Hi everyone! Hope you're all well and prospering!

98 Bonneville SE (not supercharged)

Engine seemed abnorrnally loud in the serpentine area, so I replaced the (presumably 5 yr old) accessory belt. Didn't help.

It'* a high pitched whine that raises in pitch when the car
accelerates and decreases during deceleration.

According to the manual, this belt wraps around 6 elements:

Power Steering
Generator
Air Conditioning
Crank
Coolant Pump
Idler

Someone mentioned to me that this could be bearings going out. If so,
they're going slow because this noise has been around for over a year.
Could something need greased?

Any thoughts on which element is likely to be causing this and,
if replacement is necessary, what kind of cost is reasonable, i.e.,
how will I know I'm being taken?

Thanks!
puppet

Lternator bearings? Chronic problem in our vehicles. The guru'* will be he shortly to verify. You should be able to narrow it down using a piece os hose as a stethescope (read that in a manual somewhere)

BTW, glad to see another 98 SE out there!

Thanks, MOS

What kind of money we talking about to replace alternator bearings -

parts + labor?

Thanks again!

puppet

I have the same problem after replacing that belt (what an easy job that was) :(

I thought it might be the AC, but if it'* the alternator, then that'* actually good news. Thanks.

Fred

what about the tenioner?

To ensure that it'* the alternator bearing.. ( cause I had that probem before too ) I squirted some dura lube( you can use any lubricant thats thin and not WD-40 i.e. maybe try 3 in 1 or something ) on the back bearing of the alternator.. start the car and see if it quiets down.. if not.. then try squirtin some on the belt tensioner bearing on the wheel and see if that quiets down.. it'* not a fix.. but if it quiets down.. then you know its either of those that'* giving you the squeak

I was thinking of a plan like that, but without going outside I wasn't sure it was feasable. Unfortunately, I don't think you can replace just the bearing on the Alt. ANd so far I've gotten lucky and haven't had a problem, so I don't know on parts & labor.

Thanks everyone!

Stethoscope indicates excessive noise coming from power steering pump.
No place to lubricate it, but I did add some power steering fluid since it
was down about half ! duh!

Seems to have helped a bit.

Thanks again!
puppet

It'* always the simple answer, huh?