Alternator belt squeak mystery!?

[STIeater95]

im sure many of you other dsm enthusiasts have came across the same problem. My previous belt used to squeak and it finally gave out and snapped. i had a spare, and replaced it but it still squeaks. Should i get another belt? or is there something else i should do. im afraid of tightening it too tight and causing damage to the water pump. but any input will help!

 

[awdtalon21]

It could be the belt again, try to tighten it a little more, if it still squeaks you could try an oem one.

 

[jeff24680]

My experience which I will be explaining in detail in a 2G Alternator replacement write up was that if you have a gatorback belt from Goodyear, get rid of it.

OEM All the way.


I find that after you tighten the tensioner bolt (the one that runs front-back) while you tighten the locking bolt(as I call it and it runs side to side) it can move the tensioner bolt out of its seat in the tensioner arm. Now at first this wont be a problem but after the car runs it can loosen the tensioner bolt enough that the bolt head isn't seated snugly against the tensioner arm and the alternator can move ever so slightly causing slack in the belt, having to re tighten it again.


I found that I had to wedge a crow bar up against the tensioner bolt pushing down on it so that it seats snugly against the bottom of the arm while either I or someone else tightened the locking bolt. Then I tightened the tensioner bolt some more after this for good measure.

Watch soon for a write up as I had a grand ol time with something that should have been very simple.

 

[Grimis]

Im with Jeff on the belt brand. I bought 2 napa belts, 2 advance belts (same company but different sizes go figure) and a local owned auto store belts, nothing but snaping and the piggy squeal.

then i called mentor and got 2 new set's of belts (alt/ac/ps) and replaced the alt with a mitsu belt and bam, nothing. not a peep. And as what jeff said, the shop i had put it on, as i thought i was doing it wrong, they put tention on the alt THEN proceded to get them tight and i've never look back, but i have a spare now.

 

[Boost92gsx]

On the 1gs the alternator always seems to sit a little crooked and causes it to squeal. you would have to take a bar and bend the mount a lil like pry the alternator straight, I know many dsmers that have had this problem. But im not sure about the 2gs. your running stock setup not a relocation or a saturn alternator right?

 

[gvr4550]

i tightened mine as down as far as the bracket would let me and still squeled like a pig. The alt sat a little crooked, came to find out the bottom mounting bolt loosened up on me. So you might want to check the bottom mounting bolt

 

[hondaslayer1]

cheap and easy fix is put sidewalk chalk on the belt will stop the noise.

 

[918dsm]

i go through this all the time as well, my tensioner bolt never stay's in the same spot and it squeel's like crazy, i take a pry bar and pull out on the alternator then tighten the 2 bolts up, then i tighten up the tensioner and seems like it works for me. but i have crap obx pully's and i think thats half my issue

 

[STIeater95]

On the 1gs the alternator always seems to sit a little crooked and causes it to squeal. you would have to take a bar and bend the mount a lil like pry the alternator straight, I know many dsmers that have had this problem. But im not sure about the 2gs. your running stock setup not a relocation or a saturn alternator right?

i do have a saturn alternator in it
but does the sidewalk chalk really help?