Serpentine Belt Question

[tnt31]

1994 Chevrolet C1500 with 5.7L. Has AC w/O AP and I think 100 amp alternator.

Question is how do you know if the tension on the belt is too tight. Belt is a Goodyear Gatorback I put on about 8 months ago. Everything seems fine but I was looking at some alternators (really just checking prices......just in case....)for this truck and there is a common warning about excessive belt tension damaging the alternators so I went out and checked mine. When I put it on I did not think anything of it but from just pushing on the belt compared to my other two vehicles the belt does seem to have a good bit more tension.

I then looked at the belts and Goodyear indicates the belt as 95.25 inches (effective length. Dayco specifies the length as 95.50 inches. Would a 1/4 inch make much of a difference with an auto tensioner? Could it be a tensioner problem? (I always thought they got too loose not vice versa but.....) Or am I worrying about nothing since no actual indication of a problem.

 

[eljefino]

That alt could also have a v-belt pulley on it which would apply more about the tension warning. Being a 350 it goes way back to those old days. I would not worry about it at all.

 

[vssjim]

No alonger belt won't make a difference unless the tentioner is bottomed out. There also is qsually makes on the tentioner to show it is in the sweet spot. We use Goodyear belts and the lenth of your belt sounds correct and also most bearing failures would be if the tentioner locked up somehow causing it to be to tight. If it moves smooth you are good to go and lastly belts come in alittle different lenth lists from mfg's because there is a range they all work ok in because of the tentioner does have a range to work with.