So after the swap, the belt started squealing. It is the 1 belt system and it was kind of loose after the alt swap. I cannot figure out how to tighten the belt. Its a 350 and i managed to mount the alt in a manner that stops the squeal but when I turn the ac on, the belt squeals pretty bad. Also I cannot quite recall how the adjustment bracket goes on the alt, anyone have a pic of one? Again its a 350 with the alt at the top front of driver's side directly across form upper radiator hose. Any help is appreciated.

 

I would check to make sure that the right pulley is on the alternator. Did the new alternator come with a pulley or without? Also, check to make sure that the tensioner is good. Sometimes they get weak or they get stiff and not spring back all the way. There isnt an adjustment bracket for the alternator, unless your talking about the brace on the back of the alternator that bolts on the exhaust manifold which isnt adjustable.

 

The alt came with a pulley so it is on the correct one. I have been trying to locate the tensioner but havent had much luck. I have been looking at the haynes manual but it talks about different trims and not the 350.

 

The belt uses a spring loaded tensioner you dont need to adjust.
Sometimes the new alt comes with a diff pulley and may mess things up.
How old is your belt? They do wearout
Also the alt could have a bad bearing.

 

The altenator is the exact same alt that i pulled out except it is brand new/ refurb. The belt is in good shape fairly new itself. This doesnt make any sense seeing how it did not squeak before i changed the alt but now it does and the belt definitely seems looser than it was was minutes before I replaced the alt. so there is not way to tighten the belt due to the spring loaded tensioner? Forgive me I dont know what that looks like or if its within the belt itself, I just got this car.

 

spray a little ArmorAll on the groove side of the belt while it's running. see if that stops the squealing. sometimes the belts get too dry and squeak. i know - sounds wierd, but its a fact.

 

Yeah that could help but Im still stuck with a loose belt. I need to figure out how to fix the loose issue. The belt definitely has way too much play.

 

The only thing that adjusts the belt is the spring tensioner located on the same large aluminum bracket as the A/C compressor. Every other spinning pulley is mounted solid to the engine.

 

yeah, sorry. i misread (didnt read) that part. you can see if they make a 1/2" - 1" shorter belt...

 

Ok I'll try to find it. Thanks

 

Some replacement alts use a different size pulley, sounds like you have a smaller than stock pulley. I like to keep the same "factory" pulley when I swap alts..

 

So I am just going to go ahead and replace the tensioner and the belt. Now when I purchase the new tensioner, there shouldn't be any adjustments to be made to it right? The tension should already be set and I just need to bolt it back up to the bracket then run the belt through? Thanks again.

 

Its just spring loaded. nothing to "set".
I get the tensioner at Oriellys. It looks just like the factory one. I think its a goodyear? part???
If its just the bearing in the tensioner you can buy just the bearing 4 it.

 

Yeah the bearing in the pulley is squeaky and rotates freely with a simple spin. The actual tensioner and spring looks ok so I am just going to replace the pulley and serp belt. Looking at the indicator on top of the tensioner it looks like it was at maximum tension which probably means my belt stretched. So I will put it all together tomorrow. If the pulley and new belt doesnt fix the issue then I will just by a whole new tensioner.

 

So I buy a new belt from advanced and it is way too short. Like it barely gets around all the pulleys without the tensioner even on. When I finally did manage to get the belt and tensioner on, the tensioner wont bolt up correctly. The pulley will not go down far enough to line up the hole for the tensioner. Either I have the wrong belt (which they looked it up in the computer) or the tensioner is messed up. The last belt was stretched it looks like and the tensioner is set all the way to the max, but I cant adjust it because its an automatic one. So either they make diff sized belts for my engine setup or I'm just missing something. I compared the new belt to the old one and the old one is way longer. However even when I tried the old belt, it is too loose. So I have a old belt that is too big and a new belt that is too small and a tensioner that is set to max tension and no idea how to get it to loosen up. I am lost.....

 

your parts guy sux and your belt is to short. take it back and get one thats a bit shorter than your old belt. And take your old belt with you.
The tensioner gets put on 1st. then route your belt. the lil square on the top of the tensioner is where you put your breaker bar to move it so you can put your belt on.

 

Yeah I looked online at advanced autos site and the belt that he gave me says its the one for my car. But there is no way. I know I routed it perfectly and it is def too short. the belt I have is 94.5 in long. I don't know if that is the correct length or not but according to the parts store it is. But again the old belt is much longer than the one I just bought. Also, when I do get the correct belt, how will the tensioner adjust itself? I mean if I put in a new belt that is not stretched, the tensioner is still set to max tension so even if I do get the correct size belt, how will I be able to route it under the pulley since I can't reset the tension? And thanks again TTOP you have been very helpful

 

Ok I just read an article about cars without the smog pump. My car has mine deleted. According to the article, I need a longer belt. Here is the link

https://www.thirdgen.org/serpentine

So I will go try it out

 

Guess I should have asked if you have all your accessories and or underdrive pulleys. .. Since you have no smog pump, the parts guys will have no clue to what you need..

 

Success! Yeah the longer belt fit nicely and the tensioner is in working order. No more loose belt and by replacing the pulley, no more squeal. Good advice on just getting the pulley first before replacing the whole tensioner. Saved me $32. Thanks a lot for your help.

 

Good 2 hear. Enjoy!