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Adjusting Your Car's Alternator Belt

By Lawrence Reaves

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 25Feb2012
Word count: 508
Viewed: 75 time(s)

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If you find the ignition warning light flickers on and off while your engine is idling or you are driving at a low speed, it doesn't mean you have alternator failure. Likewise, if you hear a kind of squeaking sound from your engine compartment, it doesn't always mean your water pump is failing. Both of these can be symptoms of a loose alternator belt and the problem can easily be remedied.

Your alternator belt goes around several pulleys; on is the pulley at the front of the engine, another may be the water pump and another is the alternator. When you start your car's engine it rotates the pulley wheel at the front that then moves the belt. This in turn rotates the other pulley wheels including, importantly, the alternator pulley. The rotating pulley wheel on the front of the alternator turns the copper wire coils inside the alternator, which start producing electricity to power your electrical equipment and charge you battery.

If your alternator belt gets loose, then it can slip meaning that the alternator doesn't rotate fast enough to produce the required electricity. It can also make a squeaking sound, somewhat resembling a water pump failure. All you need to do to rectify the problem is tighten the belt. The only adjustable component where this can be done is the alternator. Locate the three bolts holding the alternator in place. You will find one at the rear and one at the front both are bolted to the engine block. The third is on the side of the alternator and attaches to an adjustable bracket. You don't need to remove any of the bolts.

Loosen all three bolts using a suitably sized wrench. Once you have done this you will find you can swivel the alternator toward and away from the engine block. Pull the alternator away from the engine block. As you do that the tension in the alternator belt increases. Pull the alternator as hard as you can and then immediately tighten the bolt that goes through the adjustable bracket.

Once you have done that, test the tension on the belt. Find a suitable place between the alternator pullet wheel and the next pullet wheel. Push and pull the belt; you should be able to move it about 1/2 to 1-inch each way; no more. If it's not tight enough, repeat the process. As soon as you have the correct tension you need to tighten the two remaining bolts that connect the alternator to the engine block. Check the belt one more time to make sure it still has the correct tension.

Now start up your engine. If the problem was the tension in the alternator belt then either the warning light now goes out, or, if you were hearing noises from the engine, they should cease. However, if you still have a warning light flickering, or noises from the engine, then it is sensible to have them checked out at your local garage.

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