Hey everyone

I just bought a 2001 blazer 4x4 off owner. He said it needed a battery which i purchased and it worked great for two days. Started right up,
This morning as soon as u started it i heard a squealing (low not high pitch)
I got to work shut off truck, popped hood and then it had hesitation upon starting (like drained battery) then i clearly hers that the noise was coming from alternator. So is it definatley the alternator?

Other things, the air bag light is on , today it flashed a few times after starting. There was also a point where the clock dimmed and got brighter this morning. The clock was wrong when I purchased the truck.

Is this all connected? Should i just have alt replaced?

Thanks,
Jim

 

It seems your alternator is not charging the battery. A low battery can cause all sorts of warning lights to pop up and strange behaviour in general. The easiest way to check is, with the engine running, either use a volt meter on the battery, or keep an eye on your volt gauge in the dash. It should read around 13.5V and up.
The noise you are hearing is probably the bearing from the alternator.

 

Disconnect the belt. {Just use 3/8 ratchet on tensioner and pull off to side of idler pulley}

Rotate alt pulley - should rotate smooth, no 'FEEL' of roughness at all. Shake pulley both axis. Should only give hint of in-out movement and none of side-side.

- I'd take the alt off and to Autozone, or wherever, and have it tested COULD be a rectifier failure, too.
Check other pulleys while you have belt off. Should not hear lot of bearing 'sing' and very little sloppiness.