Alternator Belt Issue.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Okawville IL
St. Jude Donor '14
Alternator Belt Issue.....
Anybody ever have this issue?
about a month after buying my 1980 I had to put a new Alt belt on the car because the one it had, was way too loose. Now a month later it seems that belt has stretched out and has become too loose, to where it is effecting the alt charging the Battery. And yes I have adjusted the alt to where the belt should be tight, to where there is no more adjustment left.
What the heck would cause just this one belt to stretch? the other two belts were replaced at the sametime last month and they are fine.
Mike.
about a month after buying my 1980 I had to put a new Alt belt on the car because the one it had, was way too loose. Now a month later it seems that belt has stretched out and has become too loose, to where it is effecting the alt charging the Battery. And yes I have adjusted the alt to where the belt should be tight, to where there is no more adjustment left.
What the heck would cause just this one belt to stretch? the other two belts were replaced at the sametime last month and they are fine.
Mike.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Hey Mike
Measure the belt and buy one an inch or so smaller or use a piece of small rope or string run it through the pulleys pull it out then measure it and buy one a little shorter.
Just my thoughts
Scott
Measure the belt and buy one an inch or so smaller or use a piece of small rope or string run it through the pulleys pull it out then measure it and buy one a little shorter.
Just my thoughts
Scott
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 528
Likes: 9
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
You could have a pulley alignment issue that is causing premature wear and stretching on the belt. Or, the belt you bought could have been cheap foreign crap. They show up a lot on parts store walls. Hopefully it's the belt and not the pulleys. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Make sure that you have all the correct brackets and supports that came on your car originally. Over time, pieces can get changed/removed and the stability of the alternator system can be weakened. Maybe someone on the Forum who has an '80 vette will post a photo of the intended layout. It will be shown in the '80 A.I.M. also.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Okawville IL
St. Jude Donor '14
JUst thought I would check back in. I did get the belt replaced, all the pulleys lined up good. So I will watch this belt close from here on out. The belt did have one year warrenty so the parts store replaced it at no cost. I did quite a bit of driving the vette over the past two days and everything seems to be running fine.
Mike.
Mike.
