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Alternator belt / tighting.

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liquidloot

15+ Year Contributor
51
0
Nov 19, 2005
oakville, Connecticut
I'm trying to change my alternator belt, can someone tell me how to loosen my belt to do this? I'm pretty sure theres a bolt or some sort correct? Can someone describe or show me in a picture how to do it? This is for my 91 talon, also intrested in how to do it in my girlfriends 98gsx.

And how to re-tighten it when i'm done? Thanks
 
There is a bracket on the alternator, just loosen it and the alternator will pivot and allow you to change the belt. Put the new one on and pivot the alternator back to put tension on the belt, then tighten the bracket back. It's a pretty simple job. Just look at your alternator and I'm sure you'll see the bracket.
 
Loosen bolt 1 then you can loosen bolt 2.

You want the new belt tight but don't over tighten. I have mine set so it moves maybe 1/4 inch when I press against it. Feel how it is now and and go just a little tighter if not sure. If it squeaks tighten it a bit more. Be sure to tighten both bolts back up when done. The long bolt is the adjustment the short one is the lock.

Good luck


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Thanks alot, i got the alt belt on with no problems.

I'm still getting alot of sqeeling on cold starts, my crank belt is kinda loose, can someone show me a little diagram so i can tighten this belt myself? Thanks alot guys.
 
Alrighty, im trying to do this on my 98 gst.... i am unable to do anything with bolt 1. its super tight already. bolt 2 was easy to turn.

so im trying to tighten my belt b/c it squeals whenever i demand more power (AC, head lights, power steering, etc)...

so in order to do this, am i supposed to tighten bolt 2 or loosen it?

Also, post 5 mentions something about a bolt in the bottom of the alternator? Is he talking about bolt 2? and what does that do?

Thanks a lot guys. i cant wait to stop squealing!!!!!! :confused:
 
Mine squeals like crazy after setting all night and starting in the morning. i have tighting it and still wont stop i have replaced the altanator with no luck and took off the harmonic balancer which was fine nothing wrong with it but it still squeals.
 
The bolt in the bottom of the alternator is the bolt the alt pivots around. If it is super tight, you won't be able to budge it. To find it, feel around the bottom of the alternator on the passenger side, it's a 12mm like bolts #1 & 2

You must break loose bolt #1. Slip a wrench on it and give it a quick pop with a hammer if it is stuck.

To tighten the belt, bolt #2 must be tightened. That is, turned clockwise. If you loosen bolt one enough you can actually flip up bolt #2 and tighten it quickly with your fingers and apply pressure with your hand and put it back down. It doesn't need to be tighter than what you can push back in with your hands. Also keep in mind that the alternator travels in an arc when you are pushing, and super high tension on the belts will make them wear quickly.

If you've snugged up your belt and it still squeals, you need a new belt, or your crank pulley has come undone. You can try belt dressing, but a bad belt is a bad belt.

Wish I had your problems : (
 
so as i was tightening bolt 2, it started to bend and it eventually snapped on me... so off to home depot i go.

so basically, i have to loosen bolt 1 and the bolt on the passenger side of the alternator (right above the oil filter). Once those are loose, i can then pivot the alternator (tighten the belt) by tightening bolt 2 (rotating it clockwise). Once that is as tight as i want it, i then retighten bolt 1 and the pivot bolt....

correct?

Thanks a lot guys. time to go to home depot
 
That is correct.

Just a reminder, the belts do not need to be incredibly tight. In fact, the situation with the bolt on the alternator gives you huge leverage such that you can get them obscenely tight.
 
!!! YES !!! :thumb:

so i did what everyone said..

1.) loosen the bottom pivot bolt (10 mm i believe) which is located on the passenger side of the alternator, right above the oil filter.

2.) loosen the lock bolt (bolt number 1, 12 mm)

3.) Now you are free to tighten bolt number 2 (clockwise, 12 mm). I tightened it until the belt was noticeably tighter. (when i press on it, i can only push it about 1/6 of an inch down)... i dunno if i put it in too tight, but it runs quietly now!

4.) Retighten the bottom pivot bolt then the tighten the lock bolt (bolt #1)

Hopefully this helps you guys out!!!!:rocks:
 
I have a 96 2g 2.0 non turbo. This is what I'm looking at, there is only one bolt holding the alternator to the car, is that wrong? Because I don't see how someone would adjust the tension. Also, there is a belt in front of the alternator belt, how do I remove it? Some picture so you can see what I see:
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