New Alternator, Severe Belt Squeal?
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From: Tucson, Arizona
Car: 1987 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW
New Alternator, Severe Belt Squeal?
I just put in a new alternator, and now the (new) belt is squealing. I tightened the belt as much as I could by hand, and then tightened the bolt on the alternator. I've tightened all of the bolts as much as I could. And the wierdest thing is that for the first few seconds the engine is running, it doesn't squeal when I give it gas. It's only after twenty or so seconds that goosing it causes it to squeal. Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Tucson, Arizona
Car: 1987 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW
Re: New Alternator, Severe Belt Squeal?
Also, it seems that the cause of the squealing is the alternator getting REALLY hot. It shouldn't be getting hot enough to make the belt slip, should it?
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Tucson, Arizona
Car: 1987 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW
Re: New Alternator, Severe Belt Squeal?
Dunno why the alt is getting really hot, but I tightened it one more time, as much as I physically could, leaning back while holding the alternator, and tightened the bolts. Doesn't squeal, but the alt's heat scares me.
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From: Mooresville NC
Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
BELT NO GOOD? TRY SUSPENDERS
You are not supposed to tighten the belt.
Your engine has an automatic belt tensioner.
However this device can wear out.
Due to the fact your old alt/belt combo did not squeal,
but your new one does, make sure you have routed it properly.
Also;
You wouldn’t be the first person to receive
the wrong size belt from your local auto parts store.
And;
‘Tightening the bolts as much as you can’
will give you broken bolts in the future.
If your alt is misaligned the pulley will get very hot.
This will evidence itself with smell and fast belt wear.
.
Happy Racing !
|__|==(_)==|__|
— If people drove any slower
they’d be going backwards —
.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Tucson, Arizona
Car: 1987 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW
Re: BELT NO GOOD? TRY SUSPENDERS
Well, firstly, the 87's don't have a tensioner.
The belt is the right belt. I compared them side by side.
And when I said tightened the bolts as much as I could, I thought that it started slipping because the top bolt in the bracket wasn't tight enough, allowing it to slide forward.
The belt is the right belt. I compared them side by side.
And when I said tightened the bolts as much as I could, I thought that it started slipping because the top bolt in the bracket wasn't tight enough, allowing it to slide forward.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Oslo, Norway
Engine: '85 Monte SS L69 305
Transmission: TH 200-4R
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: BELT NO GOOD? TRY SUSPENDERS
The alt could be faulty, charge too much, or the battery gone bad making the alt work hard. I'd measure the voltages on the batt and alt first and go from there.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Tucson, Arizona
Car: 1987 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW
Re: BELT NO GOOD? TRY SUSPENDERS
I actually think I have figured out the problem. It looks like it got put together without one of the spacers behind the fan. I have the spacer from the other alternator, I just need to take the pulley off and put it on. Oh joy.
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