[DML] Alternator Belt

["Robert Lingo" <rlingo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

How tight must the alternator belt be? I had a belt beak on me once. Here's 
what happened: I started the car after it had sat for over eight hours 
(while I was at work). It ran very rough after starting. When I pressed the 
accelerator I heard the belt squeal a couple of times. All of a sudden a 
thick cloud of white smoke came from the engine compartment. I discoverd a 
half melted, broken belt up on inspection. I replaced the belt the next day, 
fired up the car and drove home. Now tonight, leaving work, the car seemed 
to run rough again. I saw white smoke again while I was pulling out of the 
parking lot (no squealing belt though). I quickly looked at my volt meter 
and it was almost pointing to zero. I thought my belt had broke again. So I 
quickly pulled back into the parking lot just to discover the belt was 
intact and turning. I turned off anything electrical I didn't need when I 
drove it home. The volt meter never registered above 10V. It usually reads 
between 11-13 volts. I drove home without incident.
The altenator and belt are new and I have a new heatshield between the 
alterantor and muffler. Why would the belt be breaking and smoking like 
this. Could the alternator be bad? The alternator turns easily, as well as 
the water pump (new). When I replaced the belt the first time I really 
tightened it up. I'm thinking maybe the belt is just not tight enough. Any 
suggestions?


Lingo #2034 






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