Alternator Belt Slipping Off

[Kyogie12]

I'm trying to install my Alternator belt and it keeps slipping off when i try and start the car. It looks like it's slipping from the crank. The belt should go from the alternator pully, to the top pully that's shared with power steering to the crank and back to alternator ya? What could cause it to slip off? It also looks like the crank pully isn't lined up exactly with the other two...

Help! Thanks

 

[DSM nOOb]

is your water pump pulley on correctly?

 

[Kyogie12]

Yeah, or at least it looks to be. It's lined up with the alternator pulley exactly, and the power steering belt is on just fine on the other side of the pulley

 

[19Eclipse90]

Make sure your crank pulley isn't separating. It is definitely worth pulling off and having a look.

 

[Kyogie12]

Funny you should say that...I just put the belt one one more time, drove it around the block, all seemed well until...SNAP. The crank pulley came apart....thankfully it didn't damage the Tbelt at all.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Crank pulleys have been known to fall apart on these cars for some time now. Glad you identified the issue without too much trouble.

 

[Kyogie12]

What would have caused it to split like that? Just an awkward tension on it? So if I get a new pulley and it's still not lined up exactly is that problematic?

 

[19Eclipse90]

As far as we know, the rubber in the pulley just gets old, deteriorates, and finally gives way. If you get a new pulley, it should line up without question. If it doesn't, that is a problem, though not necessarily with the pulley.

 

[Kyogie12]

Ahh, well a new one is a little outta my price range right now, i was just thinkin of picking up a good used one.

 

[19Eclipse90]

A used pulley may be at the breaking point already or it could be good for a long while. As long as you have a timing cover on the car, the worst you can do is continue throwing alternator belts.

 

[Kyogie12]

Yeah, i just need a running a car right now and can't afford it. I've got an extra belt laying around anyhow. I've never had this problem with my 5 previous dsms haha, oh well.