On my gf's 04' she has been noticing an odd smell and a strange sound from under the hood. I took a look and it seems both are coming from her alternator, where it appears the pulley is out of alignment. How can I fix this? Can I just get a replacement pulley or is this something that I can just re-align?

 

If the pulley is crooked, the belt and alternator are damaged, replace them both.

 

Is it just given that they are damaged or is there a way to check for sure before i just go and replace them

 

good time to upgrade, if you have to buy another one. get a 130amp one..or even a 200 amp one, from:

http://www.4alterstart.com/highoutputalternators/

wont be much more than a stock one, better quality than a re-manuf. unit (ive had, like, 3 bad re-manuf. units over the years from advance), and if you get underdrive pullies or a high power stereo system, youll be good.

 

I didn't see one on there for an 04 but maybe I just missed it. If I replaced just the pulley, is the alt. life already severely compromised? The alt. still tests as though its working completely fine.