When tightening the new alternator belt, you have to make sure not to tighten it too tight. This will cause a much shorter lifespan, and it can even damage the bearings in the parts like the alternator or power steering pump. Most newer car models use an automatic belt tensioner also, so it is quite uncommon that the belt will become loose.
How tight should my alternator belt be?
- Open and secure your car's hood.
- Locate the alternator.
- Look for the three bolts that secure the alternator.
- Loosen the front and rear bolts attached to the alternator and engine using a suitably sized wrench.
- Loosen the bolt attached to the adjustable bracket.
- Remove the wrenches.
How do you adjust an alternator belt?
- You can tell if your vehicle uses an auto-tensioner by looking at the alternator mounting bracket: if the bolts can slide from side to side in the bracket, it does ...
- You will need to slide the belt off the alternator pulley before you release the auto-tensioner.
- In some cars, you might need a friend to relieve the tension while you remove the belt.
How to adjust an alternator belt?
just loosen alternator bracket adjusting bolt push down alternator slip drive belt over alternator drive pulley.when done installing new belt lift up on alternator to increase tension on belt.if alternator drive belt tension correct from longest span of belt take thumb press on drive belt should get 1/2 inch deflection once correct tighten alternator bracket adjusting bolt.
How easy is it to put an alternator belt on?
Use a breaker bar or socket wrench to loosen the auto-tensioner.
- It may take a good amount of pressure to rotate the tensioner pulley down. ...
- As soon as you let the tensioner go, it will return to its usual position and put pressure on the belt again, so you will need to hold it in ...
- Not all vehicles are equipped with an auto-tensioner. Consult your specific vehicle's service manual to see if yours is.
How tight should an alternator belt be?
0:142:17Belt Tension: How To Know The Correct Tension - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow the rule of thumb for the timing belt. You want it 90 degrees. So when you grab this belt. YouMoreNow the rule of thumb for the timing belt. You want it 90 degrees. So when you grab this belt. You want to be able to spin it 90 degrees at least 90.
What happens if you tighten a belt too much?
If a belt is too tight in a system, it can add stress to your bearings. The added stress to bearings can result into over amperage of your motor and potential motor failure. When a belt is too loose: When a belt sits loose on a pulley, the belt can slip while in motion and cause extra friction.
Can you tighten a serpentine belt too tight?
0:324:48HOW TO TIGHTEN A DRIVE BELT PERFECTLY EVERYTIME - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you want it to go from flat to just straight up and down if you can turn it too much that meansMoreSo you want it to go from flat to just straight up and down if you can turn it too much that means it's too loose if you can't turn it all the way straight up it means it's too tight.
Can you over tighten a tensioner pulley?
A belt shouldn't be over-tightened. Any bearing that the belt rotates on can be burned out by an over-tightened belt. A pulley bearing can be ruined by an over-tightened timing belt.
How can you tell if your serpentine belt is too tight?
Pinch that point between your index finger and thumb and move it back and forth.The belt should have about a half an inch of play when at the appropriate tightness.If there is less than a half an inch, the belt will need to be loosened, if there is more, it will need to be tightened.More items...
How do you know if your belt is too loose?
A loose drive belt will often be noisy, squeaking a bit, or emitting a high-pitched squeal. The most obvious sign of a loose drive belt, though, is in its appearance and tension. A loose belt, simply stated, looks and feels loose.
How much slack should a serpentine belt have?
if you are squealing from the bearings it is TO tight lol. but yes about 1/2" of wiggle. and no matter how hard you push or pull the belt will only stretch so much lol so 1/2" is pretty accurate.
How do you check belt tension by hand?
2:193:46How to Check if your V-Belt is Properly Tensioned - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn a multiple belt. Drive simply deflect until the bottom o-ring is in line with the top of one ofMoreIn a multiple belt. Drive simply deflect until the bottom o-ring is in line with the top of one of the other belts.
Can a loose serpentine belt cause rough idle?
So if you have searched for answers to the question, can a bad serpentine belt cause rough idle? The answer is yes.
Why tighten the belt on an alternator?
Tightening the alternator belt can solve most problems under the hood such as squealing noises when starting the engine or driving the car. To get to know more, read on…. An alternator is an important part in the car engine assembly that does the job of producing electricity to run all electrical components of the vehicle.
What does tightening the alternator belt do?
