# Alternator 2002 VW Golf **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** volkswagen\ **Created:** [October 9, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-2002-vw-golf/74884 "2012-10-09T01:32:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mycatmarti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@mycatmarti](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mycatmarti)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-2002-vw-golf/74884/1 "2012-10-09T01:32:34Z")
I had a rebuilt alternator installed on Thursday and for the past two days when I start up the car there is a high pitch whine coming from what I believe is the alternator. Do some rebuilt alternators make noise when charging the batter after start-up? The alternator has a 3-year warranty and I’m going back to the shop tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-2002-vw-golf/74884/2 "2012-10-09T02:07:28Z")
Maybe, maybe not. If the pulley is misaligned or the belt too tight you could have a whine. Any good alternator is NOT supposed to whine. If it does, it is likely to fail soon. I would take it back and expain it and take the installer out for a spin. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-2002-vw-golf/74884/3 "2012-10-09T04:08:44Z")
You are doing the right thing taking it back to the shop. A bad diode in the alternator also may cause a high pitched whine. I’ve had this high pitched whine in the alternator and within a couuple of days, the alternator fails. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-2002-vw-golf/74884/4 "2012-10-09T04:24:57Z")
Rebuilt parts turniing out to be no-good when installed is a very common thing here. It isn’t normal to hear a whining sound from the alternator. It might be the belt tension wasn’t adjusted correctly though. Did they put a new belt on, or re-use the old one? ---
**Author:** ![mycatmarti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@mycatmarti](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mycatmarti)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-2002-vw-golf/74884/5 "2012-10-17T00:01:06Z")
Actually, I had a friend listen to my car and it wasn’t the alternator at all. It’s my secondary air pump which sits right beside the alternator. The pump cycles on and off when I start the car and then I don’t hear it the rest of the drive. The alternator is working like a little champ.