Serpentine Belt, what the heck is the problem Options

[Tru_Pol]

Ok so last month my serpentine belt started to go. So I went and got a new one. Since then I cannot not keep the belt tensioned and it will start to squell. I keep having to loosen the bold on the Alt and putting tension on the belt then tighten it done. Last week I ended up snapping the bolt and ran to the store to buy a new bolt. This week (today) it started to squell bad I made it a mile and it stoped, about 3 miles later my engine was smoking. Had to turn around and drive home only to find out the belt snapped in half, from the pully turning it and not turning the belt it burned it in half, and becouse my water pump and everything else was not turning the top of my radiour (sp?) blew off. Now when I replace the belt (again) what do I need to do to make sure it done not get loose, I mean I crack the heck out of the bolt and it does not last.
Im going to replace the radiour and all the pipes too!

What a mess!

Jason

[macavely]

are you using a tq wrench? if not please do... always do when it's anything on the engine .. and get the right numbers..

make sure you are using the rite belt for the eninge.. as in year of the engine.. on sometime they get moves a little from year changed engines...

make sure all you pullys are correctlly installed... and nothing it's touching the belts...and that they are turning properlly

and make sure you have the belt installed correctlly some times it's easy to miss a loop..

[Tru_Pol]

The belt came from Toyota, so I would sure hope its the right one.

I did use a TR for the first time I tighted the bolt, but like I said, it was not tight enuff.

I did put it one right, the alt just keeps comming loose and that will loosen the belt.

[macavely]

i forgot but do the pullys on the 7a have lips on them..

[Tru_Pol]

[macavely]

cause if they do have lips.. one could have been damaged.. cause the belt to slip.. or causing it to ride on the lip and strching out the belt..

[Tru_Pol]

[macavely]

maybe the first time you put the belt on you strched out the bolt causing it not to hold when the pully started to spinn pass 3k

[Supersprynt]

Which bolt are u tightening? There should be 3. I have a 5sfe but the set up for the alternator should be the same. Theres one bolt for the bottom connecting the tensioner bracket to the block, one connecting the alternator to the rectangular piece with 2 holes tne the bracket, and finally the long screw which goes into the rectangular piece which tightens things up.

[Tru_Pol]

[Rjb23]

First off your doing it wrong. You have to loosen the bolt that holds the alternator on so the alternator can move freely. Then you use the tension belt to put enough tension on the belt, then you retighten the alternator bolts to hold it in place. The tension bolt is just that meant to put enough tension on the belt not to hold the tension. What is happening is that bolt is working its way loose, and the belt is getting loose.

[Tru_Pol]

[boosted_K2]

there should be a fourth bolt that locks your alternator adjustment screw into place, see if that is missing. its perpendicular to the adjustment screw and located right above the belt. if its there, try tightening it after its adjusted, if it isnt, try replacing that. also doublecheck the torques on the pulleys and make sure there is no excess grease or oil on the pulleys or the belt.

[Rjb23]

Ok let me see if I can explain this better.

On the top of your alternator there is a bolt that holds the alternator in place. On the bottom of the alternator this a longer bolt perpendicular to the one on top, the bolt on the bottom is used to put tighten or loosen the belt, the one on top of the alternator is used to hold the tension on the belt once the proper tension is put on the belt. The one on the bottom you will see pretty easy, its the long one that is connected to the block on the slider bracket. It has been a while since I have done one about a year or so, but there should also be a bolt that holds the block in the slider bracket in place. So basically loosen the top alternator bolt, then the one in the slider bracket, then you can adjust the tension on the belt using the long adjusting bolt. Once you have it tight enough, you should be able to push down on the belt fairly hard and move it about an half inch, tighten the other bolts back up and that should be it.

If you still can't figure this out, go to an auto parts store get one of the manuals off the shelf and look in it. You really need to get a manual anyway if your gonna do this kinda stuff.

[Tru_Pol]

[BonzaiCelica]

mehh bump. no google search came up.

i went to toyodiy, toyotamarket ru, jp car parts but no luck finding 3sge beams serpentine belt. and I know its not the same as 5sfe (because part # doesn't cross reference to 3sgte or 3sge)

so should i just get any standard 5sfe serpentine belt? or use a 2nd gen 3sgte belt. obviously torque is slight different between beams and 5sfe. for you guys who has done 250-300whp 5sfte did you change out this serpentine?

saw a $36 serpentine gates belt on rock auto. just saying. and most low end cost $7-10