Tightening the alternator belt can solve most problems under the hood such as squealing noises when starting the engine or driving the car. To get to know more, read on... Tightening the alternator belt can solve most problems under the hood such as squealing noises when starting the engine or driving the car. To get to know more, read on….
How to loosen a slider bolt?
If it is a slider tensioning system, you will need to loosen the slider bolt using the right type of wrench. The assembly would generally have a tensioner lock nut and a tensioner bolt. Loosen the nut and bolt, after which you will have to set the alternator against the belt. Now you need to tighten the slider bolt and the tensioner lock bolt.
How to check if alternator belt is bad?
You can check for a bad belt by sliding your hand across the belt and checking for cracks and irregularities. As a simple test, check if the belt moves out of place after carrying out the repair by trying to turn the alternator pulley with your hands. If it does, you will have to get it replaced.
Why tighten serpentine belt?
Tightening the belt can lead to a proper grip, thus increasing the alternator’s functioning. If it is a serpentine belt, proper tension will also help other parts to work smoothly.
Do serpentine belts tighten?
If it is a serpentine belt, proper tension will also help other parts to work smoothly. Note that this is just a standard procedure for tightening the alternator belt. The procedure may vary as per car type, so it is necessary to refer to the service manual for exact steps.
Can you spray belt dressing on a belt?
You can spray an aerosol belt dressing product on the belt to contribute to its smooth running. During the measurement of the belt slack, it the belt does not go down ½ inch, you will have to release tension off the tensioner bolt.
What happens if you don't have an alternator belt?
Without a properly functioning alternator belt, your car’s battery will not have enough power to keep moving, leading to issues with the air conditioning, stalling, electrics, and ultimately, a car that just won’t start.
How to tell if alternator belt is loose?
One of the most recognizable signs of a loose alternator belt is the high-pitched squealing sound that accompanies it. If you are hearing this sound coming from the front of your car, there is a good chance your alternator belt is loose and needs to be realigned, or the belt is completed damaged and needs to be replaced.
Why does my alternator belt smell?
When the alternator belt is loose or misaligned, it is likely that it will cause friction on the other parts of your car engine. This will result in a burning smell that can start in your engine and come through your air conditioning vents. This will be the distinctive smell of burning rubber, which is what most alternator belts are made out of.
What should a belt be wrapped around?
The belt should be wrapped around the cylindrical alternator and be pulled taught; if it is hanging loose or not properly wrapped around the edge of the alternator, your issue is resulting from a loose belt.
Why does my alternator overheat?
This leads to your engine overheating because it is not being cooled down like normal.
What is the belt on an alternator?
The alternator belt connects your alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, and water pump to your battery; it transports energy from the engine towards the alternator, which in turn powers the battery.
Why is my car stalling?
Engine stalling is related to the issue of a bad battery. If your engine suddenly stops working while you are driving, it can be quite a dangerous issue, so you should check on your alternator belt as soon as possible.
What happens if you drive too far with a loose alternator belt?
Sudden Stall. If you have been driving very far with a loose or slipping alternator belt, it can actually become so bad that the electronic components will draw more power than the alternator can produce.
What does it mean when your alternator belt is loose?
If the alternator belt is a little bit loose, it can charge the car battery but not good enough. This is most noticeable when you are trying to start the car. If it sounds exhausted on the starter, it can be a sign of a loose alternator belt.
Why does my alternator light up when the belt is loose?
As the alternator or serpentine belt is powering the alternator, it will, of course, cause the alternator to struggle when the belt is loose. There is a battery warning light on your dashboard in most car models, which will light up when there is a problem with the charging system.
How many volts does an alternator have?
When the alternator is charging the car battery, it will charge it with around 14.5 volts. When the car battery is idle, it mostly has around 12-12.5 volts. When the alternator is not functioning properly because of a slipping or loose alternator belt, the voltage will also cause spikes and drops. You will recognize these voltage shiftings mostly ...
What is a serpentine belt?
3. Heavy or Jiggery Steering. As I talked about before, the alternator or serpentine belt is powering the alternator and other things like the power steering pump. Some car models have a separate belt for the alternator and the power steering pump but mostly use the same. This means that when the alternator belt can also cause ...
How much does it cost to replace an alternator belt?
An alternator belt costs $20-$100 and labor costs $30-$200 to replace it. The alternator belt is often quite cheap, so if you know to replace and tighten it yourself, you can definitely save some money.
Where is the alternator belt located?
The alternator belt is located on the front of the engine. This is not the same as the front of the car because the engine can be installed sideways in many car models.
