Rep Power: 0

I pulled the electrical hookup out of it's socket in my alternator to make sure it was the alternator that I was hearing the whining sound from..but nothing happened. Still whining sound.. I also did the hold the screwdriver against the body of the alternator to listen through the handle like a stethoscope and was pretty sure then that the whining was coming from the alternator. But after pulling the electrical hookup from it's socket and still hearing the whining I need to ask this question..If it's the bearings that have gone bad will the alternator still whine when pulling the electrical hookup from the socket.

 
Rep Power: 224

The alternator is always driven, so removing the electrical connector will not stop the whine.