Screaming alternator belt - 95 GSX

I have a problem that I'm hoping someone here can help out with.

My '95 GSX had a squeaking belt problem as soon as the weather started
turning cold here in SW Pennsylvania. I decided that since I didn't know
much about this vehicle's past maintenance history, I'd just put new belts
on it. I heard lots of warnings about overtensioning the belts, so I put
them on a bit sloppy. After some squealing started, I tightened the power
steering and alternator belts (was squealing when I'd turn the wheel, and
when there was a heavy load on the electrical system).

A week or so later, the squeal came back under electrical load. I checked
the alternator belt, and it seemed loose again. I tightened it up some.
Next week, same thing. Week after, same thing. I figured this was
excessive for belt stretch.

A couple days ago, a loose rattle started coming from the engine
compartment. I didn't know what this was, but I knew the squeal problem had
gotten worse too. On a cold start, I'd have to keep lights and fan off, and
on any return to idle, I'd have to turn the lights and fan back off to get
the belt to catch again, and even that sometimes took a little while. While
the belt squeal is happening, it is definately not charging at all.

I figured the alternator was probably going bad because the squealing
stopped when the load was removed from it. However, I pulled the belt back
off and spun the alternator - it spun freely, seemingly no resistance, no
shaft freeplay. I then noticed where all of the belt residue was
collecting - the motor mount. I spun the water pump, and it made a bit of a
grinding sound, though it spun relatively freely with seemingly no shaft
freeplay.

I have plans to pull the water pump this weekend (car has 122k on it, time
for a new timing belt anyway). My concern is with the alternator. I can
physically see the water pump pulley slowing down and running irregularly
and can feel the grainding, but I couldn't tell with the alternator. Is the
alternator also giong bad? Could the excess load from the water pump cause
the belt not to drive the alternator enough to charge?

TIA,

JS

The greater the load you place on the alternator, the harder it will be to
turn the pulley attached to the alternator. That's why with the belt off
(and the engine not running) the alternator pulley spins freely, no load, no
pulley resistance. As the load increases, the belt has to work harder to
maintain non slippage with the alternator pulley, any slippage and the belt
squeals. In one way this is a good sign that the alternator is still
working correctly. After you replace the water pump, try roughing up the
pulleys with 120 grit sand paper, you've probably polished then quite nicely
by now. On the other hand, drawing excessive current from the alternator
will cause it to also offer more resistance.

"JS" <not.DeleteThis@home.now> wrote in message news:ktPyd.11433$EL5.2719@trndny09...
 > I have a problem that I'm hoping someone here can help out with.
 >
 > My '95 GSX had a squeaking belt problem as soon as the weather started
 > turning cold here in SW Pennsylvania. I decided that since I didn't know
 > much about this vehicle's past maintenance history, I'd just put new belts
 > on it. I heard lots of warnings about overtensioning the belts, so I put
 > them on a bit sloppy. After some squealing started, I tightened the power
 > steering and alternator belts (was squealing when I'd turn the wheel, and
 > when there was a heavy load on the electrical system).
 >
 > A week or so later, the squeal came back under electrical load. I checked
 > the alternator belt, and it seemed loose again. I tightened it up some.
 > Next week, same thing. Week after, same thing. I figured this was
 > excessive for belt stretch.
 >
 > A couple days ago, a loose rattle started coming from the engine
 > compartment. I didn't know what this was, but I knew the squeal problem
had
 > gotten worse too. On a cold start, I'd have to keep lights and fan off,
and
 > on any return to idle, I'd have to turn the lights and fan back off to get
 > the belt to catch again, and even that sometimes took a little while.
While
 > the belt squeal is happening, it is definately not charging at all.
 >
 > I figured the alternator was probably going bad because the squealing
 > stopped when the load was removed from it. However, I pulled the belt
back
 > off and spun the alternator - it spun freely, seemingly no resistance, no
 > shaft freeplay. I then noticed where all of the belt residue was
 > collecting - the motor mount. I spun the water pump, and it made a bit of
a
 > grinding sound, though it spun relatively freely with seemingly no shaft
 > freeplay.
 >
 > I have plans to pull the water pump this weekend (car has 122k on it, time
 > for a new timing belt anyway). My concern is with the alternator. I can
 > physically see the water pump pulley slowing down and running irregularly
 > and can feel the grainding, but I couldn't tell with the alternator. Is
the
 > alternator also giong bad? Could the excess load from the water pump
cause
 > the belt not to drive the alternator enough to charge?
 >
 > TIA,
 >
 > JS
 >
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