last September I had a local mech change out my belts. by October everytime I started up the car I had a horrible squeal that sounded like belts but also sounded a bit like some bearing was going out. in dec I had the mechanic check the belts and he said the ps belt was fine but he could not adjust the main belt any tighter and said the noise might be something else. now during this time in the dead of winter I wanted nothing to do with changing an alternator or even checking pulleys etc. so last sunday I decided to do some reading here on the forum and found out the specs for belt deflection.
turns out the nut job who installed the belts met with some resistance on the tensioner bolt and was scared to go further. I wd40 that sucker and 10 mins later the tensioner is 4 turns past where it was and a week later I have not heard any noise at all. before this I heard it at every startup.

 

yup

 

Well, a new alternator isn't exactly end of the world. However I hear ya, some mechanics just won't go further because if they bust something, guess who has to pay for it.

S

 

I thought the belts had specific torque specs... Can't you simply use a torque wrench then?

 

no. The belts use a defelection spec. Meaning you should not have more than x amount of deflection between such and such distance. A general guide line is that the belts should NOT be able to turn or twist past 90 degrees with your fingers.
O_____________ |_____________O
Pulley.....Belt.........Belt.........pulley
if that diagram makes any sence....

 

your good now though right.?

 

I know what you mean, as i was tightening up the built tensioner when i was changing my alternator the bolt snapped. Now i can't find the tensioner assembly at my local autoparts store (they don't carry it) or at the junkyards . That's exactly why the nut job didn't go any further. Good thing yours turned out good.