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| Curse this alternator belt! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 2 2012, 09:06 AM (8,877 Views) | |
| FLINT | Jan 2 2012, 09:06 AM Post #1 |
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Hey guys. First of all - Happy New Year! ok, so, how the heck do you keep the alternator belt on a metro from squealing? I tighten mine at least once a month (with a crow bar) and it always seems to get loose again. I put a new belt on my metro when I got it this summer, and I got tired of tightening it so I let it squeal for a few weeks and then it broke!!! I never thought that just letting the belt squeal would break it. It looks like that when the belt squeals a lot, that little pieces of my belt get all over the alternator and oil dipstick tube. Anyways, I got a new belt, and have been better about tightening it when it starts squealing, but I'm getting tired of doing it. are there belts that don't loosen as quickly? My dad said that the green belts that you get for tractors are very strong - would one of those of the right length work on a metro? second thing (related) Does anyone know the exact length and thread pitch of the bolt that tightens the alt. bracket that is directly behind the oil dipstick. That bolt is now almost completely stripped and I need to replace it. Thanks! |
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| Deleted User | Jan 2 2012, 11:44 AM Post #2 |
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The curse of the alternator belt! Welcome. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. You've got the system down on the alternator belt. We all tighten out alternator belts once a month or so. The Gates or Goodyear Gatorback seem to do the best. The bolt is a M8 x 1.25 x 25. I just happen to have one . . . ![]() |
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| bogs | Jan 2 2012, 11:50 AM Post #3 |
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Duct tape heals all wounds
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Happy New Year right back at ya ! While 3 cyls. are known for having to re-tighten the alt. belt after installation (usually 1 time after about a week) , what your describing sounds like a different kind of problem, probably related to the pulley. Ky had a similar issue happen to him on his car... I will try to find it if I have time before heading off to work, if I don't I'm sure others will chime in on this. Unfortunately (for helping you) I have a 4 cyl. and don't have your particular issue to contend with. |
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| Deleted User | Jan 2 2012, 11:54 AM Post #4 |
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Actually, the 4 cylinder that Bogs has and your 2000 3 cylinder have the same alternator drive belt. I have no problem with my 4 cylinder alternator belt, and neither does Bogs. Try installing a good quality belt. |
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| FLINT | Jan 2 2012, 12:10 PM Post #5 |
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Hey thanks guys - and thanks Glenn for the bolt info - I'm going to pick up a new bolt at ACE today on my way home. Who sells those particular brands of belts mentioned? so a better description - I have this down to a science, haha. ok, tighten belt. then after a few weeks, sometimes less, the belt will start to squeal just a little when I first start the car. If found if I do nothing but let it squeal for a few seconds it corrects itself and then the quality of the idle of the car actually changes a little. The amount of time that the belt squeals after start up will gradually increase of the next week or two - at this point I usually retighten. However, if I don't, then the belt will also start to squeal sometimes while driving - like if I come to a stop, or between gear changes it will start - and if it starts doing this - it will squeal for longer periods of time and its harder to get it to stop - and this it seems is when it starts flinging belt debris around the adjacent engine parts. |
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| Old Man | Jan 2 2012, 12:16 PM Post #6 |
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I think you have multiple problems. one is that, as you state, the bolt needs replacing. This makes you not able to tighten the belt enough and was probably the source of your original problem. Replace the bolt !! Secondly, when your previous belt "squealed and broke" as it was squealing it was putting debris on all your pulleys. After your bolt has been replaced, wire brush and steelwool all your pulleys clean then replace your belt with a quality belt. Geo Glenn above recommended a "gates or goodyear gatorback" belt. he is experienced. follow his advise. lastly, after you have done all the above, tighten the HELL out of that belt. After a week or so, even if it is not squealing, tighten the Hell out of that belt again. Then just for good measure, after another month, tighten the HELL out of that belt again. --- Then you MAY be able to forget it for a while BTW when your dad said a "green" belt was the best he was probably right. The word "green" refers to the color of the belt and it also indicates that the material it is made out of is kevlar--quite a tough material. NAPA carries kevlar belts |
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| Shinrin | Jan 2 2012, 12:29 PM Post #7 |
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Personally I haven't had any belt problems. I put it on, tightened it, then redid it a few weeks later to be safe. If it's raining hard it'll squeel for a second or two when I start up. I'm using the cheapest belt I could find. Tightened the alt as much as possible, tightened the bolts on the alt down pretty hard. |
