Belts: Taut or Not?

[Auladan]

I just changed my power steering belt (first belt change fo me) and got everything back together. However, I'm not certain how tight the belts should be. Right now the PS belt is rather loose, but I have another half inch to an inch to tighten it. The alternator belt is very very taut. I don't want to damage anything, so how tight should I have these belts?

Thanks.

 

[Defiant]

3/8" deflection at their longest straight run. You should just barely be able to twist it 90°.

 

[doug]

And sometimes you'll have to go back after the first day or two and retighten-- my alternator belt seems to stretch a bit just after putting it on and will squeak first thing in the morning when I crank it. I had to retighten it a couple times before it stopped.

 

[Auladan]

Many thanks!

I got them tightened and turned the car on. At first they squeeled periodically (squeel for half a minute, stop for half a minute, etc), so I went back in and found that the PS had worked loose and the belt was getting floppy. So I tightened that down good along with the alternator belt, and now no more squeek.

Thanks!

 

[doug]

Just remember that rubber, unlike every other substance in the universe except water, expands when cooled and contracts when heated. That's why mine only squeaked first thing in the morning when everything was cold.

 

[ryu]

then why does mine sqeal only when warmed up?to tight?