Squeaky Alternator On Startup

[wilch]

Hi guys,

Every morning and afternoon when I start my car up she squeaks like all buggery.

When I watch the PFC hand controller the squeaking doesn't stop till the volts read over 14 (takes a few seconds.) then she's quiet.

If I stop the engine, then restart immediately, it's fine. No squeaking. But goes to 14.7v almost immediately.

Should I tighten the alternator belt, and if so, by how much?

Or is something else wrong?

This problem only started happening after I got my car back from the panel shop after 4months...

[RAD-510]

Yeah just adjust the belt so its nice and tight. Should have an adjuater bolt its easy as.

[wilch]

Should there be a little bit of give?

It seems a little tight already. Is there any harm if I tighten it too much?

[adam-__-]

My belts squeak also and they seem to be all tight. Maybe too tight.

[d00dz]

Wilch....

I just press it with a tiny bit of force and it goes down a tiny bit.

(Note im tiny)

When I did my alternator I used the power steering belt and other belts around to compare the tension.

[wilch]

Thanks guys.

Tighten it I shall!

If I hear it snap when driving does anyone know of a good tow person...?

[d00dz]

If I hear it snap when driving does anyone know of a good tow person...?

The battery "should" last you a few km's, if not take a spare belt and do it on the spot.

[Abo Bob]

Actually you could take your air con belt off and switch it over to the alternator. They are all very simiar lengths.

Yes you do need to tighten it but also try putting some pure soap (not bath soap) on the inside of the belt. If the squealing comes back after getting it tight and the soap then replace it cos the squealing it's already done has damaged it.

[wilch]

Sweet. Thanks Adam.

[wilch]

Ok, just went to the car and tightened it up.

The bolt was nearly falling out... about 1" between the bolt head and the bit that actually does anything.

Seems to be ok atm.

[wilch]

OK, I think I'm going about this all wrong.

This long bolt was loose, almost falling out. I've tightened it. BUT, tightening it doesn't make sense to me. Having this tighter means a looser belt.

What am I supposed to do?

Loosen bolt 2, then pull the alternator towards the guard?

[wilch]

whoops, just found this thread...

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...hten+alternator

I guess I was searching for the wrong thing the first time I tried to find a fix! My bad.

[d00dz]

Tighten 1 slightly, but not all the way, bolt 2 is the tention thingy which when tighten moves the alternator towards the guard. (ie. tightens the belt). Tighten bolt 2 to the tention u want, then tighten bolt 1 to "lock" the position in.

[bumble_bee]

just a noob question...

but isnt the clutch fan ment to turn off like after awhile???

or nope becaoz it on the same belts as the alt. belt too.

.

so yeah?is it meant to turn off wen it gets to a normal operating temp?

becoz i just got my timing belt done..and i notice the next day, i can hear a squeaky sound from the front part of the engine..

so i assumed it was my timing belt...

but now being lik 4 days later..i dont think it is..

i think its the alt./fan belt

but could pwr str belt..

or air-con belt...

but unsure so far...

but one think i do notice is that the sound(squeaky sound) only appears to heard wen the enigne is at normal operating temp...

any ideas

[sunnycoast]

Should there be a little bit of give?

It seems a little tight already. Is there any harm if I tighten it too much?

Dont tighten it too much matey. I did this on my old 34 and broke the bolt...very hard to find a new one.

Thanks

Chris

[sunnycoast]

My belts squeak also and they seem to be all tight. Maybe too tight.

Also being "too tight" will make it squeak.

Chris

[dmr]

becoz i just got my timing belt done..and i notice the next day, i can hear a squeaky sound from the front part of the engine..

so i assumed it was my timing belt...

but now being lik 4 days later..i dont think it is..

what timing belt did you use?

me and a few of my friends have installed gates racing timing belts for our cars.

after the install, we noticed an extra whirring/squeaking/rotating sound added to the engine when the car is warm.

it's because of the new belts tightness, and over time it will loosen itself to it's perfect tension. if not, it will remain with that sound which isn't a bad thing. it might put a tiny bit of stress on your idler and tensioner, but i find it safer to have a belt a lil tight rather than a little loose.. especially at high revs.

Edited April 26, 2008 by dmr

[some_cs_student]

but isnt the clutch fan ment to turn off like after awhile???

or nope becaoz it on the same belts as the alt. belt too.

.

so yeah?is it meant to turn off wen it gets to a normal operating temp?

Why would the clutch fan turn off, its on a belt that isn't going to stop while the engine is on ?

Anyway, the clutch fan will start slipping at higher RPM because the fan can't spin at too higher speed, and it will lock more and spin faster when the cars hot (at idle speed anyway).

[bumble_bee]

yeah, got a gen. nissan belt..

[bumble_bee]

well ive still got the same problem..lol

my cars done just over 1000k's with the new belt...

does anyone no how long it will b before the belt loosen to the original belt tension?

like as mention above and before...

people mentioning hear a squeak or sound from doing the t-belt..

and said it disapeared after a period of time..

if so..

how long is this time..lol