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| Deleted User | Jan 2 2012, 12:37 PM Post #8 |
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The thread length is 25 mm from the bottom of the large area washer to the end of the threads. I have purchased Gates Belts at O'Reilly Auto. Carquest and NAPA sometimes have Gates Belts under their Label. Check around. These belts are available at Rock Auto. GOODYEAR Part # 4040320 Gatorback; Poly-V; 4 Ribs / Effective Length 32" / Outside Length 32.75" Poly-V; Alternator and Water Pump GATES Part # K040320 Micro-V AT Premium OE V-Ribbed Belt; K04 9/16" x 32 3/4" Water Pump and Alternator |
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| FLINT | Jan 2 2012, 01:21 PM Post #9 |
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Initially, I tried not to tighten the belt TOO much because I thought that it wasn't good to over tighten an alt belt - however, after repeated tightenings, i've starting putting good pressure on the alternator with a crow bar while I tighten the bolts. I think it will help to replace the bolt, as the stripped head is keeping me from tightening it down too much, but I have been able to get it what I think is pretty darn tight so far - but we'll see - replace the bolt and tighten it down really good. Glenn, the bolt on my car actually looks a little different than the one you are picturing - by bolt has a flanged head and no washers - though the length and thread pitch are probably the same. Of the two top bolts that you use to tighten the alt belt with, its the one closest to the front of the car - its the one that you have to wiggle the wrench behind the oil dipstick tube to get to. |
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| bansheetaz | Jan 2 2012, 01:23 PM Post #10 |
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dayco makes a thicker belt that has worked well on mine. havent tightened it once yet since i started using it 2 years ago.. its named dayco polycog or polygroove or polydrive or polychain or poly something. autozone or advance should carry it. |
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| FLINT | Jan 2 2012, 01:31 PM Post #11 |
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yeah, I think that's what I've got on there - got it at autozone - has some kind of free replacement warranty or something. squeals all the time haha
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| nerys | Jan 2 2012, 02:01 PM Post #12 |
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Grr
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Guys. I "NEVER" re-tighten my belt. never. if you are something is "not right" Here is what I did when I had belt woes. maybe this will help. First I use gatorback's only now. so far they are the best by far. Second. I used brake cleaner and a wire brush to clean all the pulley's. Mine had "gunk" in the alternator pulley from when the belt was sliding over the pulley (squealing) There was also gunk on the crank pulley where it splintered the belt and was rubbing on the timing cover. I scoured them till they were spotless. Installed new belt. Snugged bottom bolts just about fully tight. Crow bar to shove the alternator back and tightened the top bolt. Then under neath tightened the bottom bolts fully. not one single squeak for the next 45,000 miles when the belt broke. I put another belt on right on the side of the road and not one squeak from that one either. about 30,000 miles on this one. if you have tighten your belt all the time then my first guess is make sure your pulley's are clean. My second guess is something is wrong with your bolts. they are coming loose. primary would be the TOP bolt since the bottom bolts will not loosen the alternator. check the bolt check the threads maybe add a lock washer. |
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| clarkdw | Jan 2 2012, 03:12 PM Post #13 |
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You may be having the same problem I was having with my hatch. I went through several belts in a short period. One broke and the other was just plain worn out. When started from cold the belt almost inevitably chirped not matter how tight it was. It required being so tight that the ribs cut the belt longitudinally into two pieces. 3tech Mike suggested that my alternator bearings might be no good as this car sat for some time. It seemed to make sense as after having run for several minutes you could actually feel the load come off the engine suddenly and I mean a big load. The car would pick up as if you just gained another cylinder. I stole the alternator off my vert which is parked for the winter and presto! no more squealing belt, no excess tension required on the belt and no more extreme load on the engine when cold. I have not torn down the old alternator yet to check the bearings but I will soon and get back with the results. |
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| nerys | Jan 2 2012, 03:35 PM Post #14 |
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Grr
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that would make a lot of sense. when I was having squealing problems early on that is EXACTLY how it behaved too. like a big load was taken off the engine. |
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| bansheetaz | Jan 2 2012, 05:52 PM Post #15 |
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i think you have something else going on other than the belt itself. |
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haha

3:18 AM Jul 11