alternator belt shredding [Merged 6-8] shedding falling off squeal noise thrown

[marksae]

Alright.. i've gone through some hell w/ my alternator belt on my 1g. Ever since I removed my AC belt, my alternator belt has flown off 3 times, and I've shredded 2 of them. If i leave it too loose, it flies off. If I tighten it too much, the belt shreds. I'll check my pulleys to make sure they're all lined up and aren't dinged up. Will overtightening this belt cause it to shred?

As this amalgamation of threads shows, the usual causes of alternator belt troubles are:
1. Failed harmonic balancer.
2. Bent pulleys.
3. Pulleys put on backward.

 

[brokeawd]

I overtightned an alternator belt after a tbelt change once and it let loose 5 minutes after that car started,sounded like a bomb. I had remeber cranking it down because it was like 10 degrees outside and excessive play in belts at that temp squeel. I thought the balance belt or tbelt had shredded.

Try pouring some ajax on the belt also...cleans the surfaces.

Good luck

 

[98TsiAWD]

It is adjusted as tight as it will go, and still is not tight enough. I checked the number on the belt to make sure it was the right one, it is. I sprayed it all down with brake cleaner to make sure there is no grease or somthin on the belt making it slip.

Whenever I start my car it squeals for about 10 seconds, then its done. But at nighttime its a different story. I turn on my lights and everytime I take off it squeals all the way through 3rd gear. If I turn my heat on, oh boy look out. It will squeal forever.

I haved checked that battery acid with a testor, they all came up 90-100% except for one was about 65%.

 

[mattn]

I had the same problem.. Make sure its real tight, and then tighten the bolt that connects to the tensioner.. Ya know, the one that goes INTO the alternator. Also, when you think it's tight enough, it probably isn't. It drove me nuts until I tightened the hell out of it and then it finally stopped squeaking..

 

[Dsmed]

roflamo, this sounds all too familiar. I got so sick of my squeel that I didn't want to drive anymore. Mine was for the first 10 seconds, then it would stop, and if I had my lights on it would squeel at every red light, and when the heat was on...forget it, it would constantly squeel.

I finally poped my hood to replace the belt. It was very tight, but I did notice that last time I was messing with it, I forgot to tighten the bottom bolt on the alternator, either that or it vibrated loose. Well either way, I tightened it, and it was a miracle, the squeeling stopped. Check that bolt, it is at the bottom of the alternator where it mounts to the block. I ended up replacing the belt anyway because winter is coming up here soon and I wanted a new belt on there.

 

[HATED1]

had the same problem, check all belts, for me it was my ac belt that needed to be tightened.

 

[mrcooley]

2 words....belt dressing....$3 at any parts store.

 

[98TsiAWD]

Well, i loosened the back bolt and the 2 adjusting bolts. Then pulled the alternator as tight as i could, which is as far as it will go. and tightened them all back up. Got it the car, started it, no 5-10 sec. squeal on startup Then i turned on my headlights, fogs, and heat fan on high, still no squeal. revved it a few times, still no squeal. I think i got it fixed, we'll see when I take it for a drive.

 

[halik]

How do you adjust the alternator belt? The squeal annoys the hell outta me.

Weird thing it doesnt seem to do it when i manually push the throttle on the throttle body. I can only hear it when im inside pushing the pedal

 

[b00sted99-X]

so you guys are just tightening the piss out of your belts.. isn't there some sort of tension gauge and specs from the manual to follow? i don't have it with me, i'll have to check at home but i was wondering if anyone knew offhand...

 

[mitsutuner]

something doesn't sound right about having to overtighten the alt belt, if it's too tight I think you are going to destroy the alt bearings and/or seperate the accessory crank pulley--just my $.02, I know these mitsu motors have a lot of peculiar habits, my guess is that if you drove one into the ocean, it would sink intermittently----gregorio

 

[98TsiAWD]

well, its still not fixed, I think my belt is too long, its the right number and everything but when it just isnt tight.

The alternator is adjusted as tight as it goes, I held it there by hand, then tightened the bolt, so its not that im cranking on the bolt to get it as tight as I can.

What do you guys think, should I go buy a new belt and how much are they about?

