Alternator Belt. Help!

[drownthecity]

Okay so this has been giving me a headache for weeks now. I replaced my power steering and alternator belts around a month ago (didn't change AC belt). After changing them, a few days later one began to squeak. Tightened them up as I figured they'd stretch over time. They began squeaking a day or so later after that. I hit a giant puddle of water one night when it was storming and it knocked my alternator belt off.

After putting it back on and tightening it again, it would squeak every time it was started and began making a grinding noise during idle. The next night when I started my car the belt popped right off 2 seconds after turning the key. Put it back on and tightened it up. No squeaking, but a slight scraping sound, like the belt was rubbing against something. The pitch of the scrape varied by RPM. Went outside earlier today to move my car in since it had snowed and 15 seconds after staring it, the belt had lost all tension. It was still on the pulleys but has waaaay too much give in it. The tensioning bolt is still there.

Sorry for the long post, but can anyone shed some insight?

 

[NHerron]

Good deal, glad you updated with the results.

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

That item I would replace with an OEM unit.

 

[drownthecity]

I bought the one from autozone. Dolman I believe is the brand name?

 

[gieri002]

I bought the one from autozone. Dolman I believe is the brand name?

It's good to hear you found the culprit. Dorman is probably the brand you purchased.

 

[drownthecity]

It's good to hear you found the culprit. Dorman is probably the brand you purchased.

Indeed it is!

The scraping noise that I heard was the pulley grinding against the bottom of the timing case. Not much damage was done since it wasn't really driven in that condition. Went ahead and put all new belts on too. Started her up, no squeak, no grind, good to go.

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[dugan33]

I know you've found the solution but for anyone else reading this Ive been in this situation with my friends 1g and my own. I stripped the tensioner bolt on the alternator and it would come loose, seems to be a common issue. We also put my friends water pump pulley on backwards. It goes right on and its an easy mistake to make. Belt didnt fall off for 2 days with the water pump pulley backwards, nor did it make any noise.

 

[rough]

Thanks for posting back with your solution, so many threads get started, read, and no closure, so THANK YOU for this closure

Here take my like!!