Hi guys, I have a 1996 ford f250 7.5 v8 460 xlt truck and the other day i went to the store and it was running great and when i came back out of the store and started the truck up i could hear what sounds like air being blown out coming from the engine i drove it home with no trouble at all and when i got home i lifted the hood and im not really sure if its an air blowning sound but some kind of sound coming from around the alternator. I am not losing any power, the head lights are bite and my battery is not dying. So could the alternator bearing or pulley be going? I cant find any air leaks. any help would be great.
Thanks

 

Yes, my alternator has blown both bearings (at different times), and they made an awful noise before going. But before that there was a chirping noise coming from the engine, it was the rear bearing so I was unable to find the cause. The alternator never stopped charging the battery until it failed completely, happily it happened while the truck was parked and I was trying to find the cause of the noise, then suddenly the rear bearing cap blew as I was looking.

 

I think I would take the belt off and spin every accessory by hand.
Any roughness or slop when jiggling the pulley is cause for concern.
Could be the alternator or the A.I.R pump on that side.
How is your tensioner?

 

there was a chirping noise coming from the engine and i thought it was a belt but come to think of it it was right near the alternator. Ill take the belt off and see what happens when i move the pulleys.
Thank you guys for the help and ill update later.

 

sorry it took so long to reply, but I took the belt off and the tensioner was good and I spon the pulleys and they feel good and no wobble or are not sloppy when they spin. so could it be something inside the alternator? maybe a fan in it? not sure what to do or should i just buy a new alternator?
thanks again

 

Take the alt to the parts store of your choice for a free test. If it makes the noise on the test stand, then you'll know. If it doesn't at least it didn't cost anything!

 

Everything moves together.
If you spun the alternator and it was smooth with no noise I doubt it is anything "inside" the alternator.
Unless it only happens when the stator puts a load on the rotor.

You say "air wooshing", you say "chirping"... I don't know.

If it is charging and not throwing belts I would just drive it.

 

it doesnt chirp all the time and yea it does sound like air whooshing. right around the alternator. the noise can old be heard when the truck it running.

 

well i took it to OReilly's and my battery is bad and the alternator is good as for the noise its a pcv valve grommet or the "T" shaped grommet. problem is they cant find the "T" replacement for it.