 2003 GU zd30 Patrol and the alternator stopped charging the other day so purchased a replacement from Repco down the road. The replacement is a OEX HAX070 which is labled as being the correct replacement.
Why do Nissan make it so hard to replace something as simple as an alternator????
Anyway I got the job done after stripping off everything around it to allow access and took it for a drive. It is charging like it never has.
The problem I now have is that after just under 100k's the belt started squealing so put a little lube spray on it and it stopped. Next morning squealing again.
I have checked all pulleys and the bearings are tight and noise free, I replaced the belt tensioner and belt 10'000k's ago and all seems ok there.
I bought a stick of Dri Lube and put that on and the noise is worse. Once the engine has been running and everything has heated up the noise disappears and then comes back once cooled.

Has anyone used this alternator on a ZD30 before and had any problems as this was the only change made to the engine before the squealing appeared. I have checked the pulley against the old one as best I could and all seems to be the same.

My next step is to buy a new belt for Mr Nissan but don't want to spend $110 if the same thing is going to happen. Going genuine as last time I replaced the belt with an aftermarket one which was 2mm longer and had noise issues which the genuine one fixed.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated as I am going nuts trying to locate the problem.

Thanks
BEP120

[BearGUST]

Check with a straight edge that the pulleys all line up, if the new alternator sits 1mm rearward or forward it will cause a squeal.
Also, how much lube is on the belt? Too much will cause a squeal too.
If you can get a wire brush and lightly (and carefully) hold it over both sides of the belt while the engine is idling to clean it up.

[taslucas]

Does the pulley on the new alternator have the same shape channel as the original one?

tappn it

[BEP120]

Thanks BearGUST,
I will pull the fan shroud off again this weekend and try the straight edge and also clean the belt. While I am at it I might put the old alternator back on and see if it stops the noise. Oh what fun.

Cheers.

[BEP120]

Does the pulley on the new alternator have the same shape channel as the original one?

tappn it

Yes the pulleys seem to be the same.
In hindsight I should have paid Mr Nissan $1000 for a genuine replacement but wanted to save my pennies for another accessory. The one from Repco was $440 as you can see there is a big difference.

[Robo]

New belts?.
new belt squeal, sound like break-in stretched, needs adjusting.
twin belts set up, should be matched sized not simply the same.
cheers

[Kelvinator]

how much deflection are you adjusting your belt to? Remember to check the deflection on the side with the longest distance between pulleys. And if its a twin belt setup check between the two. More times than i can count i had customers complain that they couldn't get them to stop squealing so i was forced to take them back to single belt. They are an absolute pain if they wont align exactly. I had a car once that i really considered going to a gilmore drive simply because i couldnt get rid of the squeal of satan

[BEP120]

Hi all,
Well yesterday I took the new alternator back off and put the old and new new next to one another. I measured everything with straight edges and vernier calipers both alternators matched so it's not the new alternator coursing the squeak.
Bit the bullet and brought a new genuine belt and have now put that on. The squeak has gone so will see if it comes back after a few K's.

[BEP120]

how much deflection are you adjusting your belt to? Remember to check the deflection on the side with the longest distance between pulleys. And if its a twin belt setup check between the two. More times than i can count i had customers complain that they couldn't get them to stop squealing so i was forced to take them back to single belt. They are an absolute pain if they wont align exactly. I had a car once that i really considered going to a gilmore drive simply because i couldnt get rid of the squeal of satan

The GU ZD30 has a single belt and a self tensioner. The tensioner and belt were replaced 10'000k's ago and is nice and tight so its not the tensioner or little shock attached to it.
I have put a new belt on it see above post so am hoping that was the problem.

[Robo]

Cross fingers only a worn belt.

[BEP120]

Hi all,
Well after putting the new belt on and doing just under 200k's mostly on the highway there is no squeak. So hopefully it will stay that way.
Wouldn't have thought that a belt with just under 10'000k's would have stretched that much. Just goes to show.

Thanks to all for their input.

Cheers.

[Morton]

this is a common issue with the 3L, water crossings & water cleanings usually bring it on, the alternater is the correct one you should have had a spare wire on your loom that had nowhere to go, tape off the end & leave it loose, the aftermarket belt is usually the issue, always go genuine, aftermarket is either longer (in your case) or shorter (in my case) by a cpl of mm & the noise kills me.

Another hint with GU's, always go genuine on the air filter, they seal better, price is much of a muchness

[Yendor]

What is the spare wire? is that the large black wire that was connected to the housing of the original alternator?

If so this is an earth and I would connected it.

You should have enough length in the wire to be able to connect it to the top metal mounting bracket.

Also if the plug that connects to your alternator is damaged you can buy replacement ones from Ashdown Ingrams, part number HXK-24

Totally agree with only using genuine belts and air filters.

[BEP120]

this is a common issue with the 3L, water crossings & water cleanings usually bring it on, the alternater is the correct one you should have had a spare wire on your loom that had nowhere to go, tape off the end & leave it loose, the aftermarket belt is usually the issue, always go genuine, aftermarket is either longer (in your case) or shorter (in my case) by a cpl of mm & the noise kills me.

Another hint with GU's, always go genuine on the air filter, they seal better, price is much of a muchness

After installing the new alternator I didn't have any spare wires. Everything had a home. It was a genuine belt to begin with. I only ever use genuine belts and filters on the GU as they are so temperamental and the price difference isn't that much.

I went for a run up to the Watagans on Anzac day and encountered some large deep mud holes after a cleanup of the engine bay that was covered in mud the belt is still not squealing. So problem solved.

[Morton]

excellent result