My 1992 EBII Fairmont normally drives perfectly, but lately when started from cold, the voltmeter sits between 11 and 12 volts with the engine idling. It doesnt indicate a charge until the car is being driven. When the vehicle speed increases, the battery starts charging, and thats when the squeal starts. It continues until the voltage reaches a little over 14 then it stops and everything is quiet again. Does this sound like a belt or a dodgy alternator/brushes/bearings? And if it is the alternator, can anyone give me a rough estimate of what it'll cost to repair? Any and all ideas are very welcome
Thanks a lot

how loose are the belts?

Belts seem fine. There'd be less than 1/2 inch of deflection.

Mmmm, same - annoying isn't it!

Im not sure how correct this is, but mine does the same. I tighten my belt up to stop the squeak. AS for the light, i asked an auto leccy, and he told me that chances were it was the regulator. If i bring my revs up to about 1400, and then let them off again, the light stays up.

Andrew get your alternator changed before you end up stranded with a dead battery. The way your going I'd bank on 2-3 days before it dies. It happened to me in the cab.

Been going like this for 8 months now, not going to die yet!

Mine did the same for a while, until I tightened the belt up and it was fine. You could try another alternator?

Does the "BATT" light come on with ignition on before starting the car?

If not then you may have a stuffed regulator AND possibly the wires at the regulator connected back to front - which will stuff any subsequent regulators almost instantly.

Bosch regulators are really easy to replace without even removing the alternator but I think mitsubishi or motorcraft alternator has to be removed and dismantled with soldering involved etc. - ie. just get another one (exchange?).

OH - the other thing that will mean no BATT light and screwy alternator behaviour is if the bulb itself in the cluster is blown - this will throw the regulator out of whack but hopefully not have stuffed it - replacement bulb should make it all ok.