 

[mitsutuner]

under $10 for sure. Be sure to spin the pulley by hand and make sure the bearing is not your prob, also try to wiggle the pulley sideways and check for endplay, and slop in the bearing.----gregorio

 

[Otis]

you gotta tighten the living #@%#@%#@%#@% out of those belts. I think the size is a 390k4. tighten the hell out of it. you should barely be able to move it. I dealt with that #@%#@%#@%#@% for so long. just loosen the bolt on the side first and then tighten the tensioner. its 12mm bolts. once the tension is set tighten the side bolt again and you're done!

 

[98TsiAWD]

Originally posted by Otis
you gotta tighten the living #@%#@%#@%#@% out of those belts. I think the size is a 390k4. tighten the hell out of it. you should barely be able to move it. I dealt with that #@%#@%#@%#@% for so long. just loosen the bolt on the side first and then tighten the tensioner. its 12mm bolts. once the tension is set tighten the side bolt again and you're done!

The tensioner is as tight as it will go, I pulled the alternator towards the radiator by hand to the farthest position with no excess force. So Im thinkin my belt is too big. Stretched out maybe from someone making it too tight when they changed it?

 

[Otis]

get a new belt then. You didn't skip a pulley by any chance did you? there's no way the belt will still be loose if the alt is pulled as far as it will go if the belt is right. If it's stretched that far then you should notice it pretty well. It's a lot easier to tension things with a pry bar, also.

 

[Joe's_GSX]

I get a terrible alternator belt screech upon intial startup, The belt has good tension, and is it possible the bearings are going or do I really need to tighten the belt?

The reason I put it here in this Forum is because it is directly related with my car stereo. When I turn it up most of the time I can hear the belt whining, as if I'm making the alternator work too hard. I have reolcated the battery to the back, and have considered adding another battery, although if this won't make a difference, in my lights dimming or my alternator complaining, I would rather fix the main problem at hand.

I have 1.5 farad digital capacitor, with a reading sometimes below 12 volts when the car is running and the bass is hitting hard. Although it is usually above 12, I'm sure this is why the lights dim. The biggest problem here is the alternator making tons of noise.

If anybody has a clue...let me know. Thanks in advance. I don't plan on adding an amp for my highs until I fix this problem. I know the Galant VRt has a 90AMP alternator, would this be a good replacement? All the possibilities. I'm sure there is an answer.

Joe
I will post pics of my system soon.

 

[wastefuldreamer]

I have the same screech at startup.. All belts are tight and brand new.. I have no clue what the problem is either so help is appreciated

 

[thespydaguy]

whats the weather like? if you have had a dramatic change in weather it can make your belts squeel. at least thats what happens here in oklahoma where you go from sunny and 90 to 50 and rainy in a matter of hours...

 

[Joe's_GSX]

I'm sure that Michigan weather has something to do with it. Although it does it when my car starts up and it is sitting in my garage. I'm going to tighten my belt up and see what happens.

I heard that putting Comet on the belts can quiet them down. although I know nothing about this working, I didn't try it myself.

It doesn't help that Mitsubishi designed a shitty tensioner system. Although I think maybe the alternator bearings are going, this is the major problem. Also my power steering makes noise when the car is cold, this annoys me, although I guess thats why I have a truck for the winter.

Joe

 

[captconnels]

AHH I hate michigan weather, mine does the same thing, but only when its like under 40 and high humidity. If anyone fixes, please post!

 

[wantarace95GSX]

I went outside to start my car up after work and i hear this most unusual noise so i shut the car off immediately.
I pop the hood and see that my belt had fallen off my alternator pulley. I was wondering if nothing else bad happened for like the two seconds that my car started, also is this an easy fix?

 

[Krac_Hed]

To have your belt fall off, it had to be either really loose, or your crankshaft pulley separated. Check your crankshaft pulley before you start the car again.

 

[gregmondro]

ok guys, im having a problem with my alternator belt squeeling like a mofo.

It's tightened and i've tried spraying that belt squeel eliminator on the pulleys and it solved the problem for a few hours :S

the belt is tight (not over tightened eithier).

any ideas? it's a brand new belt, the last one snapped

 

[thegame]

I had the same symptoms once and thought that it was the belt as well. After the car warmed up the squeal went away. After about a month my battery finally died. Come to find out the bearings for the pulley were toast. Put a new one in and had no problems.