Was working on my car today and managed to half pull out the wiring plug to the alternator (I didn't know this yet) It was still in the socket, but not connected.
I went for a drive and noticed my lights getting dim.. hmm not charging, must have accidentally unplugged the alternator I thought..
Limped home, headlights on would cause the car to missfire etc.
Got home and a real nasty noise started coming from the alternator area, like a sort of fast rattling/grinding noise. It was at this point I noticed the plug to the alternator was half in. It got me wondering if it'd been shorting/arcing as it wasn't in properly.
Now I plugged it back in and started the car but there's still a really loud rattling noise. I'm almost certain it's the alternator as I pushed it with a prybar and it sort of changed the pitch.
Question is, can the alternator shorting out destroy anything inside to make a loud death rattle?
The alternator was perfect before today when managed to half unplug it. I'd recently stripped it and put 2 new bearings in and the brushes were really good in it. Previous to today it was quiet and sweet.
I know the only way to really tell is to take the alternator belt off and run the car but I need some reasurance before I have to sleep on it!
I've been working on the car all day and had no energy to do anymore to it.
I went for a drive and noticed my lights getting dim.. hmm not charging, must have accidentally unplugged the alternator I thought..
Limped home, headlights on would cause the car to missfire etc.
Got home and a real nasty noise started coming from the alternator area, like a sort of fast rattling/grinding noise. It was at this point I noticed the plug to the alternator was half in. It got me wondering if it'd been shorting/arcing as it wasn't in properly.
Now I plugged it back in and started the car but there's still a really loud rattling noise. I'm almost certain it's the alternator as I pushed it with a prybar and it sort of changed the pitch.
Question is, can the alternator shorting out destroy anything inside to make a loud death rattle?
The alternator was perfect before today when managed to half unplug it. I'd recently stripped it and put 2 new bearings in and the brushes were really good in it. Previous to today it was quiet and sweet.
I know the only way to really tell is to take the alternator belt off and run the car but I need some reasurance before I have to sleep on it!
I've been working on the car all day and had no energy to do anymore to it.