Hi-

I need some help tensioning the drive belt that turns the alternator and a/c compressor. I can't seem to get it tight enough so that it won't squeal. I've made sure the belt and pulleys are clean and not slippery.

To tighten the adjuster do you go counter-clockwise or clockwise? What does the tensioner look like when its tensioning the belt?

Any help would be appreciated. I can't seem to make my belt stop squealing!

Thanks,
TJ

 

My belt only squeaks on cold start up - like in the morning. The rest of the day it's fine. As to tightening, loosen the nut on the pulley and then tighten. It turns clockwise. Make sure the pulley bolt is loose. Once you have the right amount of deflection tighten the pulley bolt and you are done. Don't over tighten the belt either. Good luck.

 

It sounds like you need a new belt. If the bolt is starting to show through the nut than the pulley is pushing up and is getting looser, but if the bolt is becoming flush with the nut than the pully is moving down. You want the pulley to move down to increase tension

 

If you are trying to tighten it and you cant tell what it is doing, reach through the bottom of the motor and grab onto the belt after you turn it a couple times one way and repeat that to see what the slack is doing on the belt. but all the way tight, the pulley will be as far down as it will let you turn it.

 

sounds like you may need a new belt if you have tightened it and it still squeels

 

Max Atlanta - I had the cold squeal too. I replaced the belts but when i did so I noticed my tensioner was really loose. I did the belts anyway since they were at the 60K interval but it was most likely just the tensioner.