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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 | On a long drive over the weekend, truck developed a bit of a whine/ hum in the engine bay. Ain’t much in the engine bay so I figure it’s the water pump or the generator. I did fiddle with belt tension and oiled the generator. Didn’t seem to make much difference.
Seems like it’d more likely be generator. Water pumps seem to growl more than whine, in my experience. I can think of a few ways I might go about pinpointing….screwdriver as a stethoscope, remove belt and feel/ listen as I manually turn…
Before I waste an hour scratching my head, thought I’d get some input.
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 5,684 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 5,684 | When Ol' Roy developed a new noise - squeaking/whine - I assumed it to be the water pump. It had just been replaced and the noise didn't exist prior.
Well, it turned out to be the generator. During Ol' Roy's overheating episode, the generator got wet with coolant. I don't know if rust had started somewhere or what but it didn't affect the charging or anything and after about 6 months or so, the whining went away on it's own.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 | I did flush the coolant this past week. I’m sure it got wet.
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,249 Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) | | Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,249 | Here I thought you were talking about a teenager... | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 | If generator has a bearing going out, would I be able to “feel” any roughness or play if I turn by hand with the belt removed?
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 | Maybe, use the long screw driver to you ear first. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 | ... and if the bearings are in really good shape you might be able to feel or hear the brushes on the commutator.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12
'52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,249 Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) | | Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,249 | Maybe, use the long screw driver to you ear first. I like to use a piece of vacuum hose. It is somewhat easier to reach down and around things to listen to it. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 | I’ve got one of the actual mechanic stethoscope things but I don’t like it all that much. Almost too sensitive and loud.
1951 3100
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