dant849

Junior member question here... My alternator is not charging and it is assumed to be defective. Where on God's green earth is that tensioner adjuster? By the way, 78 with a ZZ4 350

calwldlife

does it have a 1 belt serpentine setup?
that is the only "belt tensioner" I can think of.
if so, don't know.

dant849

just one belt

dant849

tensioner adjuster is probably the wrong term. I think it's a tensioner bracket that a 3/8 ratchet head should fit into just to release the tension on the system to change the belt or in my case remove the belt from the alternator pulley

croaker

A picture would help with this question.

hunt4cleanair

Ahhh, it's a 78 and I don't think belt tensioner's had been invented yet. We use a breaker bar, pull till taunt and tighten the bolt.


I don't see that on the options list!

C3 4ME

There's a bolt on the top of the alternator that goes to a bracket. Loosen that bolt, and the bolt underneath the alternator, and use as mentioned above, a breaker bar, or a long screwdriver and pry against the alternator to tighten the belt, then as you're holding the alternator tight, tighten the top bolt to hold it in place. You don't need to pry hard on the alternator, just enough to make the belt tight. Should take less than 5 minutes.

dant849

I apologize for not being clear. It was redone I assume, when the ZZ4 was installed, with a serpentine system. It's not the old school with the slotted alternator bracket.

dant849

Found it! It's mounted next to the air conditioner compressor, takes a half inch ratchet instead of a 3/8. I had to get underneath it to see it. Problem solved! Thanks for the help

dant849

more good news! Turned out to be just a loose connection at the back of the alternator. Tightened it up and she is charging beautifully.

lvmyvt76

yeah, that belt should of been tight enough, or else it might of come off.