Alternator Seized and snapped the belt

[RVThere]

What started as a simple radiator cleaning got complex real quick…

Based on suggestions from other posts, I was out spraying Simple Green on my radiator to get rid of all the accumulated gunk. After the second application and rinse, I decided to start the engine to blow out any remaining water and debris. After starting the engine, went around back and notice NO air was coming through the radiator. Stopped the engine and climbed under with my flashlight and saw the serpentine belt was hanging loose. Looked further and saw a snapped end of the belt. Thank God this was in my driveway.

Started checking pulleys and quickly found the alternator was seized. Fortunately on my Winnebago Tour ISL 400hp Cummins, there is a bunch of room (relatively speaking) on that side of the engine so you can get in there to get the alternator off. Positive connection came off easy but negative connection was rusted on and had to lock the vice grips on to get it off. Four mounting bolts came off easy.

170 amp replacement alternator should be in on Tuesday.

Anyone else have an alternator seize on their MH?

[dengraham]

It has not happen to me; yet! The engine is still under warranty. Did they send you a new one free?

[MaverickBBD]

Who is sending you the replacement?

[CaptBill]

Same thing happened to me, also in my driveway, about 5 years ago. We were literally leaving (or so we thought) for our winter getaway. I went out to warm up the rig, and noticed that the dashboard voltmeter was low. Raised up the idle speed a bit; still no joy. Shut down and started checking back in the engine compartment; found the broken belt on top the engine. The alternator was seized.

We were still under chassis and engine warranty, and Freightliner covered it completely, with no hassles, but it took 3 days for the local dealer to get one, and install it.

[doc]

Our coach with the 425 cummins was just a few weeks old when we started out on a trip. I pulled it out of the shed and was about to hook the towed up. Saw something under the shed and upon investigation found it to be a broken belt. Apparently the alternator had seized and when I started the engine it burned the belt into. Glad it did not wait for us to get on the road.
I asked Freightliner to send a mechanic, a belt and a new alternator to the house. They sent a huge wrecker and towed the thing 30-40 miles to their shop and installed the new alternator. Go figure which cost more.

[RVThere]

Thank you dengraham for your suggestion to call FCCC!

Even though I ordered a new alternator through my local Cummins shop, I called FCCC today and they said it was still under warranty and to fax them the bill for the parts and they would reimburse me.

Son Joe and I crawled under the coach, slithered near the engine and put the alternator on and managed to get the belt on correctly too!. Started up fine and I'm good to go.

[historyljc]

That's what counts.

[dengraham]

Tom,
You are welcome. I'm glad it worked out so well for you. How many miles do you have on your motor home? My belt "squeaks" when I turn off the engine so I am wondering of my alternator is starting to "tighten up?"

[RVThere]

I have about 35000 miles on the coach. It would be tough to determine what is actually squeaks back there - belt or alternator - with all the motor noise. Mine was worst at startup then would quiet down.