What happens if an alternator belt is loose?
If your alternator belt gets too loose as you’re driving, it may cause your engine to stall. This means that you’re engine essentially shuts down and you’ll be forced to pull over onto the side of the road. Obviously, you wouldn’t want this happening on a busy street or rush hour traffic on the highway.
What’s the best way to loosen an alternator belt?
Use a breaker bar or socket wrench to loosen the auto-tensioner. Many newer model vehicles come equipped with an auto-tensioner pulley. The pulley presses upward as the belt wraps around it so the belt remains under constant, steady tension.
Where does the serpentine belt go on an alternator?
If you do not have a diagram on the vehicle or in your service manual laying out the direction your serpentine belt travels through the pulleys, take a picture of it with your phone to refer to when installing the new belt. A strictly alternator belt will likely only go around an alternator pulley and the crank pulley at the bottom of the engine.
Why does my alternator make noise when I Turn on the engine?
A loose alternator belt may be the culprit. If the serpentine belt is loose, it often results in various noises coming from your engine. With a loose belt, it doesn’t sit right up against any pullies that are rotating it so noise may occur from the friction.
How does an alternator charge a car battery?
When an alternator is actively charging the battery, it is actually spinning inside the vehicle. There is something called an alternator belt (also called a serpentine belt) which wraps around a pulley or multiple pullies that is connected to the alternator.
What will happen if the alternator belt is loose?
Loose Alternator Belt Symptoms. As you continue to drive your vehicle, the alternator belt gets a little bit more worn each day. It could be susceptible to wear and tear damage or it may even come loose from the pulley. Once that happens, you can expect all kinds of symptoms to arise. Nov 4 2019
How tight or loose should alternator belt be?
Pull the alternator away from the engine until the belt is tight . You want to be able to press down on the belt at a mid point between two pulleys and only be able to move it downward about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. When you have the alternator in the right position, have an assistant tighten the top bolt and nut to lock the alternator in.
What are the symptoms of an alternator belt breaking?
Loose Alternator Belt Symptoms Flickering/Dimming Lights. If you are driving your vehicle and suddenly notice the headlights flickering or dimming or cabin lights inside the vehicle dimming, this could mean you either have Vehicle Stalls. If your alternator belt gets too loose as you’re driving, it may cause your engine to stall. Battery Warning Light.
Where is the alternator belt located?
The alternator belt is a rubber belt that drives the alternator. It is located on the front of the engine and is driven by the crankshaft pulley. In this video, AutoMD shows how to replace your car’s alternator belt.