Burning smell from around alternator

[Andy8CH]

I have a plastic burning smell coming from around the alternator of my 172.

It starts making the smell almost straight away - it's doesn't smell round the back of the engine as at first I thought it might be a plastic bag stuck to the exhaust..

The aux belt looks in good condition - it was changed 12 months ago and the car has only covered 8k since.

I can't see any smoke, until the bonnet is down and the cooling fan comes on and you get a faint bit of smoke blowing from under the drivers side front light.

Anyone had anything like this before?

 

[lemonnobby]

alternator burning then

 

[Andy8CH]

It's a plastic type burning smell - I didn't think there is much plastic in an alternator?

After checking further the smell seems to be coming from the pulley side - it looks like the sound proofing is very close to the pulley on the engine so much so that it could be rubbing...

 

[SBV116]

Usually the internals of the alternator burning!!

 

[mr angry]

It will be the alternator and the smell is electrical burning (overheating insulation) very common fault. There have been cases where they have caught fire, get it checked asap.

 

[Gstar2006]

What happened with this? I've had the same for last couple of weeks and today the car conked out?

 

[mark123]

Mine had an internal short in the windings, had the burning smell and was very hot to the touch. Also made more noise than usual due to the extra load on the belt. New alternator required.

 

[Gstar2006]

on a 172 cup or your 182FF?

Mines a 172 so has the air con and all sorts of s**t to contend with so not a simple job. Can get a second hand unit for £30 but need to sort out fitting and not any garages local to me in Melton Mowbray I'd trust as it doesn't sound a 5 min job.

 

[mark123]

The 182, the 172 still on the original at 132k. 182 on 55k!

150ish quid for the alternator from a motor factor.

 

[Gstar2006]

How much was it for fitting mate?

 

[mark123]

I did it myself.

Basically the same as an aux belt change, extra 15 mins to remove the alternator maybe.

 

[Gstar2006]

Ah. Well that's a bigger job than I can handle anyways

G