Be very careful with the old 'stethoscope' method of finding a bad bearing. If you drop something into that area not only would it get very expensive, it might launch parts out at anyone looking in. try some kind of belt dressing to eliminate the belt slipping and if that didn't solve it, then start looking at bearings on the easily accessed items (you could release the belt from the tensioner and spin then, if noisy/grinding then replacement was needed anyway. The alternator can be spun then, should not be binding or growling. I had a belt squeal that sounded like a bearing once that drove me nuts (the noise was very low at idle but got real bad when driving). I had already bought/replaced two idler pulleys and it didn't go away. When I used an old windex bottle with simple water in it, the low squeal was gone. A quick belt change confirmed it and no more squeal. Do the inexpensive troubleshooting first and be careful doing anything in that area when the engine is running. ANYTHING moving can grab a shirt or bump a tool into something else moving. After that, it is a matter of luck if no one is hurt. Good luck!


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