Loud squealing and BRAKE and BATTERY dash lights flashing.

Almost a newbie here, people. Hi.
On my 2000 Montero Sport, 3.5L, 2WD, now with 199K miles...
When I started it this morning, the Power Steering was out... tough to steer...
and it was intermittently making a fairly loud squeal during the 2 minutes of running.
An hour later, I drove it 2 miles... power steering worked fine,
intermittent squeals, and the BRAKE and BATTERY dashboard lights intermittently flashed.
Those two lights flashed on and off in unison.
A search of this forum tells me that could be an Alternator problem.
Especially if oil is leaking onto it. In this vehicle, oil Is leaking onto it.
But those forum posts make no mention of the noise.
They just mention the Alternator not working correctly.

Before searching this forum for answers, I figured that the noise is caused by
a bearing inside something that's Belt-driven.
I removed the first belt... for AC. Noise still happens.
I removed the 2nd belt... Power Steering. Noise still happens.
I removed the 3rd belt... Water pump and Alternator. Noise is gone.

Turning by hand the WaterPump and the Alternator and the Idler (adjustment) wheel
that's on the same belt... they all seem to turn nicely... no rough spots, no noise.

SO,... my alternator Might? be bad?... not making enough electricity?
But... WHAT is making all of that noise?

Thanks very much,people.

Mark53

 

When I started to read your post my first thought was - the serpentine belt, but it sounds like your model year engine uses separate bets for different accessories. Before you took off the belts, did you notice if any of them were loose? The squealing noise often comes from a belt that is too loose or when the belt tensioner is not working properly. You did your homework by checking the alternator and water pump and it sounds like they are turning well. However, it is possible that at a higher RPM (when engine is running vs. turning it by hand) something may heat up and the alternator or water pump starts ceasing and making the belt slip and thus produce the noise. I'd put the belt back on and with the engine running watch the pulleys to see if you notice one of them stopping momentarily when noise occurs. The alternator warning light is most likely related to this - not consistent voltage coming out.

 

Correct, Mr. Hunter,... three separate belts.
After I removed the Idler wheel and the Alternator,
I jury-rigged a friction wheel in a power drill to turn them fast.
No squealing noise comes from either one.
But that's without any belt-tension pulling the pulley to one side.
PepBoys tested the Alternator... says it failed.

IF the Alternator went bad, it would be one Helluva coincidence
that the belt-tension squealing started at exactly the same time.
Doesn't sound plausible to me.

?

 

No, Hunter,... I had not noticed that any belts might be loose...
So, I replaced the Alternator. Seems to have solved all problems.
All is well. No Squeals.
The Earth is still round. Continue with your regular lives.
Thanks for the input.