New Guy Alternator/Belt Problem

[trocutlass63]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and I have an '85 Cutlass Salon with a 307 that I bought a year ago. While I love the car, it has been nothing but problems since I got it. The most recent and annoying problem is that the alternator belt screams on start up and cold/wet weather. I have replaced the belt and scuffed the pulleys numerous times as well as checking the pulley alignment and the tightness of the belt. I recently noticed that it gets worse when there is more load on the alternator which made me think that's what was wrong with it so today I installed a new alternator and belt hoping it would fix it and instead it now squeals above 2300 RPM and when I accelerate hard as well as start up. I'm at my wits end with this problem so any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[oldtinsmith]

trocutlass63,
Welcome to the site!
Just a thought, check to see if the belt is bottoming out in a pulley (check all the pulleys that the belt rides in).

Doug

 

[rustyroger]

I had the same trouble with my '83 Cutlass with a 307.
The a/c wasn't working and had no belt. I fitted a belt and the two belts were able to handle the load from the alternator.
I thought it was a poor design in the first place, one belt running the a/c and water pump, a second runing the power steering and water pump, a third running from the water pump driving the alternator.

Hope this helps.

Roger.

 

[trocutlass63]

Yeah I've heard of it happening with no a/c belt but mine's still on and the a/c works the only change to the accessories is the smog pump's been removed along with the rest of the emissions stuff, but I suppose I could try putting on all new belts and seeing if maybe that would help.

 

[tc1959]

My experience is you have to get the PS pump really tight before tightening the ALT belt .Its just a 307 thing .

 

[trocutlass63]

Never would have thought of that, I'll have to give it a try.