I've got an '02 Sentra and it's recently developed a bad belt squeel. Under full throttle, at high rpms (say above 4k), the alternator light comes on solid. However, when rpms fall back to normal, the light goes out.
So basically, I know the belt is slipping. But here's the question:
The car has an automatic spring loaded tensioner. So I can't "tighten" the belt. I really don't think the tensioner is worn out, because I can attest to it taking some muscle to hold it back when I last worked on the car (about two weeks ago). So I'm thinking one of two things.
Either A) The belt is worn somehow and isn't gripping the pulleys, and slipping. Not sure if this is likely or not.
or B) One of the alternator bearings is wearing out causing the pulley to lock up when spinning fast (high rpms), then it frees up when the rpms drop down again.
What are you guys' opinions on to what it is? I'm leaning towards B, but I'm wishing towards A. It's less hassle to fix. Anyone ever had a belt cure a problem like that?
BTW, the car has 87k miles on it. The owners manual recommends changing the belt at 90k.
Belt squeel, Alternator slipping
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EZcheese15
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take the belt off and free spin the adjuster pulley. Use a screw driver to listen to its bearing internally. Or a engine stethescope if you have one. Does it sound like loose gravel in it? If it does its likely the pulley is seizing and causing the belt to pull down on the tnesioner releasing it from the crank enough to allow it to slip.
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EZcheese15
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Re: (NISTECH)
Cool, I'll take the belt of this weekend and try to figure out which pulley it is. Need to do that *and* pull my radiator out of my 210 (see my overheating problem thread in this same forum). It sure would be nice to have atleast one car running without problems, I swear.
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EZcheese15
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Re: (NISTECH)
Well I got 2. One is fine as long as I stay away from the interstate. The other is fine as long as I don't drive hard so that my battery stays charged LOL. Hopefully both will be fixed by next week.