After seven years and 34,000 miles, I might finely need a mechanic. Any recommendations here in Albuquerque? Peace... Gino

 

You may not need a mechanic.....tell us what the issues/symptoms are !

 

I agree w/ Sparkie. Some of the best Xfire & SRT6 mechanics are right here on this Forum. Well, at least we can troubleshoot and hopefully save you a bundle.

 

Any decent private imported car service garage can fix a Mercedes Benz or Chrysler.They have the service manuals on their internet. Parts are over night. gary

 

I have done due diligence and read the appropriate forums listings and they have been tremendously helpful in isolated the issue to the alternator or it's pulley. I need a mechanic to confirm, substantiate, or clarify this diagnosis.

1. By physical inspection, I find nothing obvious. Good tension, and no sign of alignment issues.
2. No change with turning on/off the AC.
3. With the equivalent of long tube, I was able to single out the noise area. Does not sound like the SC.

I am a retired engineer ; however, unable to implement any recommendation as I am a cancer survivor with physical restrains. My forum posting was in hope of finding a recommendation from a forum member and possibly meeting other Crossfire folks here in Albuquerque. I know it's hard to believe but Albuquerque is quite podunk. The import mechanics I am aware of quite expensive. I have spoken to a few and they will not work on the SRT6 because it is a Chrysler.

Thank you for all the quick responses.
Peace,
Gino

 

sounds like these mechanics dont know what they are looking at. hope you find a local forum member who can help you out.

 

Remind them that except for a few years under Nardelli and his idiot friends, Chrysler has been a foreign owned company since the early nineties. Currently it is a division of Fiat.

Not one single part of your Crossie is American, or Chrysler for that matter.

 

Quick recommendation :
Remove the drive belt, then use your tube on the alternator while having someone spin it by hand, same for water pump, idlers, PS pump.

 

Sounds like physical limitations won't let working on it himself happen. IF it is a bearing, or the alternator, any auto repair facility can make this repair. There are other bearings in that area that go bad, so I would have them check the idler, sc bearings as well.

 

OK, sorry - didn't realize that.
OP - best of luck to you and I hope you find a decent mechanic.

 

Thank you for all of the support. I try to think as an engineer... So here is my Occum's Razor (the simplest solution is usually the correct one) summary. Please confirm if my think is correct.

1. The Alternator or it's pulley is making noise first thing in the morning.
2. After warming up for about 15 minutes the noise disappears for the rest of the day.
3. I drained the battery some by leaving on the lights, with the engine off, for about 15 minutes. This would create an environment that would simulate a similar load that the alternator might have during startup first thing in the morning.

The noise returned.

My question:

1. How do I segregate out whether or not the noise is from the Alternator or from the pulley?
2. Should I replace the battery as well?

By the way I believe that I have found two potential candidates as a mechanic. I am just concerned that they will recommend an alternator rather than a pulley.

Thank you again for helping me think this through.

Peace,
Gino

 

If your battery is original, then yes you should replace it. It most likely doesn't have much life left in it.

 

I know it's different for you because you'll be paying someone to do the work and don't want to do it twice, but I would just go ahead and change the pulley. If it turns out to be the alternator(the manual calls it a generator)then both will be new. Peace of mind.

 

IMO I think its highly unlikely to be the Alt pulley. The noise will usually eminate from the alt. bearings not the pulley.
Don't completely discount the idler pulley/bearing as the cause of the noise. These noises transmit easily and are hard to pin point. Good luck.

 

Thank you... Great forum.

My decision.

1. I will remove the belt and physically inspect the pulleys. Which would include the Coolant, Idler, and Generator pulleys.
2. I will probably replace the Alternator and Pulley.
3. I might replace the Idler pulley (just doesn't seem to be contributing to the noise). But I think it will be rather affordable to just replace it and be done with it. Though I might just upgrade and get a Euro Crank pulley kit.

Thanks again. Parts Plus has an alternator with pulley (two year warranty for $210.00). Not bad. I think that I might do this job myself. Appreciate the encouragement.

Peace,
Gino

 

Followup... My SRT6 had a Valeo Alternator. I successfully replaced it with a Bosch without any problems. The battery cable had to be modified. Thanks for the support.

 

It was a Delco. Sold to ITT then Valeo. Next...China....gary